Vivian Woodward

Born: 03 June 1879 (Kennington, London)

Join Date: 01 March 1901

1901-1909
Appearances: 51. Goals: 23 (also 45 goals in 104 appearances in Southern League).
29 goals in 23 caps for England.
England's all-time top scorer from 1911 to 1958 - remains in top 10.

Before Harry Kane and Jimmy Greaves, there was Vivian Woodward.

Arguably football's first 'superstar' and one of the club's all-time greats, Vivian shone for Spurs between 1901-1909, including scoring our first goal in the Football League in 1908. He was also appointed to our Board of Directors in 1908.

On the international stage, he scored 29 goals in 23 caps for England (1903-1911), plus another 57 in 44 amateur internationals. As Harry now tops England's all-time goalscoring chart, Vivian remains in the top 10, just over 120 years after his first goal against Ireland in 1903. His 29 goals stood as England's best for 47 years before being overtaken by Tom Finney in 1958. His strike rate - 1.26 per game - remains the best in Three Lions' history.

But we're only scratching the surface...

An architect by trade - he designed a stand at Royal Beerschot's stadium in Belgium, where we played a match in 1957 - Vivian remained an amateur throughout his glorious career.

Legacy Number #83 captained England 13 times and led the Great Britain team to gold medals at both the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games. He played cricket to a high standard, representing Essex 2nd XI, and was a talented tennis player. Led by the virtues of fair play, Vivian was so respected, even match officials would address him as 'Sir'.

During the First World War he signed up for the London Rifle Range in September, 1914 and later served as Captain of the 17th (1st Football Battalion) Middlesex Regiment. Wounded at Festubert, France in January, 1916, he later rose to the rank of Major.

On retiring from football in 1920 he took up a farm at Chisbon Heath, near Clacton. Vivan passed away at a nursing home in Ealing aged 74 in January, 1954.

Search

Vivian Woodward

Read more...