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Post by SouthStandShrew on Apr 13, 2020 15:25:47 GMT 1
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Post by staffordshrew on Apr 13, 2020 15:30:47 GMT 1
My first hero. RIP
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Post by GlosShrew on Apr 13, 2020 15:37:41 GMT 1
So sad to hear that he had been suffering from dementia the past 12 years - a particularly cruel illness. My first Town hero when I first start supporting the Town in the late sixties snd would always make my Town all time XI. RIP
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Post by shrewder on Apr 13, 2020 15:39:47 GMT 1
Very sad. One of the true Town greats.
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Post by thesensationaljt on Apr 13, 2020 15:40:14 GMT 1
Fantastic all-action player for Shrewsbury. I knew he wasn't well.
Rest in peace, Alfie.
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Post by LetchworthShrew on Apr 13, 2020 15:43:00 GMT 1
RIP Alf
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Post by Worthingshrew on Apr 13, 2020 15:59:15 GMT 1
So sad, my all time favourite town player. Will never forget the 5 he scored against Blackburn, 4 with his head. RIP.
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Post by AlisonS on Apr 13, 2020 16:00:35 GMT 1
It would be difficult to overstate the legendary status he had in our house. Such a cruel illness, this is so sad. RIP
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Post by jamo on Apr 13, 2020 16:03:34 GMT 1
My first ever sporting hero, and my favourite player of all time watching The Town. No one on a football field ever pushed this bloke around.
Absolute legend. R.I.P Sir Alf.
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Post by northwestman on Apr 13, 2020 16:11:02 GMT 1
A wonderful player who always gave 100%. A true Legend.
It was a master stroke by Harry Gregg to switch Alf from Centre Half to Centre forward. With Roberts and Groves providing the crosses and George Andrews alongside him, he was part of what still is my all time favourite forward line.
Thanks for all the memories Alf.
R.I.P.
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Post by The Black Fingernail on Apr 13, 2020 16:18:54 GMT 1
My favourite Town player. RIP Alf.
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Post by Exkeeper on Apr 13, 2020 16:22:02 GMT 1
Rest in peace Alf. A great servant to our club and one the gave so many fantastic memories to the fans So many Town favourites have left us in recent times - Peter Dolby, Ricky Moir, Alf Wood and the man that signed him, Harry Gregg. Thanks for the memories.
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Post by chirkshrew on Apr 13, 2020 16:23:59 GMT 1
R.I.P alf wood,so many great memories
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Post by horse01 on Apr 13, 2020 16:28:23 GMT 1
Sadly before my time, although I heard from many who saw him play how fantastic he was.
R.I.P. Alf Wood
Condolences to family and friends
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Post by zenfootball2 on Apr 13, 2020 16:32:59 GMT 1
my condolences to his family; Dementia is such a cruel illness. As others have touched on a player who lives on in the memories of the fans who were fortunate enough to see him play. R.I.P
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Post by staffordshrew on Apr 13, 2020 16:51:32 GMT 1
Our first match when allowed back: A memorial match for those who have slipped away while football has been away, whatever the cause.
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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Apr 13, 2020 17:48:36 GMT 1
The best header of a ball he’d ever seen, according to Jim McLaughlin, sadly this must have contributed to his illness
RIP.
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Post by wakemanender on Apr 13, 2020 18:46:19 GMT 1
I feel very sorry for the younger town fans who never saw the great Gay Meadow legends many of whom have now sadly passed away. I feel very lucky to have witnessed the likes of Alf Wood on a regular basis. Must rank as one of the most popular players ever to wear a town shirt. RIP.
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Post by jamo on Apr 13, 2020 18:54:43 GMT 1
The best header of a ball he’d ever seen, according to Jim McLaughlin, sadly this must have contributed to his illness RIP. You do wonder about this, don’t you? The sheer volume of ex-players from that era, from our little club and the wider game, really does point to there being a contributing factor.
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Post by albionshrew on Apr 13, 2020 19:22:42 GMT 1
RIP my boyhood hero.
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Post by albionshrew on Apr 13, 2020 19:33:32 GMT 1
Alf will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Donations in his memory can be made to The National Brain Appeal www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alf-wood . The National Brain Appeal raises funds to advance treatment and research at The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery and the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology – funding pioneering research, providing access to the best technology for expert diagnosis and treatment, and training tomorrow’s clinicians to support the 1 in 6 of us with a neurological condition. www.nationalbrainappeal.org/
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Post by philharvey on Apr 13, 2020 19:43:07 GMT 1
RIP Alf , true legend you definately earned that status.
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Post by hannudlad on Apr 13, 2020 20:28:12 GMT 1
Like most of the above posts my First hero we have had some great centre forwards in my time such as John Mcginley, Grant Holt but Alfie will always be my NO 9. Remember going to Wolves with my Grandad to watch him play for Milwall. Thoughts with all the Wood family.
R.I.P ALFIE.
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Post by GlosShrew on Apr 13, 2020 21:13:31 GMT 1
The best header of a ball he’d ever seen, according to Jim McLaughlin, sadly this must have contributed to his illness RIP. You do wonder about this, don’t you? The sheer volume of ex-players from that era, from our little club and the wider game, really does point to there being a contributing factor. I think you are right - video below presented by Alan Shearer sheds some light on this.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2020 23:11:41 GMT 1
Very interesting to see Shearer talking to some old pros. and asking their views . I agree , there does appear to be a direct correlation between heading the ball and damage to the brain . Alf Wood was great in the air and I remember him battling defenders to get his head on the ball . Its so sad that we applauded his bravery and skill in this respect which , in the end caused so much damage . A true Town legend . So many fond memories of Alf . RIP Alf - you will never be forgotten .
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Post by tdk on Apr 14, 2020 7:55:47 GMT 1
Great memories of Alfie. The 5 against Blackburn, 4 headers and a penalty in front of a mental station End.
He was so closely marked at corners, one time I remember he started at the back post, ran behind the goal and headed in at the near post. Unfortunately ref disallowed it.
An uncompromising centre half, I have a grim memory of him ending George Yardley's career with a horrendous tackle.
RIP Alfie
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sssalop
Shropshire County League
Posts: 89
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Post by sssalop on Apr 14, 2020 8:58:21 GMT 1
A wonderful player who always gave 100%. A true Legend. It was a master stroke by Harry Gregg to switch Alf from Centre Half to Centre forward. With Roberts and Groves providing the crosses and George Andrews alongside him, he was part of what still is my all time favourite forward line. Thanks for all the memories Alf. R.I.P. Completely agree. He was error-prone at centre half, but never hid in a game. His goals were inspirational to a great Salop side. Sadly, I also saw him make a career-ending tackle on a Tranmere player at the Meadow. Alf was so powerful in the air, and the fact that he had dementia points to the strong link between heading a heavy ball and brain damage. R.I.P.
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Post by DiglisShrew on Apr 14, 2020 9:47:10 GMT 1
Completely agree. He was error-prone at centre half, but never hid in a game. His goals were inspirational to a great Salop side. Sadly, I also saw him make a career-ending tackle on a Tranmere player at the Meadow.
Alf was so powerful in the air, and the fact that he had dementia points to the strong link between heading a heavy ball and brain damage. R.I.P. George Hudson if I recall? To my shame I recall chanting "Who put Yardley in the RSI ?? Alfie Alfie !!"
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Post by northwestman on Apr 14, 2020 9:51:57 GMT 1
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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Apr 14, 2020 10:29:10 GMT 1
Any of our veteran fans remember seeing Alf play against us at Maine Road when we played City in the FA Cup in January 1965?
I was there with my Dad and uncle, also at the replay which we won 3-1. City were in the doldrums at the time, just prior to their revival under Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison, and we beat them with ease.
I recall being very underwhelmed when Arthur signed Alf a couple of seasons later, he was an average centre back at best in my opinion, Arthur and Harry Gregg never dropped him though so they must have rated him.
His transformation to a top striker is interesting, he was used as a stopgap striker at the end of season 1968/69 and the start of the following season before reverting to centre back where he remained for three quarters of 69/70 and the whole of 70/71. It was only 71/72 when he had a full season in the No. 9 shirt and he moved on at the end of that season.
I wonder why it so long to realise what his best position was?
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