Former Chester player Brian Woodall died recently at the age of 58 our condolences go out to his family and friends.

A locally born winger Brain Woodall represented Chester schoolboys as a youngster and played in the same representative side as another former Sealand Road favourite, Alan Tarbuck. On leaving school he joined Sheffield Wednesday and made his Football League debut, as a substitute, in a First Division fixture at Coventry City in February 1968. Brian went on to make 19 full and 3 substitute appearances for the Yorkshire club with perhaps his most memorable performance coming in an FA Cup Third Round replay against Leeds United where he scored 2 goals in the Owls’ 3-1 triumph.

After a short spell on loan at Oldham Athletic Brian moved back to his hometown in June 1970 and made a goalscoring debut in the first game of the season as Chester won 2-1 at Brentford. Despite this bright start, and goals in the League Cup tie at Norwich and league fixture against Exeter, Brian lost his place in the side in October as manager Ken Roberts re-shuffled the forward line following the signings of Eddie Loyden and Kevin McHale. With Chester challenging at the top of the Division Four table Brian found himself out of the side and joined Crewe on loan in March 1971. At the end of the 1970/71 season Brian was put on the transfer list and moved into non-league football with Oswestry Town.

PLAYING RECORD

June 1965 – June 1970 Sheffield Wednesday 19+3 apps 4 goals
Feb 1970 Oldham Athletic (loan) 3+1 apps 1 goal
June 1970 – June 1971 Chester 11+2 apps 2 goals
Mar 1971 – May 1971 Crewe Alexandra (loan) 10+1 apps 3 goals

First Chester game – v Brentford (a) Aug 15 1970
Last Chester game – v Peterborough United (h) Feb 27 1971

Chas Sumner [22/5/07]