Alf Wood

Profile

Although born in Wolverhampton, Alf Wood played his first rugby down in the West Country and was full back for the Newton Abbott Rugby Union club at the tender age of 16. He later went to play for Bristol and Cheltenham, gaining county honours for both Devon and Gloucestershire before being capped by England in the 1907-08 season.

The third test of the first ever Rugby League tour, by the famous New Zealand “All Golds”, happened to be played in Cheltenham and Alf was in attendance. An Oldham deputation approached him at the match and by the following season he had switched codes to play for the Watersheddings club. He set the standard for a glittering career, by kicking seven goals on his debut at St Helens.

The most famous game of his career was reserved for the International arena and perhaps the most famous Rugby League test match of all time. Having been selected for the 1914 tour to Australia and New Zealand, Alf was one of the walking wounded when it came to select the side to play in the third and deciding test in Sydney. He was in fact suffering from a broken nose and an injured ankle, but such was the extent of the tourists’ sick list, he volunteered to turn out, no doubt in response to the famous “England expects” telegram received from Northern Union H.Q., which urged the team to fulfil the fixture.

The injury crisis got worse as the match progressed and for a time the Lions were down to only nine men, but Alf emerged the hero in what was to become known as the “Rorke’s Drift” test, kicking four vital goals and providing a formidable last line of defence that won him handsome praise in the Sydney press. Great Britain won the match 14 – 6 and his place in RL history was assured. On that same tour Alf kicked 15 goals and scored a try in the match against South Australia.

He won every major honour with Oldham, except the Challenge Cup and toured again in 1920, being the oldest player ever to do so when aged 36, although he did not add to his four caps. If his career had not been interrupted by the First World War he would have been well up among the club’s top appearance makers. Alf is also one of only two Oldham RL players to play in a match for Oldham Athletic, the other being Welshman Frank Holbrook.

Career Games

Opposition Venue Date Competition
St Helens v Oldham Away September 5, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home September 12, 1908 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away September 19, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home September 26, 1908 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away October 3, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home October 10, 1908 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away October 17, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home October 24, 1908 League Championship
Barry v Oldham Away October 31, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home November 7, 1908 Lancashire Cup
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away November 14, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 21, 1908 Lancashire Cup
Warrington v Oldham Away November 23, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home November 28, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home December 5, 1908 Lancashire Cup
Leigh v Oldham Away December 9, 1908 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Neutral December 19, 1908 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home December 25, 1908 League Championship
Oldham v Australia Home December 26, 1908 Tour Match
Oldham v Barry Home January 1, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home January 2, 1909 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away January 9, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home January 16, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 23, 1909 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away January 30, 1909 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away February 13, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home February 20, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home February 27, 1909 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Swinton v Oldham Away March 13, 1909 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Swinton Home March 16, 1909 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home March 20, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Hull FC Home March 27, 1909 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Barrow v Oldham Away April 1, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home April 3, 1909 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away April 10, 1909 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away April 17, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home April 21, 1909 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Neutral May 1, 1909 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away September 4, 1909 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away September 11, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home September 18, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home September 25, 1909 League Championship
Treherbert v Oldham Away October 2, 1909 League Championship
Ebbw Vale v Oldham Away October 4, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home October 9, 1909 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away October 16, 1909 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Hull FC Home October 23, 1909 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away October 30, 1909 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home November 6, 1909 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away November 13, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home November 20, 1909 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away November 27, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home December 4, 1909 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Neutral December 13, 1909 Friendly
Oldham v St Helens Home December 18, 1909 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home December 25, 1909 League Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away January 1, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Ebbw Vale Home January 3, 1910 League Championship
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away January 4, 1910 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away January 8, 1910 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away January 15, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 22, 1910 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away January 26, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home January 29, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home February 12, 1910 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away February 19, 1910 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away February 26, 1910 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Salford Home March 5, 1910 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away March 12, 1910 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away March 25, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home March 26, 1910 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away March 28, 1910 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away April 2, 1910 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away April 4, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Treherbert Home April 9, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home April 16, 1910 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Neutral April 23, 1910 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away September 3, 1910 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away September 10, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Coventry Home September 24, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Ebbw Vale Home October 1, 1910 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away October 8, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home October 15, 1910 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away October 22, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home October 29, 1910 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away November 5, 1910 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Halifax Home November 12, 1910 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away November 19, 1910 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Huddersfield Home November 26, 1910 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Neutral December 3, 1910 Lancashire Cup
Widnes v Oldham Away December 7, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home December 10, 1910 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away December 13, 1910 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away December 17, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home December 24, 1910 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 26, 1910 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away December 31, 1910 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away January 2, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home January 7, 1911 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away January 14, 1911 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away January 21, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home January 28, 1911 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away February 4, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home February 11, 1911 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away February 18, 1911 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home February 25, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home March 4, 1911 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Barrow Home March 11, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home March 18, 1911 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away March 21, 1911 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Coventry v Oldham Away March 23, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home March 25, 1911 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away March 29, 1911 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 1, 1911 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Neutral April 19, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home April 22, 1911 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away September 2, 1911 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away September 9, 1911 League Championship
Bradford Northern v Oldham Away September 12, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home September 16, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home September 30, 1911 League Championship
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away October 7, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home October 14, 1911 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away October 21, 1911 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Swinton Home October 28, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home November 4, 1911 Lancashire Cup
Runcorn v Oldham Away November 8, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Australia Home November 11, 1911 Tour Match
Wigan v Oldham Away November 18, 1911 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Widnes Home November 25, 1911 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Neutral December 2, 1911 Lancashire Cup
St Helens v Oldham Away December 7, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 9, 1911 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away December 11, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home December 23, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home December 25, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home December 26, 1911 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home December 30, 1911 League Championship
Salford v Oldham Away January 6, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home January 13, 1912 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away February 10, 1912 League Championship
Coventry v Oldham Away February 17, 1912 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Huddersfield Home February 24, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Wigan Home March 2, 1912 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home March 9, 1912 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away March 13, 1912 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away March 16, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Huddersfield Home March 23, 1912 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Swinton v Oldham Away March 27, 1912 League Championship
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Neutral April 13, 1912 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Dewsbury v Oldham Neutral April 27, 1912 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Dewsbury Home September 7, 1912 League Championship
Hull Kingston Rovers v Oldham Away September 14, 1912 League Championship
Leeds v Oldham Away September 21, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home September 28, 1912 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away October 19, 1912 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Wigan Home October 26, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home November 23, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home December 7, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 12, 1912 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away December 14, 1912 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away December 21, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Hull Kingston Rovers Home December 25, 1912 League Championship
Oldham v Huddersfield Home March 22, 1913 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home March 24, 1913 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away September 13, 1913 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away September 20, 1913 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home September 27, 1913 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away October 4, 1913 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home October 11, 1913 League Championship
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away October 18, 1913 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Widnes Home October 25, 1913 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home November 1, 1913 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 8, 1913 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home November 15, 1913 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Hull FC Home November 22, 1913 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away November 25, 1913 League Championship
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away November 29, 1913 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Neutral December 6, 1913 Lancashire Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away January 24, 1914 League Championship
Oldham v Runcorn Home January 31, 1914 League Championship
Oldham v Huddersfield Home February 7, 1914 League Championship
Runcorn v Oldham Away February 21, 1914 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away February 28, 1914 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Leigh Home March 7, 1914 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away March 14, 1914 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Wakefield Trinity v Oldham Away March 23, 1914 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home March 28, 1914 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away March 30, 1914 League Championship
Swinton v Oldham Away April 10, 1914 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home April 11, 1914 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away April 13, 1914 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home October 10, 1914 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away October 17, 1914 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Leeds Home October 24, 1914 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away October 31, 1914 League Championship
Oldham v Hull FC Home November 7, 1914 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away November 28, 1914 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away December 5, 1914 League Championship
Oldham v St Helens Home December 12, 1914 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away January 16, 1915 League Championship
Oldham v Widnes Home January 23, 1915 League Championship
Warrington v Oldham Away January 30, 1915 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home September 11, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Wigan v Oldham Away September 18, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Huddersfield Home September 25, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Leigh Home October 2, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v St Helens Home October 16, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away October 23, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home October 30, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Leigh v Oldham Away November 6, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home November 13, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Wigan Home December 4, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Salford v Oldham Away December 11, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Halifax Home December 18, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Huddersfield v Oldham Away December 27, 1915 Wartime Friendly
Hull FC v Oldham Away January 1, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Oldham Present Home January 3, 1916 Special Friendly
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away January 8, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Wigan v Oldham Away January 15, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home January 22, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Swinton v Oldham Away January 29, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Leeds Home February 5, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Batley v Oldham Away February 12, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home February 19, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Dewsbury Home March 4, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Wigan Home March 18, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Halifax v Oldham Away March 25, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Batley Home April 1, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Hull FC Home April 15, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home April 29, 1916 Wartime Friendly
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home December 25, 1918 Friendly
Broughton Rangers v Oldham Away January 11, 1919 Friendly
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home January 18, 1919 Lancashire League
Oldham v Swinton Home February 8, 1919 Lancashire League
Warrington v Oldham Away February 15, 1919 Lancashire League
Oldham v Barrow Home March 1, 1919 Lancashire League
Barrow v Oldham Away March 8, 1919 Lancashire League
Oldham v St Helens Recs Home March 15, 1919 Lancashire League
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away March 22, 1919 Lancashire League
Wigan v Oldham Away March 29, 1919 Lancashire League
Oldham v Wigan Home April 5, 1919 Lancashire League
Oldham v St Helens Home April 12, 1919 Lancashire Cup
Swinton v Oldham Away April 18, 1919 Lancashire League
Oldham v Swinton Home April 19, 1919 Lancashire League
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home April 21, 1919 Lancashire League
Barrow v Oldham Away April 26, 1919 Lancashire Cup
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Neutral May 10, 1919 Lancashire Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home May 17, 1919 Lancashire League
Warrington v Oldham Away August 23, 1919 League Championship
Oldham v Rochdale Hornets Home August 30, 1919 League Championship
St Helens v Oldham Away September 6, 1919 League Championship
Oldham v Halifax Home October 11, 1919 League Championship
Oldham v Wakefield Trinity Home November 8, 1919 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1919 League Championship
Oldham v Broughton Rangers Home December 26, 1919 League Championship
Rochdale Hornets v Oldham Away December 27, 1919 League Championship
Oldham v Warrington Home January 1, 1920 League Championship
Oldham v Leigh Home January 3, 1920 League Championship
Leigh v Oldham Away January 14, 1920 League Championship
St Helens Recs v Oldham Away January 17, 1920 League Championship
Halifax v Oldham Away January 24, 1920 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home January 31, 1920 League Championship
Hull FC v Oldham Away February 14, 1920 League Championship
Bradford Northern v Oldham Away February 21, 1920 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Bradford Northern Home February 23, 1920 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Oldham v Warrington Home February 28, 1920 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Salford v Oldham Away March 6, 1920 League Championship
Oldham v Leeds Home March 13, 1920 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Widnes v Oldham Away March 17, 1920 League Championship
Oldham v Barrow Home March 23, 1920 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Neutral March 27, 1920 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Swinton v Oldham Away April 2, 1920 League Championship
Oldham v Salford Home April 3, 1920 League Championship
Huddersfield v Oldham Away October 30, 1920 Friendly
Oldham v Barrow Home November 6, 1920 League Championship
Wigan v Oldham Away November 13, 1920 League Championship
Widnes v Oldham Away November 20, 1920 League Championship
Barrow v Oldham Away December 18, 1920 League Championship
Oldham v Swinton Home December 25, 1920 League Championship