Former Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic man retires aged 39
Former Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic player Richard Wood has announced his retirement from football on his X account.
Wood has called time on his playing career at the age of 39. He will officially hang up his boots once his contract at Doncaster Rovers expires at the end of next month.
Wood, who is from Ossett, started out at Sheffield Wednesday as a youngster. He has since gone on to play over 650 games.
He has posted on social media: “You must listen to your body and say stop at the right time. It has not been without long and careful consideration that I have come to this conclusion, and, truth be told, I have never really contemplated the reality of hanging up the old magic hat until now. I think that tells its own story.”
He added: “It has been a fairytale. I’m lost for words to explain how privileged I feel to have enjoyed the career that I have: 667 appearances for eight different clubs – no wonder I’m creaking! – and five promotions is a CV I could never have dreamed of writing as a fresh-faced 17-yr old making my debut for Sheffield Wednesday back in 2003.”
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic player Richard Wood retires
Wood rose up through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday and went on to feature on 189 occasions for the Owls in his early career, chipping in with eight goals. He then left Hillsborough in 2010.
Coventry City initially brought him in on loan before making his transfer permanent. He made 129 appearances for the Sky Blues and found the net on eight occasions.
Charlton Athletic subsequently lured him down south in 2013. However, he didn’t last too long in London and moved back up north after a year.
Wood then became a key player at Rotherham United and was a great servant to the Millers. He played 256 matches and scored 22 times.
Doncaster Rovers promotion
Doncaster Rovers signed Wood in 2023 to boost their defensive ranks. He has provided more competition and depth to Grant McCann’s options at the back and injects valuable experience into their squad.
The Yorkshireman has played 34 games for Rovers since joining them. They have been promoted from League Two and are now preparing for life in League One.
However, Wood has called time on his playing days now and will weigh up his next move. He has had his injury issues over the past 12 months.
Why Peterborough United are rooting for Sheffield United or Coventry City to win promotion to the Premier League
Posh will receive a cool million pounds if ‘The Blades’ or ‘The Sky Blues’ reach the Premier League because of clauses inserted into the transfers of Harrison Burrows and Ephron Mason-Clark from London Road.
Burrows has been a standout performer in his first season with Sheffield United. The 23 year-old appeared in 43 of their 46 regular season Championship fixtures, scoring five goals. He was selected for the Championship team of the season as chosen by EFL experts to follow his trophy-laden final season at Posh.
The Posh Academy graduate was sold to Sheffield United for around £4 million last summer, plus some lucrative add-ons. ‘The Blades’ who finished third in the Championship, are at Bristol City, who finished sixth, for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on Thursday (8pm kick off).
Coventry, who finished fifth, entertain fourth-place finishers Sunderland in their semi-final first leg on Friday (8pm) and are sweating on the fitness of Mason-Clark who has missed the last five matches because of a foot injury.
It’s been an injury-troubled first season at Coventry for the 25 year-old who has started just 17 Championship games for a club he joined for £4.25 million in January, 2024. He was initially loaned back to Posh until the end of last season.
Mason-Clark has scored five goals and improved rapidly after Frank Lampard replaced Mark Robins as manager.
The second legs of the Championship play-off semi-finals take place on Monday, May 12 at Sheffield United and Tuesday, May 13 at Sunderland (8pm kick offs).
