Clubs: Crystal Palace, Oldham Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur
International honours: England
George Woodger, an inside or centre-forward of the highest quality, played for Palace in the club's early years and quickly became that first Palace superstar - and that in an age when today's publicity was unthinkable.
George was a local boy from Croydon and that in itself was a rarity for virtually all the Palace staff were professionals from the north at the time. He made his Palace debut on 1st November 1905 at Swindon Town in a United League game, scoring twice in a 6-1 win. He soon became a permanent fixture in the Southern and United League sides and his delicate ball-playing skills rapidly earned him a special place in the affections of Palace fans.
Upon the club being accepted into the First Division of the Southern League, George continued to progress as a valuable goalscorer as well as developing and displaying a full range of skills. His best season with the club was undoubtedly 1907/08, during which he staked his claim for a full England cap and was reserve against Scotland. Sadly, George found it necessary to reach the top via a Football League club and he moved to Oldham in September 1910 in order to gain international recognition.
Statistics
Games: 177
Goals: 47
Source: The Men Who Made Crystal Palace, Rev. Nigel Sands (Tempus 2004)
