Roger Wood was an Emley man through and through having been associated with the football club for over 60 years. He was a fine all-round sportsman, also playing for the cricket club.

Roger started his Emley career in the early 1960s, and was the heart of the team that dominated the Huddersfield League in that period. He was a combatitive midfielder, or wing-half as it was known then, very capable of looking after himself in an era when the midfield hard man was a necessity in any team. Roger could also play though, and his ability to win and distribute the ball was key to Emley’s success. Roger was at his peak as Emley reached the last sixteen of the FA Amateur Cup in 1968-69 and again in 1969-70.  He played in all the Amateur Cup games and the team that won the Yorkshire League Cup, Emley’s first senior honour, in 1970.

As Emley continued to develop and move up the Yorkshire League, Roger was there driving the team on. He wasn’t to be messed around with on the pitch, once throwing his boots at a referee who had the temerity to send him off!  

He was a hard trainer as well, going harder and faster than anyone else often kitted out in a t-shirt and shorts whilst others shivered in their track-suits in the Emley winter winds.

When Emley won their first Yorkshire League in 1976 Roger had reverted to right full-back and he played there in the 1976 Sheffield Cup final, Emley’s first victory in that competition, against Worksop.

His skill and tackling ability served him well in that position even as age caught up with him, and he made several appearances for the Club in the second Yorkshire League Championship winning team of 1977-78. His final appearance for the Club was against Hallam in April 1978.

As his playing career ended Roger stayed to help the Club develop,serving on the Committee and as assistant manager as Emley moved into the Northern Counties East League.  In more recent years Roger has been a regular fan at games, sitting in the stand, offering the contents of his hip flask to his fellow supporters and enjoying the revival of the Club’s fortunes.

Though tough and uncompromising on the pitch, Roger was a gentleman and devoted family man off it.  Without him it is doubtful Emley AFC would have achieved the success it has over the past 60 years, and it certainly wouldn’t be the club that it is. He will be sadly missed by all at the football club and in the wider community of Emley.

Article prepared by Ian Mason.