Career
Woodley was spotted by a Chelsea scout whilst playing for Windsor and Eton and signed for the club in 1931, making his debut the same year. Known for his reliability and his impressive sense of anticipation, Woodley"s performances were often key to preserving Chelsea"s First Division status with his high-profile team mates invariably failing to live up to expectations. So reliable was he that he kept John Jackson, Scotland"s first choice goalkeeper, out of the Chelsea side.
His international career was ended prematurely by the outbreak of the Second World War.
Woodley briefly resumed his playing career with Chelsea after the War, playing in their famous friendly match against Soviet side, Dynamo Moscow, but left on a free transfer shortly afterwards and joined Bath City. An injury crisis among Derby County"s goalkeepers saw Woodley return to the First Division early in 1946, making a further 30 league appearances.
He died in October 1978.