woods ready for the next big step

Gregor Kyle
TO those who were perhaps expecting Tony Mowbray to bring another coach in from one of his previous clubs, the appointment of Stevie Woods as first team goalkeeping coach may have come as a surprise.

However, to the people who have followed the progress of Celtic’s reserve and Academy teams over the past decade, the former Motherwell keeper was the outstanding candidate.

Quietly working behind the scenes, Woods has gathered experience and gained the respect of his players and peers, impressing many with his ideas and approach to his work.

Now, having previously stood in for former coach Jim Blyth on occasion, he will now have the opportunity to work full-time at senior level, joining Tony Mowbray’s coaching staff and as Woods told the official site in an exclusive interview, it is an opportunity he has long dreamed of.

“Part-time and full-time I have been here for nearly 10 years now, starting under Terry Gennoe” he told celticfc.net. “This is a dream come true, I am absolutely delighted and I have realised an ambition of mine very, very early in my coaching career.

“I learned so much from working with both Terry and Jim Blyth over the years and I had great working relationships with both of them.

“I feel this opportunity is something I am ready for and I am really looking forward to the challenge of working with the new management team.”

It is, for Woods, a natural progression and in the twilight of his playing career, he was already making inroads in coaching, working with the first-team at Livingston, Motherwell, St Mirren and Dunfermline Athletic.

He then took up a full time post within the Academy at the bequest of Tommy Burns, under Gordon Strachan and he has worked hard for his opportunity, establishing himself as one of the most respected young coaches in the Scottish game.

“The experience was all part of my coaching education and got me to the level where I was working with a good standard of professional player and learning my trade,” he continued.

“I was learning all the time and I feel that I am now in a good position to go in and work with the manager and his goalies.

“It’s not going to be completely alien for me, working at first-team level at the club, because last year, when a couple of keepers were on the club’s radar and Jim Blyth was out looking at them, I had the opportunity to work with Artur ahead of one of the Kilmarnock games.

“This year I had another opportunity to do that and I feel comfortable working with Artur and hopefully we can develop a relationship that will see us get the best out of each other.”

Watching Woods in action, what is most striking is his approach and he uses a variety of eye-catching methods in training, changing the routines on a daily basis.

During his brief spell working with Artur Boruc he also took the time and effort to contact some of the keeper’s old Polish coaches and build a series of ‘Polish-themed’ sessions which impressed Celtic’s No.1.

“There are two ways of thinking about it and when I was a player I hated doing the same thing every day,” said Woods. “Secondly, I could imagine how stale it would get as a coach if you were doing the same thing every day.

“The challenge is to always keep things fresh and interesting and to embrace the latest techniques.

“I keep an open mind with everyone and listen to any comments that people have about my coaching and with that approach I personally find work to be much more refreshing and rewarding.

“I do work on the fundamentals and will make sure they don’t take the eye off the ball in that respect, but they will get a good, varied training regime.

“When you are working with youth team goalkeepers, as I have for the past couple of years, you tend to look more at the fundamental,” he continued. “Now, at first-team level, I will continue to do that but will try and keep them motivated and ensure the variety is there, from the start to the end of the season.

“That’s crucial, considering the work load they take on over the course of the year and I have a bank of drills that I want to do, with Artur, Lukas Zaluska, Mark Brown, Scott Fox, Daniele Giordano and Dominic Cervi all in mind.

“I will work with them individually on each of their strengths and weaknesses and will give them my full attention over the season.”

Woods will step into the role after a sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, which has seen him raise over £4,000 for the Anthony Nolan Trust and their ongoing work and on leukaemia and bone marrow transplantation.

“That was a stroll in the park," added Woods with a smile. "I think my biggest hill is now in front of me, working with some great goalkeepers in front of those incredible supporters. I can’t wait to get started.”