Flashback to the beginning of the 2018/19 season and ex-Premier League champions Leicester City announced their retained list, releasing players such as Robert Huth and Josh Debayo yet offering contracts to several youngsters such as Josh Gordon, ex-England under 19's Championship victor Darnell Johnson and Connor Wood contracts which would see the young Foxes have an extra year or two at the club.
Wood had made 37 appearances for the Leicester City development squad in the 2017/18 season and helped his side to challenge for the Premier League 2 title. He was also part of the unbeaten squad who won the Hong Kong City Soccer Sevens tournament in 2017 alongside first team footballers such as Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel.
However, as the 2017/18 seasson drew to a close, then-League One side Bradford City poached left-back Connor Wood from the King Power Stadium on an undisclosed fee, which would turn out to be an excellent piece of business from a controversial team of Michael Collins, Greg Abbott and of course, Edin Rahic. He signed a three year deal at Valley Parade and stated that he chose to join the Bantams due to their 'youth policy'.
At left-back he challenged former-City scapegoat Adam Chicksen throughout his first season, the 2018/19 season, but was often played in a more attacking role under David Hopkin as a left winger. Wood earned his first and only Bradford goal on New Years day as the Bantams defeated Accrington Stanley 3-0 thanks to goals also from Lewis O'Brien and Eoin Doyle. Wood's goal was undoubtedly an unforgettable one, dispatching the ball into the top corner in such style than any striker would be proud of it.
Wood completed the 2018/19 season with an impressive 26 appearances, but his first season at City was also the season that the Bantams suffered relegation to the fourth tier of English football under their third manager- Gary Bowyer.
Whilst Wood had acted as more of a left winger in League One, Bowyer opted to use the Englishman as an attacking full-back who bombed down the line whilst the rest of the defence stayed firm and stable at the back. So far this season, which has been temporarily halted due to the coronavirus outbreak, Wood has assisted six goals as a defender which is the joint most in League Two (for a defender), and is joint with Swindon Town left-back Chris Hussey and Crewe's Perry Ng.
Wood has identified himself as a fan favourite in West Yorkshire, acting as a leader for the club and being one of the few players who put 100% into every game. Time and time again, after leaving a Bradford home or away game the fans have been quoted stating that Wood is one of the only players who can hold their heads high following a dire performance and result.
Continuously following dangerous counter-attacks from the opposition, Wood has been deserted as the last man and has heroically put his body on the line to protect Richard O'Donnell's goal when nobody else could, acting as the hero of the Bradford back line. Just a few examples of these could include Northampton Town and Grimsby Town in front of the home faithful, and Salford City away in Bradford's most recent defeat.
Heading into January Wood possessed the highest success rate of crosses meeting their desired destinations in the top four tiers of English football, having an astounding 47% success rate in 53 crosses.
With the League Two campaign practically over for Stuart McCall's Bradford side it is likely that interest will be high for the young English left-back who has emerged as the best full-back in League Two, and McCall is sure to ensure that all of his power will be put into keeping a talented leader and fighter Connor Wood at Valley Parade as he could be set to see out his final year contracted to the club.
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