Player Profiles #25 – Craig Woods

Player Profiles #25 – Craig Woods

Years played for ACC: I played in the 2008 season

Playing role: All rounder who batted in top 4 and bowled off spin

Batting style: RHB aggressive and slightly loose

Bowling style: RHB Off spin who could contain and build pressure

Highest score: I remember getting 110* in the one game and 78* in another but I can’t remember exactly

Best bowling figures: Again can’t remember guessing 4-20 odd

Amateur cricketing hero(es): Alec McKinlay and I spent a lot of time together and had some great partnerships so would have to be him or Dom Harvey – he has always been a champ and super talented

Favourite cricketer: Michael Clarke and Andrew Flintoff

Favourite ACC moment: Winning the double during the season and the celebrations with the team after gaining promotion to the Premier League for the first time

Favourite movie: Remember the Titans

Favourite meal: Hamburgers

Biggest passion/hobby outside of cricket: Football – absolutely massive Man United Fan

If you were an overseas player, what are you doing now (current profession, still playing cricket?):

I am now 32 and no longer playing cricket after being diagnosed with a very serious kidney disease 9 years ago. Hoping to have a transplant this year.

Currently own and run my own property company, manager of provincial hockey club’s Premier League team, and a part time motivational speaker and mental coach.

I am still involved in cricket and hockey.

Married to Catherine with a little boy Hudson (2)

What does ACC mean to you?:

Ah man the memories.

I still remember waiting for Nick Allcoat at the bus stop absolutely freezing (never been that cold in my life) in April 2008 and thinking what had I got myself into.

6/7 months later I was jumping up and down celebrating our first league win with a great bunch of guys.

I remember my first net, helping JB with the ground, going for long lunches with Macca and walking down to the ground every day to get involved in as much I could.

The experience of playing in a new country was one that taught me so much about my game and whilst I struggled individually I felt I managed to assist in galvanising the team to ultimately achieving our goal of promotion.

Nottingham will always hold a special place in my heart and I feel like it was a real learning curve for my whole life.

I was so grateful to the Allcoats, the Harveys and all the other club families who treated me like one of their own.

What a special bunch of people.

I only really appreciated how great ACC was the following year where I went to a club at Surrey and whilst performing much better, only had half the experience due to the people.

ACC people are just special.

I would give anything to be able to relive that season again and can’t wait until I have recovered to come and visit everyone at the Club.

Thank you ACC for playing such a big role in my life. The lessons I learnt there definitely helped me as a player and in the following 2 years I managed to achieve my goals at home by playing domestic cricket.

Thanks to all of you for memories that will be with me forever.

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