Cauley Woodrow now leading by example at Barnsley

Despite his relatively young age, Barnsley’s leading striker – who has his best years in front of him – is very much a senior voice in the Reds’ dressing room. An old head on young shoulders is the phrase you are looking for.

That was perfectly exemplified when he removed himself from the fray and coolly stood by the touchline and sipped from a bottle of water as his professional traits kicked in after Bristol City’s players tried to put him off when Barnsley were awarded a last-gasp penalty in the game at Oakwell on October 17.

Following a long delay after Michael Sollbauer was stretchered off, Woodrow nervelessly fired home to secure a point for the Reds with the final kick of the match in the 12th minute of stoppage time. It is one of three spot-kicks he has scored this season.

With his Oakwell future secured until the summer of 2023 after recently signing a new contract, Woodrow is a settled, happy figure enjoying his football and the responsibility thrust upon him at this stage of his career.

Back in 2011, Woodrow, whose Rotherham-born father Martin Patching was a professional with Wolves and Watford, became the first non-league player to be capped at youth level for England since the 1970s when he was a youngster at Luton Town.

A move to Premier League outfit Fulham beckoned while still a teenager, where some experienced figures helped him along the way.

As an ‘old head’ these days, he is now doing the same at Barnsley, whose young players are showing signs of coming of age.

Woodrow said: “I was very lucky in that I came into a (Fulham) squad that was full of internationals. I learned from players who have played hundreds of games in the Premier League in my position such as Darren Bent and (Hugo) Rodallega.

“As I settled into the first team a lot more, Scott Parker was a massive role model for me and someone I looked up to and still look up to massively now.

“His career speaks for itself and he made it easier for me at the time to settle in around big players because it is nerve-wracking. Hopefully, I can pass on the things I have learned from those older players here.

“If I was at a different club with older players, maybe I would not have that role. Here I am looked at as one of the older players with a lot of young people around me. I do have a different role and want to help the young ones out as much as I can.”

On committing to Barnsley, the Hemel Hempstead born player, who was linked to several clubs, including weekend opponents Nottingham Forest, before agreeing his new deal, added: “There was interest from other teams. But when Barnsley offered me a contract, I had a decision to make and I wanted to sign it. I am happy here now and focused and I have signed a three-year contract and can put all the speculation behind me and focus on the future.”

Barnsley are in a good place on the back of just one defeat in seven matches since the departure of Gerhard Struber, with fears that the Austrian’s exit would impact in terms of results on the pitch having been emphatically dispelled.

As it stands, the Reds are 10 points better off after 13 matches than they were last season.

This time last year, they were propping up the Championship table and now they reside in 16th.

Barnsley might not have their backs against the wall as they did throughout 2019-20 when they were regularly written off, yet their motivation to prove the doubters wrong remains.

Woodrow said: “When we have had our backs against the wall, we have proved people wrong. Whereas now we are sitting in a good position.

“But we have the same mindset and nothing has changed. We still want to keep pushing and proving people wrong as we have a chance to get higher up the table and that is our goal.”

Alongside learning from many internationals in his formative years at Craven Cottage, Woodrow has seen his footballing education broadened by working with several domestic and foreign head coaches, including Felix Magath, who handed him his top-flight debut at the age of 19.

After successfully working alongside Struber – who provided another string to his bow by deploying him in a deep-lying role – Woodrow is enjoying life alongside his successor in Valerien Ismael, whose start to his tenure at Oakwell has been encouraging.

“I’ve worked under a lot of different managers. A lot have been German or Austrian or had that sort of style.” Woodrow added.

“To be honest, with the previous managers I have worked under, maybe their English has not been as good.

“But the manager now (Ismael) sounds English and you would not even know that English is not his first language. In that respect, it is easier to build a relationship straightaway.”

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