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Richard Wood exclusive: Rotherham United defender on 2018 play-off final, Paul Warne and more


Rotherham hero Richard Wood has revealed all on his heroics in the 2018 Sky Bet League One play-off final against Shrewsbury.

The Millers make the trip to Shropshire on Boxing Day for only their second league meeting since the clash at Wembley.

Wood's efforts were crucial as his header gave Rotherham a first-half lead before popping up to strike in extra-time for what proved to be the decisive goal.

The winning moment has lived with him ever since. While it was a key incident in the club's history, Wood revealed that the personal effects of the day resonate with him the most.

"My first thought were my children," the defender explained.

"The first goal went in and I didn't think about my kids then for some reason, I've got no idea why. I was just celebrating and buzzing to have scored.

"I think at that point, my first goal, I wasn't sure what the outcome was going to be but once that second goal went in, obviously we might have scored another one on top of that, but I knew that was the winning goal.

"My children were sat just above the dugout. I had to sprint, and I've never ran as quick, back to the halfway line just to see their faces.

"Both of my sons, who were ten and eight at the time, they were just crying as they were overjoyed with everything.

"It gets me now! I still think about it now. That was my first thought and to see how happy they were makes me happy."

Rotherham captain Richard Wood scores an extra-time winner in the League One play-off final
Rotherham captain Richard Wood scores an extra-time winner in the League One play-off final

That extra-time effort is one that is watched on multiple occasions in the Wood household.

But it's not only in the house where his children remind themselves of their dad's goal in the final.

"It's ridiculous! We were in the Apple shop yesterday and he was trying some Beats on, the headphones," Wood joked.

"He's Googling 'Richard Wood versus Shrewsbury' as he wanted to listen to it and watch the goals again.

"I'm like 'come on mate you can't do that in the Apple shop!'. They watch it all the time. We've got it recorded at home on the tv.

"When he stays at his nan's house, they've got it recorded and she texts me 'he's watching the goals again, he's watching the game over again' so they absolutely buzz off it.

"I'm glad they do. It's something to remember me by. They always put me, Wembley and two goals and they're so proud of it which makes me really proud as well."

Paul Warne and Richard Wood lift the Sky Bet League One play-off trophy
Paul Warne and Richard Wood lift the Sky Bet League One play-off trophy

Paul Warne guided the Millers back to the Sky Bet Championship in his first full season in charge, overseeing that success at the national stadium.

Having worked with him throughout his time at the club, Wood highlighted the duo's personal relationship and praised Warne's methods off-the-pitch in order to get the best out of the team on it.

"I've been friends with him for a long time - we've been here six seasons," he continued.

"He was the fitness coach here when I first joined so I'd class him as a friend but I have got massive respect for him.

"As a manager now, he's doing a brilliant job and he's coming into his own with it really because he got thrown into the job at the time. He says he didn't want to do it but everyone was telling him, myself included, how good he is for the job.

"His man management skills are brilliant. He speaks about human beings all the time. He wants good people all around him and that's what he's getting.

"The things he gets us doing, not just on the field, it's off the field stuff. Getting up and speaking in front of the all the lads and staff saying what motivates us, talk about our families.

"It's things you never normally do in a dressing room because it's quite a macho place to be. If you've got any issues or any problems, you don't tend to talk about that in the dressing room as the lads are having banter.

"But he tries to get us to speak about personal things so that we get to know each other. The team will gel better and we'll perform better inevitably."

Watch the full interview in the video above.


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