When the 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship fixtures were announced, few were more excited about the season opener than Barnsley striker Cauley Woodrow.
The 24-year-old undertook his footballing education at Fulham, and he’s now relishing taking on his former side at Oakwell this Saturday.
“It was a bit crazy really,” Woodrow said. “I’d joked about it with friends, ‘imagine if we got Fulham first game of the season,’ so as soon as I saw the fixtures I was really excited and looking forward to it more than anything.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Fulham as a club. I loved it there. I was 16 when I joined, a boy, and was there for seven years as I grew up into a man.
“I learnt a lot from some brilliant coaches and fantastic players. Fulham was the club that ultimately gave me my opportunity, so I can’t thank the Club enough for that. I always look out for their scores as Fulham are always in my mind.
“Saturday will be a good game. We’re coming off the back of a really good season, we’ve got a lot of new players, Fulham have got a couple of new additions too, and I think it will be a really exciting game. Both teams have got a lot of quality, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Woodrow was a popular member of the changing room during his time in SW6, and he’s delighted to now see his one-time roommate Scott Parker in charge.
“I still speak to the boys every now and again,” he said. “There’s a lot of players there from my time at Fulham who I’m still close to, so it will be nice to see them all again.
“I played with Scott as well. I was quite close to him and I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I was really, really pleased for him [when he was appointed]. His career and knowledge of the game speaks for itself.
“When I was playing at Fulham you could always see that coaching side to him, he was always trying to help players and give them advice to try and improve their game. I’m confident that he’ll do really well at Fulham and I just wish him all the best.”
Woodrow has certainly found his groove in South Yorkshire. Despite not kicking a ball until November, he finished last season as Barnsley’s joint top goal scorer as they won automatic promotion from League One.
But the former England Under-21 international always had faith that form would come with a run of matches. (Did you know – he had a better minutes per goal ratio than Ross McCormack in 2015/16?)
“At Fulham my matches were a little more spread out, I didn’t really play back to back games,” he stated. “When I went to Burton I played week in, week out, and managed to score goals there, and then the same at Barnsley.
“I think for any player it’s the same, if you’re playing every week you get more confidence. I knew that if I played I’d get goals. I played regularly last season and in 36 appearances I managed to score 19 goals.
“I had a nightmare start, though. I pulled my hamstring twice and was out for eight weeks. It’s the worst thing that can happen to you when you join a new club because you want to get yourself straight in the team and scoring goals.
“But we were doing really well at the time when I came in which made it a bit easier to settle, and it went on from there really.”
Barnsley head to Craven Cottage for the reverse fixture in mid-February for what will be a poignant afternoon for Woodrow back at the ground where he lifted the Premier Academy League trophy and scored his first top flight goal.
“Anyone that ever goes to Craven Cottage knows what a fantastic stadium it is,” he said. “I’ve got some really good memories there, some special moments that I’ve had there in my career so I’m really looking forward to going back, and I hope I get a good reception from the fans as it will be great to see them again.”
