Accrington Stanley’s Josh Woods Fulfills Dream to Play at Anfield

Josh Woods, a 24-year-old forward for League Two side Accrington Stanley, will fulfill a lifelong dream on Saturday as he steps onto the pitch at Anfield to face his boyhood club, Liverpool, in the FA Cup third round. Woods, a lifelong Liverpool fan, grew up idolizing Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and has been a regular in the Kop, cheering on the Reds.

Woods, who was raised in Skelmersdale, west Lancashire, has a deep connection to Liverpool. His father, Dale, was a steward at Anfield, and his brother, Connor, once played in Liverpool’s academy. Woods himself has vivid memories of running onto the Anfield pitch as a child after watching his brother play in an academy game. “I was only five, I jumped over the wall and ran on,” he recalls with a laugh. “I was just running around in circles. My mum and dad were screaming at me to get off.”

Despite his love for Liverpool, Woods’ journey to professional football was unconventional. He initially pursued a career as a barber, cutting hair since the age of 12 to fund his trips to Anfield. “I never thought I would be a professional footballer,” he says. “I played for the school team, but I was never good. I just wanted to cut hair and watch football.” It wasn’t until he left school and began playing Sunday league football that he realized his potential. After being spotted playing for Skelmersdale-based team Clay Brow, he signed with Accrington Stanley in 2021.

Woods’ reaction to the FA Cup draw, which paired Accrington with Liverpool, went viral on social media. A clip of him jumping off his sofa and dancing around his living room has been viewed tens of thousands of times. “I was in shock for the first hour, and then all my emotions came out,” he says. “Connor was with me, and it got a bit emotional. We’re both from non-league backgrounds, and you don’t ever think you’re going to get a chance to play at Anfield.”

Accrington Stanley, currently 19th in League Two, face a daunting task against Liverpool, who are six points clear at the top of the Premier League. Despite the odds, Woods is determined to make the most of the occasion. “We’re going overnight, and I want to take everything in from the journey to Liverpool to walking out at Anfield,” he says. “It’s going to be a special day. But we know we’re there to do our jobs.”

For Woods, the match is more than just a game; it’s the culmination of a lifelong dream. “When I go and watch Liverpool, I always think to myself, ‘I’d love to play at Anfield one day,'” he says. “Now it’s about to happen. Dreams do come true.”