It was a weekend the Woodman family will never forget. On Saturday, Andy celebrated his second promotion in three seasons as manager of Bromley, taking the club into League One for the first time in their history, and on Sunday his son Freddie made his Premier League debut for Liverpool in their historic win at Hill Dickinson Stadium. And dad and lad may not be done yet.
Liverpool’s season had been bereft of “big moments” – to use Arne Slot’s description – until Virgil van Dijk scored a 100th-minute winner that clinched victory in the first Merseyside derby at Everton’s new stadium. That big moment may not be surpassed for Liverpool this season and also rewarded Freddie Woodman’s decision to become their third-choice goalkeeper when his contract with Preston expired last summer. A 58th-minute replacement for the injured Giorgi Mamardashvili, the 29-year-old played his part as Liverpool tormented their local rivals yet again and closed in on Champions League qualification in the process.
Only one moment could possibly rival a Liverpool league debut in those circumstances for a Croydon-born keeper who was a mascot and a ballboy for Crystal Palace, and who started his career in Palace’s youth academy. And, indeed, a full Premier League debut for Liverpool against Palace at Anfield beckons for Woodman on Saturday with Mamardashvili expected to be sidelined with a knee injury and Alisson unlikely to return from a hamstring problem until Liverpool visit Manchester United on 3 May.
“It would be unreal, incredible, to get another game in the Premier League and for Liverpool,” Woodman says. “I grew up supporting Palace, I was a ballboy and played against them in the Carabao Cup [when Palace won 3-0 at Anfield in October]. I want Giorgi to be fine and then Ali, the best goalkeeper in the world, to come back fit. We will see what happens on Saturday. I will just go about my stuff this week and prepare as if I am playing.”
The routine of training with little prospect of playing at the end of the week can be difficult for a third-choice keeper, and especially for one who is unaccustomed to the role. Woodman was first choice for three seasons at Preston and two seasons on loan at Swansea before moving to Deepdale. Sitting on the bench after five years of regular Championship football has required a change in mindset.
“It’s tough,” Woodman admits. “I am new to this role. When the opportunity came along I was a bit unsure whether to do it and as a third choice I am still learning on the job. I quickly realised that my game time is going to be limited and that I would probably be called upon for 10, 20 minutes, and when that time comes I just wanted to be prepared. And so the eight months where I’m training, I’m just thinking about those 10 minutes, those 20 minutes, where you are nervous but can rely on all the preparation that you’ve done, and that’s what I tried to do.
“Being third choice, from what I’ve seen, is more important than what I thought coming in,” Woodman adds. “You are trying to have a relationship with the lads so if Dom [Szoboszlai] wants to do extra free-kicks, I want to be there to help him. If Mo [Salah] wants to do extra shooting, I want to be there to help him. It’s just trying to find a different role within the team and realising how important it is.”
Woodman has quickly become a popular figure inside the Liverpool dressing room – “He is a great character and he is a big part of our group,” says Van Dijk – and his decision to accept a third-choice role has been vindicated in other ways. “Mo Salah is coming to you and saying he wants to do extra shooting. It’s every kid’s dream,” the former England Under-21 international says. “I’ve watched him over the last seven to eight years and to build a relationship with Robbo [Andy Robertson], Curtis [Jones], Cody [Gakpo], Virgil … I saw these guys last season as superstars and you come in and you realise that they’re just normal blokes and they’re good people and it’s been really nice to build those relationships.
“Did I ever think I was going to be playing for Liverpool in the Premier League? Probably not, but when I was called upon I just wanted to do my best. It was a little nerve-racking to be honest. But I think the nerves sort of fuel you, to want to do well and not to let people down really. I was just happy to get over the line, but then to win it the way we did was incredible.”
Woodman’s father was a former goalkeeper himself as well as a goalkeeping coach at Newcastle, West Ham, Palace and Arsenal before becoming manager of Bromley in 2021. The club were 10th in the National League when Andy Woodman took over, won promotion to the Football League for the first time in 2023-24 and have followed that up this season with promotion to League One, their highest position in 134 years. Woodman senior’s side will seal the League Two title should they beat Salford on Thursday and win their final game of another triumphant campaign at home to Walsall on 2 May.
Father and son would speak after every game that the latter played for Preston. “He used to call me when I played – now he doesn’t speak to me!” Freddie says with a laugh. “No, I spoke to him on Saturday night and he was celebrating a promotion. I just got my head down and prepared for this game as I do every game, which is as if I am playing. I was actually enjoying the Merseyside derby at the new stadium and then I was chucked into it at the deep end, so it was a good weekend for family.”
