Fatherly Pride At Scoring Exploits

Martin Patching continues to feel proud from afar after the impact of his son Cauley Woodrow continued with two goals in Barnsley’s surprise draw at Albion in midweek.

It would have been nice to report this as a story of hands-on parental support – alas, the 24-year-old’s parents did not stay together and a distance was created between the parties.

But the former Wolves midfielder remains thrilled by the emergence of a player who has already appeared in all four divisions as well as on the international stage.

“I watch his career very closely and have seen him play live a few times and loads on the TV,” he said today.

“I was interviewed by the match programme before I saw him play for Fulham at my local club Rotherham a few years ago and also detected a bit of a buzz about him round Molineux when I was there not long after he had helped put Wolves out of the FA Cup with a couple of goals.

“I was interviewed in one of the rooms in that big North Bank stand and I know some were wondering whether Kenny Jackett might see him as the sort of goal-hungry young forward he might be interested in.

“It didn’t happen but he scored against Wolves again, this time for Burton Albion, and made a permanent move to Barnsley last season after several loans.

“There have been comments about how he can be my son if he doesn’t have my surname but he was Christened Cauley Woodrow Patching and I joke that the last bit must have been dropped off as it won’t fit on the shirt!”

Born in Hemel Hempstead during the time his father remained in the Home Counties after his career with Watford, he has played and scored for England under-17s, under-20s and under-21s.

He has netted five times in 11 games this season after top-scoring at Oakwell with his 19 last term.

So, does he come from a long line of sporting ancestors? “Definitely not,” Martin added.

“Neither my mother or father were sporting and, of the five boys and a girl they had, I am the only one who played professionally, although my brother Keith had clubs in the Yorkshire League and was invited for trials at Mansfield and Rotherham.

“I see bits of myself in Cauley with his athleticism and hard work. I like to think I had a reputation for that as well.

“But he is more of a specialist than I ever was and is an out-and-out forward who even takes the penalties. I played up front occasionally, all across midfield and even, under Sammy Chung, as a man-marker of left-wingers like Gordon Hill, Clive Walker and Charlie Woods.

“I am enjoying seeing Cauley doing so well and hoping he can play higher than the Championship again in future.”