In a remarkable turn of events that reads like a football fairytale, Accrington Stanley forward Josh Woods is about to experience what every Liverpool fan dreams of - but with an unexpected twist. Just two months ago, he was singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the Kop; now, he's preparing to face his beloved Reds in the FA Cup third round.
The 24-year-old's Liverpool connections run deep. With a father who worked as an Anfield steward and a brother who came through Liverpool's academy, Woods has lived and breathed Liverpool FC since childhood. He grew up idolizing Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, and was even present at Wembley for Liverpool's 2022 FA Cup triumph over Chelsea.
"I was in shock for the first hour and then all my emotions came out," Woods recalls of the moment he learned about the FA Cup draw, a reaction that went viral on social media as he jumped off his sofa in pure jubilation.
Woods' journey to professional football is as unconventional as they come. He started as a barber at age 12, using his earnings to fund trips to watch Liverpool play. "I'd get the train from Ormskirk to Kirkdale and walk 15 minutes to Anfield. I never thought I would be a professional footballer," he reflects. His first Anfield pitch experience? Running onto the field as a five-year-old after his brother's academy game, leading to a memorable chase as his parents yelled for his return.
Remarkably, Woods still maintains his barbering skills, providing pre-match haircuts to teammates. His transition from cutting hair to cutting through defenses wasn't realized until after leaving school, when a race victory over one of his school's fastest runners revealed his athletic potential.
The upcoming match presents a David versus Goliath scenario, with League Two's Accrington Stanley, currently 19th, facing the Premier League leaders who have lost just twice in 29 games this season. Approximately 5,000 Accrington supporters - more than double their average League Two attendance - will travel to witness this historic encounter.
"We're going overnight and I want to take everything in from the journey to Liverpool to walking out at Anfield," Woods says. "It's going to be a special day. But we know we're there to do our jobs."
Adding to the rich tapestry of this story, Woods once met Liverpool legend Ian Rush, who ironically featured in a famous 1980s milk advertisement poking fun at Accrington Stanley. "Each time I mention to someone I play for Accrington Stanley, they always bring that advert up," Woods notes with amusement.
For a player whose middle name 'Stanley' comes from his grandfather, this FA Cup clash represents more than just a game - it's a moment where past meets present, where boyhood dreams collide with professional reality on one of football's grandest stages.
