Half price sale marks closure of John Wood Sports
The owner of a popular Wokingham sports shop is preparing to hang up his boots.
John Wood, who runs John Woods Sports in Market Place, is retiring, but before he heads to the 19th hole for a well-earned drink, he is today launching a half price closing down sale.
The store, opposite the Town Hall, will close its doors for good on January 18, 2017. It first opened in 1971 and in that time Mr Wood has seen generations come in for everything from football boots to running gear.
He said: “It’s the end of an era. Children came in and then they grew up and came back for their children’s football boots.
“Football boots and trainers have always sold well.”
Mr Wood said that part of the reason for closing is the way in which the town’s footfall has dropped over the past decade, while also seeing business go online.
“It has affected us,” he explained. “People come in and try things on and then buy online. We just can’t compete.”
In preparation for the final whistle, Mr Wood has launched a closing down sale, with all stock reduced in price by 50%.
The store shuts for Christmas on Christmas Eve but re-opens again on December 27.
However, Mr Wood will not become an armchair sports fan. He intends to continue acting as chairman for Finchampstead Sports Club, a role he’s held for 29 years.
He added: “I’ve got a big garden and I intend to look up some old pals as I’ve not seen them because I’ve been working full-time.”
Mr Wood was born in 1935 and remembers the start of the Second World War. Evacuated to Birmingham, he left school at 15, before heading to Fleet Street as an apprentice. He then did his National Service in the Medical Corps and served in Germany.
From an early age, he was a keen footballer, playing for Fulham Juniors in 1951/52, then at Wimbledon in 1952-56 and Sutton United in 1957-60.
He’s also opened a squash club in 1975, helped create Wokingham’s first skateboard park, and has worked on the town’s half-marathon.
Now he’s looking forward to his future, but hopes that the town centre’s regeneration will be a success.
“I hope Wokingham will recover as Wokingham has supported me and I really want the town to be a success,” he said.
