Born in Scarborough, Wood began his career with Middlesbrough, making 101 league appearances between 1981 and 1984. He became the focal point of a dispute which ended Malcolm Allison's managerial reign at Middlesbrough: with the club on the verge of liquidation, Allison threatened to resign if Wood were sold to Chelsea for £100,000, declaring that it was "better for the club to die than to linger on".
Born in Scarborough, Wood began his professional career with Middlesbrough, making 101 league appearances from 1981 to 1984. He was a central figure in a dispute that caused Malcolm Allison's resignation as manager: the club faced financial difficulties, and Allison threatened to quit if Wood were sold to Chelsea for £100,000, claiming it would be "better for the club to die than to continue."