Sam Woods Joins on-loan

Crystal Palace defender Sam Woods has joined the Pilgrims.

The 22-year-old centre-back joins Ryan Lowe’s Pilgrims on loan for the remainder of the 20/21 Sky Bet League One campaign.

A product of the Selhurst Park club’s Academy, Woods made his first-team debut in 2018, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup fourth-round 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

The following season, Sam made his first senior start for the Eagles in the same competition, playing the whole match in Palace’s 0-0 draw with Colchester United, which the Premier League side lost on penalties to a U's side containing current Argyle forward Frank Nouble.

In January 2020, having made another substitute appearance for Palace in their Emirates FA Cup defeat at Derby County, Woods moved on-loan to Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical – scoring on his debut in a 4-2 defeat to Livingston.

Sam, who has captained Palace at development level, made three appearances for The Accies before the 19/20 season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A regular in Palace’s under-23 side this season – operating at either centre-back, right-back, or defensive midfield – Sam appeared on the bench for Palace’s league opener against Southampton in September, before starting at centre-back in the Eagles' Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat at AFC Bournemouth a few days later.

Sam will wear squad no.25 during the Greens’ 20/21 campaign.

Argyle manager Ryan Lowe said: “Sam comes highly recommended to us, he’s got experience in the SPL from last season.

"He’s well thought of at Crystal Palace and has been involved with their first-team and made a number of senior appearances, as well as captaining their under-23 side.

“Scott Dann [Crystal Palace centre-back], who I know quite well, gave us a great reference on Sam, he could not speak highly enough of him.

"Sam is excited by the opportunity of joining Argyle, he provides quality and competition for places, and I feel he is a very good addition to the group.”

Sam's home and away shirts for the upcoming campaign are available for sponsorship.

If you are interested in sponsoring the Pilgrims' newest signing, contact our commercial team on commercial@pafc.co.uk.