Wood was a squad member for Brighton & Hove Albion before having a successful trial with John Rudge's Port Vale in May 1988.
Still, he lost his place to new signing Paul Musselwhite after five league games, having conceded a penalty at Vetch Field in an 'off the ball' incident with a Swansea player.
Wood was the first player to take advantage of the lax regulations when he was called up for a qualifying game against Republic of Ireland for UEFA Euro 1996 in March 1995.
[3] Wood earned a Northern Ireland cap on 11 October 1995 during the same qualifying campaign, coming on for Alan Fettis at half-time in a 4–0 win over Liechtenstein at the Sportpark Eschen-Mauren.
[2] He then slipped down the international pecking order behind Fettis, Tommy Wright, Roy Carroll, and Aidan Davison.
[2] On 26 March 1996, he played in a rare Northern Ireland B team game, a 3–0 win over Norway Olympic XI at The Showgrounds in Coleraine.