Woodhead was born in Woodthorpe, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, a son of Joseph Woodhead. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler, who achieved little success, although he retired with the bowling average of 4.00, as his solitary spell of twenty balls gained him the wicket with only four runs conceded. In ten innings, he made a total of 57 runs, with a best score of 18, for an average of 5.70.
