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John Goodall

Preston North End FC, Derby County FC

14 appearances, 11 or 12 goals

P 14 W 11 D 1 L 2 F 59: A 13
82% successful

1887-98

captain: two
minutes played:
1260

Timeline

  John Goodall
Birth Friday, 19 June 1863 in Westminster, Middlesex
  registered in Westminster July-September 1863 Westminster was part of the Middlesex County Registration until 1889
  The Goodalls moved to Tarbolton in Ayrshire in 1866, and then to Kilmarnock later in 1871.
 

According to the 1871 census, John is the eldest of three children to Mary, born in Tarbolton, Ayrshire. His younger brother, Archibald, was born in Belfast, and his younger sister, Elizabeth, born in Edinburgh. They live at 13 Glencairn Square in Kilmarnock.
His father, Richard Hunter, a Scottish Fusiliers Corporal, remarried, to Eliza Langrish, on 28 November 1871, in Hampshire.

 

His mother remarried, to Joseph Barnes, in 1880 in Kilmarnock.
According to the 1881 census, John, an Iron Turner, is living at 8 Gilmour Street in Kilmarnock, with his mother and step-father. He has four younger half-siblings.

"KILMARNOCK — GUNPOWDER ACCIDENT. 
"On Friday night an accident occurred to John Goodall, one of our rising and most prominent football players. Goodall is an ironturner by trade, and works in the Glenfield Works. Mr Barr, jun., secretary of the company, was being married that evening, and the men were having some rejoicings on the occasion. A quantity of gunpowder had been placed on an anvil and a fuse applied. As it did not explode soon enough, Goodall went forward to do something to it to quicken the ignition. As he was standing over it the gunpowder exploded and severely scorched him on the face and eyes. He was taken to Dr M'Vail's surgery and attended. It is impossible to say as yet the extent of the injury to the eyes, but there is reason to fear that both are more or less severely injured. Goodall is well known and much esteemed among football players, and the unfortunate accident has created much sympathy for him." - The Ayrshire Post, 18 September 1883.
Marriage to Sarah Rawcliffe, on Tuesday, 4 January 1887 at All Saints Church, Preston.
John's is an Iron Turner living at 97 Peel Hall Street, and Sarah lives at 127 Lancaster Road, both in Preston.
  registered in Preston January-March 1887
Children John and Sarah Goodall had eight children together. Mary Jane (b.30 March 1887), Richard (b.1888), Alice Ann (b.1890), Florence (b.2 February 1892), John (b.16 March 1896), Margaret Agnes (b.27 November 1899) and Archibald Lee (b.21 July 1905)
  "   *.* John Goodall, of Preston North End, the famous International centre forward, enters into possession of the Plough Inn, London-street, Derby, on Wednesday next. Henceforth he will be included in the ranks of Derby County, and will make his first appearance in their eleven on Saturday next against Derby Midland. His brother, Archie, of Aston Villa, will accompany him." - The Sportsman, 29 April 1889.
"KILMARNOCK — SMALL-POX
"A case of small-pox has been discovered in town, the sufferer being John Goodall, the well-known football player of Preston North End, a native of the town, who came with his team to play against Renton at Glasgow on Saturday, but took ill and was unable to play.
Goodall has been removed to the small-pox hospital, which was lately put into a state of thorough repair by the Local Authority." - Glasgow Herald, 6 June 1888.
 

According to the 1891 census, John is now married to Sarah, with two children, Mary Jane and Richard. John is a tobacconist, and they have one servant. They live at 34 Dexter Street in Litchurch, Derby.
(His father died at the end of 1893 in Southampton)

 

According to the 1901 census, John is a professional footballer, still married and with three more children, Alice, Florence and John. They live at 28 Slatelands Road in Glossop.
(His mother died on 4 April 1903 in Kilmarnock)

According to the 1911 census, John is still married and they have two more children, Margaret and Archibald. They live at 105 Gladstone Road in Watford. They had eight children in total. John himself is not on this census return, as he is in France.

(Sarah Goodall died in 1920)
According to the 1921 census, John is now a widower and he is now a cricket groundsman at the West Herts. ground on Cassio Road in Watford. He lives at 56 Market Street in Watford with four of his children,

"JOHN GOODALL'S ILLNESS.
"JOHN GOODALL is lying ill in St. George's Hospital, London, suffering from an internal complaint. It is not known whether an operation will be necessary. His condition was regarded as very satisfactory over the week-end. The famous international of Derby County and Preston North End finished his active career as player-manager with Watford, whom he joined 1903, and remained seven seasons. He became groundsman of West Herts Sports Club." - Athletic News, Monday, 10 January 1927.
"FORMER DERBY FOOTBALLERS' CLAIM FOR DAMAGES
A former famous professional footballer and an ex-Chief Constable of St. Albans were the parties in an action at Watford County Court today. John Goodall, formerly player-manager of Watford FC, an English International who played with Preston North End, and for many years captain of Derby County, whose present address is Long Spring, Watford, sued John Edward Harrison, of Ramsbury Road, St. Albans, for £25 damages for personal injuries. Goodall said that on December 18 [1930] he was knocked down by Harrison's car as he was leaving a cinema, and received concussion and internal injuries. Harrison said that Goodall walked into the road with his head down right in front of the car. He put on his brakes and stopped in half the car's length, but could not avoid hitting him. Judge Crawford gave judgment for Harrison with costs, stating that Goodall could not have looked up and down the road before crossing." - Derby Daily Telegraph, Friday, 8 May 1931
According to the 1939 register, John is widowed, and is a retired cricket groundsman, living at 20 Longspring in Watford with his daughters Florence and Margaret.
Death Wednesday, 20 May 1942 at 20 Longspring, Watford, Hertfordshire.
aged 78 years 335 days registered in Watford April-June 1942

Obituary

"JOHN GOODALL DIES.
"Johnny Goodall, old Derby County and Preston forward, who played 14 times for England, has died at his home in Watford, aged 78. He was one of the Preston 'Invincibles' who won the F.A. Cup in 1889 without conceding a goal." - The Derby Telegraph, Thursday, 21 May 1942.
"JOHN GOODALL DEAD.
"John Goodall, Preston North End and Derby County forward, who played fourteen times for England between 1888 and 1898, has died at his home in Watford, aged 78. He was a member of the Preston 'Invincibles' team which won the F.A. Cup in 1889 without conceding a goal and were unbeaten that season in the League. Goodall represented England in all three inside positions and gained seven 'caps' against Scotland. A brilliant dribble, he excelled in short passing. He had spells with New Brighton and Glossop before being appointed player-manager in Watford in 1903, and he played until he was over 45" - The Liverpool Daily Post, Friday, 22 May 1942.
Funeral May 1942 at Watford North Cemetery, Vicarage Road, initially in an unmarked grave. A gravestone (above left) was erected in May 2018.
Probate 'GOODALL John of 20 Longspring Watford Hertfordshire died 20 May 1942 Administration Llandudno 10 July to Florence Goodall spinster and Mary Jane Wither widow.
Effects £131 6s.'
[2023 equivalent: £5,107].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Ian-opc.org,uk &

Playing Career


Club(s)
Goodall started with the Thistle Club, which later changed its name to Kilmarnock Burns FC, before joining Kilmarnock Athletic FC and made his debut for the club at the age of seventeen in 1880. He guested for Bolton side Great Lever FC on 1 January 1884, against St. Bernards of Edinburgh, and then Walsall Swifts FC a couple of days later, he joined them the day before debuting against Preston North End FC on 12 January, losing 2-0. He then joined Preston North End FC in August 1885, and became one of the foundation cornerstones of the new Football League. On 1 May 1889, he was transferred to Derby County FC.

"ON Saturday, January 25, 1896 a most unusual game was staged at Derby County's Baseball Ground, a testimonial billed as 'Derby County versus The Gentlemen of England.'
"At face value, the contest was unremarkable. Foul weather restricted the gate to a disappointing 5,000, as Derby County ran out winners by 4-3.  And this was no thriller in truth Derby's well-drilled professional players, fresh from a training break at a state of the art hydropathical establishment in Ashover, won at a mere canter.  But thereby hangs the tale. The Derby County players were the new breed of hard-bitten thoroughbred professionals, mostly working class men who played for money without a hint of shame. Football to them was a job. In contrast, the 'Gentlemen of England' were the old breed of unpaid amateurs, all highly-talented players in their own right, but mostly university-educated men of privileged background and professional standing who played for the love of the game rather than 'filthy lucre'.  That made the friendly fixture an unlikely one indeed, since voluntary fraternisation between the 'pure' amateurs and 'tainted' professionals was hardly to be encouraged.  The man in whose honour the yawning gap was bridged was Derby County's own 'gentleman professional' John Goodall, whose fine character and reputation for fair play was held in such universal esteem that he earned the sobriquets 'Honest John' and 'Johnny Allgood'. So the John Goodall Testimonial was far more than just another friendly fixture, the Baseball Ground that day witnessed a symbolic moment in football history. It was the moment the posh old guard paid public homage to the common new breed, the day when professional football, hitherto reviled by much of educated society, truly came of age." - Derby Daily Telegraph, Monday, 27 January 1896


Goodall left County on 25 October 1899, to take up a coaching role―and to captain New Brighton Tower FC.  In May 1900, he rejoined Derby County FC, until he took up another coaching role, at Glossop FC, on 31 January 1901, then as player/manager of Watford FC on 1 May 1903. He returned to the field again when he was manager of Mardy FC, playing against Swansea Town FC on 18 January 1913, aged 49 years.

League History
272 appearances, 106 goals
Preston North End FC 1888-89 21 appearances, twenty goals
debut: 8 September 1888 Preston North End FC 5 Burnley FC 2.
Derby County FC
1889-99 211 appearances, 76 goals
debut: 7 September 1889 Derby County FC 1 Stoke FC 1.
New Brighton Tower FC 1899 six appearances, two goals
debut (second div.): 28 October 1899 New Brighton Tower FC 5 Gainsborough Trinity FC 0.
Glossop FC 1901-03 34 appearances, eight goals
debut (second division): 9 February 1901 Glossop FC 1 Burslem Port Vale FC 2.
last (second division): 11 April 1903 Burslem Port Vale FC 1 Glossop FC 0.

Club honours
FA Cup runners-up 1885-86, 1886-87, 1897-98 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ), 1898-99 (1ᵃ), winner 1887-88 (5ᵃ 2ᵍ);
Football League champions 1888-89 (21ᵃ 21ᵍ), third place 1893-94 (29ᵃ 12ᵍ), 1896-97 (23ᵃ 3ᵍ), runners-up 1895-96 (25ᵃ 1ᵍ).

Individual honours
Football League (four appearances);
Ayrshire FA (1883, one appearance);

In 1896 officials of Derby County FC arranged a benefit game for Goodall. The match between County and a team of the best amateur players in the country, raised £277, an amount equivalent to almost two years' wages for an average professional footballer at the end of the 19th century. Goodall spent the summer of 1900 qualifying as a League linesman.
Goalscoring honours Football League top goalscorer 1888-89 (21);

Distinctions
Goodall is credited with discovering Steve Bloomer, who formed an excellent partnership with his mentor. Bloomer later said that "Goodall took the greatest interest in me when I was a kid. He coached me, secured me for Derby County, played with me and never failed to give me valuable hints and advice.  Johnny Goodall was a wonderful footballer, brilliant captain and Nature's gentleman, but little did I think when all the fuss was made over his arrival from Preston what an influence for good was being brought into my life. I always maintain that no player has ever known as much about football and its methods than this old friend of mine."
Goodall also played first-class cricket for Derbyshire CCC and Hertfordshire CC, as well as representing England at bowls/curling [?] and was an excellent billiards player. He also wrote a book on the skills needed to play football.
Oldest Player to represent Watford FC, aged 44 years and 87 days, Goodall took to the field against Bradford Park Avenue on 14 September 1907 (Southern League).
Height/Weight 5' 9", 11st. 8lbs [1888], 5' 8¾", 12st. 0lbs [1899], 5' 9", 11st. 12lbs [1903].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

Management Career

Club(s) Despite being announced as the new manager of West Ham United FC on 27 April 1903, Goodall had in fact, joined Southern League side Watford FC on 1 May 1903, their first manager.  At first, his capacity was as a player-manager, becoming their full-time manager between 1907 and May 1910. Appointed on 17 June to coach leading amateur French club, RC Roubaix from September, for the season. On 16 May 1912, he was appointed manager of Mardy FC.
Honours Southern League winners 1903-04;

England Career

Player number One of seven who became the 140th player (145) to appear for England.
Position(s) Inside-right, centre-forward, inside-left
First match No. 32, 4 February 1888, Wales 1 England 5, a British Championship match at the Alexandra Recreation Ground, Nantwich Road, Crewe, aged 24 years 230 days.
Last match No. 63, 28 March 1898, Wales 0 England 3, a British Championship match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 34 years 282 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1887-88, 1888-89, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1893-94, 1894-95, 1895-96, 1897-98;
Team honours British Championship winners 1887-88, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95, 1897-98;

Individual honours
The Players (two appearances 1ᵍ March-December 1886).
The North
(one appearances 1ᶜ January 1891, withdrew in January 1890).
The Whites
(one appearance 1ᵍ March 1891)
The Professionals
(three appearances 3ᶜ 1ᵍ 1893-96).
England's joint Top Goalscorer, twice
(two 1891, two 1892)
Attendant to the FA Amateur team for the Denmark in May 1910.
Records England's oldest goalscorer March 1896 and April 1907, broken by Steve Bloomer.
Distinctions John Goodall's brother, Archie, appeared for Ireland, and made four appearances against England.
Goodall died just a week after Bruce Russell and ten days after Middlebrough's Jackie Carr

Beyond England

After leaving school Goodall worked as an iron turner. He was a publican in at least another three public houses in Derby before 1899, Tha Half Moon, The Old Angel and The Station Inn. Following his retirement from management with Watford FC, he became their groundsman at Cassio Road. He was also an integral member of the Cage Bird Society, an honorary secretary in Watford. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.108./spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
16 14 14 1260 11 or 12 115 min or 105 min 11 or 12 twice
nine or ten matches
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
14 11 1 2 59 13 +46 0 5 4.214 0.929 82.1 +9
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 7 6 0 1 30 6 +24 0 3 4.286 0.857 85.7 +5
Away 7 5 1 1 29 7 +22 0 2 4.143 1.00 78.6 +4

Captain Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
Away 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0
2 1 1 0 6 3 +3 0 0 3 1.5 75 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1886-87 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC 1887-88 2 2 0 0 10 1 +9 0 1 5.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC 1888-89 2 1 0 1 6 4 +2 0 0 3.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC 1890-91 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 0 0 3.00 1.00 100.0 +2
BC 1891-92 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1892-93 1 1 0 0 6 0 +6 0 1 6.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1893-94 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC 1894-95 2 2 0 0 12 0 +12 0 2 6.00 0.00 100.0 +2
BC 1895-96 2 1 0 1 10 3 +7 0 0 5.00 1.50 50.0 =0
BC 1897-98 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 14 11 1 2 59 13 +46 0 5 4.214 0.929 82.1 +9

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 14 11 1 2 59 13 +46 0 5 4.214 0.929 82.1 +9
14 11 1 2 59 13 +46 0 5 4.214 0.929 82.1 +9

Match History

 Club: Preston North End F.C. - four full appearances (360 min) 2 or 3ᵍ F.A. Committee - no full appearancesx

Age 22 trial  
one appearance - The Gentlemen vs. The Players, 20 March 1886;
Age 23    
one appearance - The Players vs. The Gentlemen, 18 December 1886;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

29 5 February 1887 - England 7 Ireland 0, Yorkshire Cricket Ground, Sheffield BC HW reserve
30 26 February 1887 - England 4 Wales 0, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington BC HW reserve
  

  F.A. International Select Committee - fourteen full appearances (1260 min) 11 or 12ᵍx

Age 24
1 32 4 February 1888 - Wales 1 England 5
Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe
BC AW   ir
Some sources suggest Goodall scored on his debut, but this appears extremely dubious.

one of seven who became the 140th player (145) to appear for England
 - the first new players from the International selection committee
the fourth player from Preston North End FC to represent England

2 33 17 March 1888 - Scotland 0 England 5
Hampden Park, Glasgow
BC AW 43 ir
  

Age 25
3 35 23 February 1889 - England 4 Wales 1
Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent
BC HW 17 ir
  
4 37 13 April 1889 - England 2 Scotland 3
Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
BC HL 17? ir
  unsure who scored the second goal. If Goodall did, then he would score in ten consecutive matches that he played in.
 

 Club: Derby County F.C. - ten full appearances (900 min) 9ᵍ  

Age 26 trial  
withdrew - The South vs. The North, 13 January 1890;
Age 27    
one appearance - The Northc vs. The South, 12 January 1891;

5 42 7 March 1891 - England 4 Wales 1
Newcastle Road, Sunderland
BC HW 7 ᶜir

the second player from Derby County FC to represent England
the eighteenth player to captain England
the eighth captain to score for England - fifth competitive goal

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 24 March 1891;

6 43 4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1
Ewood Park, Blackburn
BC HW 22 ir
  

his two goals in 1891 makes him equal-top goalscorer for the year/season

Age 28
7 46 2 April 1892 - Scotland 1 England 4
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
BC AW 14
21
ir
  

the scorer of the 29th brace for England
his two goals in 1892 makes him equal-top goalscorer for the year/season

Age 29
8 48 13 March 1893 - England 6 Wales 0
Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent
BC HW 49 cf

trial  
one appearance - The Professionalsc vs. The Amateurs, 24 March 1893;

49 1 April 1893 - England 5 Scotland 2, Athletic Ground, Richmond BC HW withdrawn
  

Age 30
9 52 7 April 1894 - Scotland 2 England 2
Celtic Park, Glasgow
BC AD 12 ᶜcf

the second England captain to score in two matches - ninth competitive goal

Age 31
10 53 9 March 1895 - England 9 Ireland 0
Derbyshire Cricket Ground, Derby
BC HW 65
87
cf
  

the scorer of the 36th brace for England
the sixth player to score a brace twice for England

trial  
one appearance - The Professionalsc vs. The Amateurs, 28 March 1895;

11 55 6 April 1895 - England 3 Scotland 0
Goodison Park, Liverpool
BC HW   cf
  

Age 32
12 57 16 March 1896 - Wales 1 England 9
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
BC AW 80 il

trial  
one appearance - The Amateurs vs. The Professionalsc, 25 March 1896;

13 58 4 April 1896 - Scotland 2 England 1
Celtic Park, Glasgow
BC AL   ir
  

Age 34
14 63 28 March 1898 - Wales 0 England 3
The Racecourse, Wrexham
BC AW   ir
64 2 April 1898 - Scotland 1 England 3, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AW travelling reserve
  


     

 
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