Donald Ralph Goodman (born 9 May 1966) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Don Goodman
Goodman in May 2014
Personal information
Full name Donald Ralph Goodman[1]
Date of birth (1966-05-09) 9 May 1966 (age 57)[1]
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Collingham
Bradford City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1987 Bradford City 70 (14)
1987–1991 West Bromwich Albion 158 (60)
1991–1994 Sunderland 116 (40)
1994–1998 Wolverhampton Wanderers 125 (33)
1998–1999 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 10 (2)
1998–1999Barnsley (loan) 8 (0)
1999Motherwell (loan) 8 (1)
1999–2001 Motherwell 47 (8)
2001–2002 Walsall 25 (3)
2002–2003 Exeter City 13 (1)
2003Doncaster Rovers (loan) 6 (0)
Stafford Rangers
Total 586 (162)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His professional career spanned for nearly 20 years, during which he played nearly 600 Football League games and scored 162 goals.

Career edit

Born in Leeds,[1] Goodman played for Bradford City, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Barnsley, Motherwell, Walsall, Exeter City, Doncaster Rovers and Stafford Rangers.[3][4][5]

He trialled with Bradford City as a teenager, whilst playing non-league football with Collingham and working as an electrician with Leeds City Council.[6] Bradford City offered him an apprenticeship, which he turned down in favour of a non-contract deal.[6]

He made his senior debut in May 1984, aged 17, and was still working as an electrician.[6] He turned professional with the club that summer, but was allowed a day off every week for college.[6]

At the age of 18, in November 1984 he scored a hat-trick for Bradford City within 7 minutes of coming on as a substitute in an FA Cup game against Tow Law Town.[6]

On 11 May 1985, his girlfriend died in the Valley Parade fire disaster.[7] He was playing for Bradford in that match, as the team won promotion as Third Division champions.

He was Sunderland's record signing in December 1991 when he was signed from West Bromwich Albion, the last signing of manager Denis Smith, who was sacked later that month.[8] Goodman was cup-tied for Sunderland's run to the 1992 FA Cup Final.[9]

Goodman joined Walsall in March 2001.[10] At the end of that season Walsall were promoted via the play-offs and Goodman scored one of the goals in the final as they beat Reading.[11]

As of April 2020 he was working as a football commentator for Sky Sports.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Don Goodman". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  2. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 384. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database profile
  4. ^ Don Goodman at Soccerbase
  5. ^ "サンフレッチェ広島外国人選手名鑑". www1.odn.ne.jp.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Don Goodman: 'I learned so much off the characters in City dressing room'". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 27 April 2020.
  7. ^ Rick Broadbent (9 May 2005). "Tragic day that left a city scarred for life". The Times.
  8. ^ "Welcome to the North-east... Football's land of plenty". The Independent. 16 August 1996.
  9. ^ "I can't understand cup complacency, says former SAFC boss Malcolm Crosby". thejournal.co.uk. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2020.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Goodman saddles up at Walsall". BBC. 22 March 2001. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Walsall break Reading hearts". BBC. 27 May 2001. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  12. ^ "TV pundit Goodman on why world should follow Bradford example". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 27 April 2020.

External links edit