George Getgood (15 November 1892 – 22 July 1970), also known as George Goodman, was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for various clubs in the 1920s.

George Getgood
Personal information
Full name George Getgood[1]
Date of birth (1892-11-15)15 November 1892
Place of birth Coylton, Ayrshire, Scotland
Date of death 22 July 1970(1970-07-22) (aged 77)
Place of death Kidderminster, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Half-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1912 Ayr Seaside
1912–1914 Ayr United 0 (0)
1914–1915 Reading
1915–1916 Ayr United 13 (1)
1920–1921 Reading 36 (1)
1921 Willenhall Swifts
1921 Birmingham 10 (0)
1921–1922 Southampton 35 (1)
1922–1925 Wolverhampton Wanderers 55 (1)
1925–1926 Kidderminster Harriers
1926 Aberdare Athletic 5 (0)
1926–1927 Shrewsbury Town
1927 Gala Fairydean Rovers
1927–1928 Bathgate
1928–1929 Bo'ness
1929– Nuneaton Town
1931–19?? Midland Red Sports
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Getgood was born in Coylton, Ayrshire.[1] He joined local side Ayr United in 1912 before moving to England to join Reading in the Southern League in July 1914.[2] Immediately on joining Reading his football career was interrupted by the First World War. During the war he served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps in April 1916.[3] After the cessation he returned to Reading in time for their first season in the Football League Third Division. While on the books of Reading he was known as George Goodman, and he made a total of 40 appearances, scoring once.[4]

He had acquired a reputation for strong tackling, and in August 1921 Birmingham signed him to strengthen their newly promoted side; he played ten First Division games at right half but did not settle, and transferred to Southampton in March 1922.[5]

At the time Southampton were leading the Third Division South table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager Jimmy McIntyre shocked them by announcing a four-player transfer: wingers Fred Foxall and Joe Barratt were to join Birmingham in exchange for Jack Elkes (a forward) and Getgood.[6] The move was a success, however, as Southampton were able to claim the title by overtaking Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the season.

Described by Holley & Chalk as "an accomplished and versatile player, whose best position was at centre-half",[7] he failed to settle on the south coast and continued to live in Birmingham.

In February 1923 he returned to the Midlands to join Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Bill McCall moving in the opposite direction as part of an exchange deal.[8] At the end of the 1922–23 season Wolves were relegated to the Third Division North but returned to the Second Division in 1924 as champions. After making 59 appearances for Wolves, he spent a season with Kidderminster Harriers, before moving to Aberdare Athletic for a few months during their final season in the Football League.

Later career

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Getgood was the licensee of the Great Western Hotel in Bewdley before returning to Scotland, where he appeared for Second Division sides Bathgate and Bo'ness. He then came back again to the Midlands where he took a job as a bus conductor and turned out for Nuneaton Town and his works team Midland Red Sports. He later worked as a porter in Worcester.[9] He died in Kidderminster on 22 July 1970 aged 77.

Honours

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Southampton

Wolverhampton Wanderers

References

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  1. ^ a b Joyce, Michael (16 October 2012). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939 (3rd Revised ed.). Tony Brown. p. 109. ISBN 9781905891610.
  2. ^ Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  3. ^ "Ayr United players in World War I". www.geocities.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  4. ^ "Where Are They Now? G". 1871 – the ultimate Reading FC website. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  5. ^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 89, 164. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  6. ^ Gary Chalk & Duncan Holley (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 66–67. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  7. ^ Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 139. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  8. ^ Holley & Chalk, The Alphabet of the Saints, p. 215.
  9. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 89–90.