Players - Arthur Goddard

Arthur Goddard
Birthdate: 14 June 1878
Birthplace: Heaton Norris, Stockport, England
Date of death: 27 May 1956
Other clubs: Christ Church Club (1894-97), Stockport County (1897-99), Glossop (1899-1902), Cardiff City (1914-15); Liverpool (wartime guest)
Signed from: Glossop
Signed for LFC: £460, 24.02.1902
Liverpool debut: 08.03.1902
Last appearance: 13.04.1914
Debut goal: 15.03.1902
Last goal: 19.04.1913
Contract expiry: May 1914
Win ratio: 44.44% W:184 D:70 L:160
Games/goals ratio: 5.38
Honours: League Championship 1905/06; Second Division 1904/05
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 2 / 0
Wartime games/goals: 49 / 7
League games / goals: 386 / 72
Total games / goals: 414 / 77

Player Profile

Goddard was a fantastic servant to Liverpool and a worthy member of Liverpool's official Hall of Fame. He was a regular scorer from his position on the right wing for nearly a decade and a half. Goddard played for the Christ Church Club in Stockport from 16 to 19 where his talent didn't go unnoticed and he started his ascent with Stockport County in the Lancashire league where he played two years, winning the Manchester Cup. In 1899 Glossop, who had been promoted to the First Division of the Football League for the first time, paid Stockport £260 for his services. This proved to be Glossop's only season in the top-flight as they finished last out of 18 teams. Goddard finished fifth with Glossop in the Second Division in the 1900/01 season while Liverpool won their first League Championship. Goddard joined the champions in the second part of the following season. He was given his Liverpool debut at Wolverhampton on 8 March 1902 and that started a run of eleven successive matches in which he scored twice. Regular right-winger Jack Cox was moved to the left as Goddard established himself in the side over the next two seasons, missing only one League match in each and scoring a total of 17 goals. In 1904/05 he won a Second Division Championship medal and followed that up by being the only 'ever-present' in the team who won the League Championship a year later.

Goddard continued to play consistently, averaging over 30 League appearances for the next seven years. He was appointed captain of the side in the 1909/10 season and led by example as Liverpool finished second in the League which was their best placing for four years. Goddard contributed more to the goalscoring than in previous years going into double figures for the first time since 1903. 1913/14 proved to be his final season at Anfield as he lost his place in the autumn after figuring in ten of the opening eleven fixtures and only played once more in April 1914, no doubt disappointed in missing out on Liverpool's first FA Cup final which the Reds lost 1-0 to Burnley. Goddard's contract was not renewed after the season and he went on a free transfer to Cardiff City.

Goddard played 49 games for Liverpool as a war-time guest receiving a warm welcome by the Liverpool Echo in September 1915. "A well-preserved, gentlemanly player, with a graceful style, Goddard is able to keep time with present day football without straining himself, and, in truth, I think his play will be all the better suited by the friendly game, because he has not to worry about trips and backs, as in former years." Goddard, who was once described "as graceful as a gazelle", was twice chosen for international trials, while at Glossop and Liverpool and it was predicted he would soon make his full England debut. That surprisingly never came to fruition but Goddard was immensely proud to be chosen to represent the English League which beat the Irish League 9-0 in 1901.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 386 27 0 0 1 414
1901-1902 11 0 0 0 0 11
1902-1903 33 1 0 0 0 34
1903-1904 33 1 0 0 0 34
1904-1905 28 2 0 0 0 30
1905-1906 38 5 0 0 1 44
1906-1907 35 4 0 0 0 39
1907-1908 35 4 0 0 0 39
1908-1909 36 2 0 0 0 38
1909-1910 35 1 0 0 0 36
1910-1911 31 2 0 0 0 33
1911-1912 28 1 0 0 0 29
1912-1913 32 4 0 0 0 36
1913-1914 11 0 0 0 0 11
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
25 2250 Everton
23 2070 Newcastle United
22 1980 Blackburn Rovers
19 1710 Sheffield United
19 1710 Middlesbrough
19 1710 Sunderland
19 1710 Aston Villa
19 1710 Sheffield Wednesday
19 1710 Notts County
16 1440 Bolton Wanderers
16 1440 Bury
15 1350 Manchester United
14 1260 Nottingham Forest
14 1260 Manchester City
13 1170 Bradford City
13 1170 Preston North End
13 1170 Bristol City
12 1080 Derby
12 1080 Arsenal
10 900 WBA
9 810 Chelsea
8 720 Birmingham City
7 630 Wolves
7 630 Tottenham
7 630 Stoke City
6 540 Oldham Athletic
6 540 Grimsby Town
5 450 Leicester City
3 270 Barnsley
3 270 Lincoln City
3 270 Gainsborough Trinity
2 180 Burton United
2 180 Glossop North End
2 180 Brighton & Hove Albion
2 180 Chesterfield
2 180 Doncaster Rovers
2 180 Burnley
1 90 Brentford
1 90 Blackpool
1 90 Southampton
1 90 Norwich City
1 90 Corinthians
1 90 Leyton
Total Venue
207 Home
205 Away
2 Neutral
Total Competition
386 League
27 FA Cup
1 Sheriff of London Charity Shield
Total W D L Win % Manager
414 184 70 160 44.4% Tom Watson
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 72 5 0 0 0 77
1901-1902 2 0 0 0 0 2
1902-1903 11 0 0 0 0 11
1903-1904 6 0 0 0 0 6
1904-1905 7 1 0 0 0 8
1905-1906 6 2 0 0 0 8
1906-1907 3 0 0 0 0 3
1907-1908 4 0 0 0 0 4
1908-1909 4 0 0 0 0 4
1909-1910 12 0 0 0 0 12
1910-1911 8 1 0 0 0 9
1911-1912 2 0 0 0 0 2
1912-1913 7 1 0 0 0 8
1913-1914 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season Appearances Goals
1915-1916 26 3
1916-1917 22 3
1917-1918 1 1
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 08.03.1902 Wolves Molineux League
50 01.10.1903 Notts County Trent Bridge League
100 08.02.1905 Everton Goodison Park FA Cup
150 14.04.1906 Wolves Molineux League
200 12.10.1907 Sunderland Anfield League
250 26.12.1908 Nottingham Forest Anfield League
300 02.04.1910 Preston North End Deepdale League
350 09.12.1911 Newcastle United Anfield League
400 24.03.1913 Chelsea Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 35 15.03.1902 Grimsby Town Blundell Park League
50 80 04.12.1909 Newcastle United Anfield League
Related Articles
The rise of Goddard

From the Lancashire Evening Post on 1 March 1902.

A record fee to bring Goddard to Anfield

Manchester Evening News on 28 February 1902.

1901-1906: A rise from 2nd division to the title!

In 1904 Liverpool had been relegated to 2nd division only three years after winning the title for the first time. Liverpool were on their way to an amazing success!

Related Quotes

"Goddard had a poor season last season. His many friends formed by his geniality and his clean and graceful football for a long period, feared he was getting beyond football. Last night he played a game the equal of which he has not touched for two years and the crowd was highly delighted at the revival. Goddard sprinted past Buxton, dribbled fast and true, centred for goal, and played in his very best form. To my mind his exhibition for ten minutes prior to half-time was quite the best work he has ever done."

Old stalwart, Arthur Goddard, who was well into his thirties was in irresistible form at the beginning of the 1912-13 season tormenting Oldham in the opening game

"By his gentlemanly demeanour on the field, and the genuinely-consistent character of his play since he became associated with the Anfielders, Goddard has deservedly become a great favourite in Liverpool, and he is a typical example of the highest class of footballer. His play is not of the vigorous order; quiet and unassuming, he awaits his opportunity, and then with the embodiment of grace and elegance, he glides down the wing with such ease, that he scarcely seems to be exerting himself. But when we see the half-back and full-back gradually left in the rear, then we tumble to the fact that Goddard is travelling."

Hall-of famer Arthur Goddard described in the club programme on 29 October 1910

Scrapbook
Biography in Liverpool match programme on 29 October 1904
Biography in Liverpool match programme on 29 October 1904
Goddard leaves for Cardiff
Goddard leaves for Cardiff
Goddard sketch 1899
Goddard sketch 1899
Goddard sketch 1904
Goddard sketch 1904
Liverpool beneficiary 1913/14
Liverpool beneficiary 1913/14
Liverpool's brilliant winger represents the English league
Liverpool's brilliant winger represents the English league
The death of Arthur Goddard  - May 1956
The death of Arthur Goddard - May 1956
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Christ Church Club 1894-1897 Stockport and District League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Stockport County 1897-1899 Lancashire League 35 1 35 1
Glossop 1899-1900 England First Division 22 4 22 4
Glossop 1900-1901 England Second Division 34 14 35 14
Glossop 1901-1902 England Second Division 21 2 21 2
Cardiff City 1914-1915 Third Division South 32 8 32 8
Total 144 29 145 29