Ray Goddard
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Ray" Goddard was an English
football goalkeeper who played for three London
clubs between 1967 and 1981. Goddard began his career as a member of Fulham
's youth team, but was released without being offered a professional contract. He subsequently joined Orient, where he spent eight seasons. In 1967 the entire Orient squad was transfer-listed to ease the financial plight of the club, with the exception of Goddard. He was a member of the Orient side that won the Third Division
title in 1969-70
, and narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight in 1974
. In total, he played 278 league games for the O's. He unluckily lost his place to the newly signed John Jackson in October 1973 but returned to the first team after an injured Jackson was dropped in the O's failed promotion campaign of '73-'74. He suffered a strained relationship with manager George Petchey
after first learning of his demotion at Jackson's expense on the team bus. Before leaving the O's he even joined Greenock Morton in Scotland for a month before finally deciding to leave Orient.
In November 1974, Goddard joined Millwall
, but Petchey became the Lions' boss and after their past history, Goddard's days were obviously numbered. In February 1978 he joined Wimbledon
who had only recently been elected to the league
. He spent four seasons at Wimbledon and was part of the team that won promotion to the Third Division in 1979
, relegated back to the Fourth Division the following year, and then promoted back again in 1981
. In his final match for the Dons, Goddard scored from the penalty spot in Wimbledon's 4-2 defeat against Bury
.
After leaving Wimbledon, Goddard finished his career at non-league Wealdstone
. After his retirement from football, Goddard moved to Spain
where he ran a bar. He died from a stroke in December 2007, aged 58.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football goalkeeper who played for three London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
clubs between 1967 and 1981. Goddard began his career as a member of Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
's youth team, but was released without being offered a professional contract. He subsequently joined Orient, where he spent eight seasons. In 1967 the entire Orient squad was transfer-listed to ease the financial plight of the club, with the exception of Goddard. He was a member of the Orient side that won the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
title in 1969-70
1969-70 in English football
The 1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Everton won their seventh title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth...
, and narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight in 1974
1973-74 in English football
The 1973–74 season was the 94th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United's manager by guiding them to league championship glory, before taking over from Sir Alf Ramsey as the England national football team manager, with England...
. In total, he played 278 league games for the O's. He unluckily lost his place to the newly signed John Jackson in October 1973 but returned to the first team after an injured Jackson was dropped in the O's failed promotion campaign of '73-'74. He suffered a strained relationship with manager George Petchey
George Petchey
George W Petchey is an English former footballer who made 400 appearances in the Football League playing for with West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace, playing at wing half....
after first learning of his demotion at Jackson's expense on the team bus. Before leaving the O's he even joined Greenock Morton in Scotland for a month before finally deciding to leave Orient.
In November 1974, Goddard joined Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, but Petchey became the Lions' boss and after their past history, Goddard's days were obviously numbered. In February 1978 he joined Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
who had only recently been elected to the league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He spent four seasons at Wimbledon and was part of the team that won promotion to the Third Division in 1979
1978-79 in English football
-FA Cup:Manchester United had seemingly pulled off a remarkable comeback against Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final to make the score 2–2 after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3–2 scoreline...
, relegated back to the Fourth Division the following year, and then promoted back again in 1981
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
. In his final match for the Dons, Goddard scored from the penalty spot in Wimbledon's 4-2 defeat against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
After leaving Wimbledon, Goddard finished his career at non-league Wealdstone
Wealdstone F.C.
Wealdstone Football Club are an English semi-professional football club who formed in Wealdstone, in the London Borough of Harrow, but are currently based a few miles away in Ruislip, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. At present, the club are members of the Isthmian League Premier Division. They...
. After his retirement from football, Goddard moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where he ran a bar. He died from a stroke in December 2007, aged 58.