Archie Goodall

The Goodall brothers were two of the biggest names in British football in the late-1800s, but they turned out for different countries…

Name: Archibald Lee Goodall
Born: 19 June 1864, Belfast
Died: 29 November 1929, Finchley, London (England)
Position: Utility

Representative Honours: Ireland: 10 Full Caps/2 Goals (1899-1904).
Club Honours: (with Villa) Football League Runner-Up 1888/89; (with Derby) Football League Division One Runner-Up 1895/96; FA Cup Runner-Up 1897/98, 1902/03.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA.Cup	Other
Liverpool Stanley	-	-	-	-	-	-
Everton	-	-	-	0/ 0	-	-
St Jude's	-	-	-	-	-	-
Preston NE	88/89	1888	-	2/ 1	-	-
Aston Villa	88/89	Oct-1888	£100	14/ 7	-	-
Derby Co.	89/90-02/03	May-1889	-	380/48	42/4	1/0
Plymouth Arg.	03/04	May-1903	-	7/ 1	(Southern.League)
Glossop	04/05	Sep-1904	-	26/13	-	-
Wolver'pton.W.	05/06	Oct-1905	-	7/ 0	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		436/70	42/4	1/0

Biography:
Archie Goodall, along with his brother John, was born to a Scottish-born soldier who by the nature of his job was liable to travel around. John was born in London in 1863, and Archie in Belfast the following year, but both spent the majority of their childhoods in Kilmarnock. John developed into a mild-mannered inside-forward, who’s career took him from Kilmarnock Athletic to Preston North End (where he finished topscorer in the first season of the Football League) and on to Derby County (where he would play alongside his younger brother). He also won 14 caps for England as, although to all intents in purposes he could be considered Scottish, the rules of international football of the time stipulated him as English. He was also awarded the somewhat parochial, but by no-means inaccurate, title of “best player in the world”.

Meanwhile Archie had developed into a fairly rambunctious footballer in his own right. His career took off prior to the founding of the Football League when he played mainly in the Merseyside area. He played a few games in the forward line alongside his brother for Preston in the League’s first season, before joining Aston Villa for £100 in October 1888. An effective but brief spell as inside-right at Villa was followed by over a decade at Derby County. At Derby he was first employed regularly at centre-half, his stamina and sheer physical presence making him one of the most effective backs in the English game. Described in the local dialect as a “reet ‘un”, he was not averse to “leaning on” his opponents, employing with great effect the good old shoulder charge.

A major influence on Derby’s constant challenge for the top honours, Goodall helped the club to three FA Cup Finals (though both he and brother John missed the 1899 Final through injury), and to runners-up spot in the League. Prior to the 1898 FA Cup Final against Nottingham Forest he caused uproar as he tried to off-load excess tickets. Although Derby, who's team also included John, were heavy favourites, Forest ran out easy 3-1 victors. Four years later when Archie next made an FA Cup Final appearance, Derby were humiliated 6-0 by a Bury team who did not concede a goal throughout the tournament. John and Archie played regularly together at Derby and on several occasions scored goals. The most memorable were an 8-1 defeat of Barnsley in 1897 and in the FA Cup semi-final against Everton on 30th March 1897 - a 2-3 defeat. Possibly Archie’s most important goal was in the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Third Round of the FA Cup in 1896.

Archie Goodall’s Irish International career was only able to commence when the English clubs indicated their willingness to release Irish-born players. He was one of the four who were the first “Anglos” to represent Ireland, as Wales were defeated 1-0 in Belfast in March 1899. For the record they were:- Goodall (Derby County), John Taggart (Walsall) Thomas Morrison (Burnley), J. D. Hanna (Royal Artillery Portsmouth). Three weeks later Goodall became the oldest player to score in international football during the Nineteenth Century, the consolation goal in a 9-1 defeat by Scotland in Glasgow on Mar 25, 1899 at the age of 34 years and 279 days.

Goodall remained a regular at centre-half for Ireland until he was almost forty, although his final cap was won at centre-forward. The opening goal scored by Goodall in a 2-0 win over Wales in March 1903 leaves him as the oldest goalscorer in Ireland’s history at the ripe old age of 38 years and 283 days.

Goodall left Derby County, where he had been club captain, after 423 games and 52 goals in 1903. He joined Plymouth Argyle of the Southern League and for a period was player-manager of Glossop. In October 1905 he signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers where he made his final League appearance that December. At the age of 41 years 153 days he is the oldest player ever to feature for Wolves.

A life-long tee-totaller and non-smoker Goodall was also described as “a tremendous worker whose enthusiasm ran way with his judgement!” In 1911 he was reported injured while "appearing in an act which consisted of walking round the inside edge of a great wheel, and whilst suspended in mid-air by his feet, giving several trials of strength." He recovered, and two years later took his strongman act on a tour of Europe and America. He also worked as a singer on the music hall circuit, settling in London where he lived out his remaining years.

Ireland Cap Details:
04-03-1899 Wales... H W 1-0 BC
25-03-1899 Scotland A L 1-9 BC 1 Goal
24-02-1900 Wales... A L 0-2 BC
17-03-1900 England. H L 0-2 BC
09-03-1901 England. A L 0-3 BC
01-03-1902 Scotland H L 1-3 BC
14-02-1903 England. A L 0-4 BC
28-03-1903 Wales... H W 2-0 BC 1 Goal
12-03-1904 England. H L 1-3 BC
21-03-1904 Wales... A W 1-0 BC

Summary: 10/2. Won 3, Drew 0, Lost 7.

Additional information by George Glass and Chris Goodwin.

Archie's brother, John, in his England colours