John Goodall (19 June 1863 – 20 May 1942) was an English professional footballer who rose to fame as a centre forward for England and for Preston North End at the time of the development of the Football League, and also became Watford's first manager in 1903. He also played cricket in the County Championship for Derbyshire in 1895 and 1896, being one of 19 players to achieve the Derbyshire Double of playing cricket for Derbyshire and football for Derby County. He was also a curling player of some repute.
Family and early life He was a son of Richard, a soldier in the Scottish Fusiliers from Fishcross, near Alloa in Clackmannanshire."Richard Goodale. Baptism: 11 July 1835, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, Scotland". Scotland, Parish Births & Baptisms 1564-1929, via Find My Past. Retrieved 13 October 2021. His mother was Mary (maiden surname of Lees), and his parents were married on 31 December 1860 in Tarbolton, Scotland."Richard Goodall – Mary Lees 31 December 1860, Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland". Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910, via Family Search. Retrieved 7 October 2021. Mary Lees was a daughter of Achibald Lees and his wife Elizabeth. She was baptised at Tarbolton on 22 April 1838."Surname: Lees. Forename: Mary. Parish Number: 619/ Ref: 30 134. Parish: Tarbolton". Old Parish Registers – Births and baptisms – Search results. Via ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
Goodall had a somewhat cosmopolitan background. He was born in London and his parents' travels were diverse enough to leave him with a younger brother, Archie, who was born in Belfast. John and Archie also had a sister named Elizabeth who was born in Edinburgh."The 'CoodNaes': John & Archie". Iain Campbell Whittle. Via Scots Football Worldwide.
When he was young John Goodall would play in bare feet with a rubber ball along with his other friends. He later commented that this helped to develop his ball control skills from an early age, which benefitted him when he became a footballer."To-day's Training Methods Are 'All Wrong.' 'Proud Preston' Would Give Any Present Team Six Goals Start". By John Goodall. Athletic News, Monday 5 November 1928, p.1. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
John's father died when he was young, and by the time that the 1871 census was taken on 2 April, he was living in Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, Scotland. He was in the home listed as aged 7, with his mother Mary, a widow aged 32. And siblings Archibald age 6, and Elizabeth age 4. The address was 13, Glencairn Square."Surname: Goodall. Forename: John. Ref: 597/ 23/ 12. RD Name: Kilmarnock. County/City: Ayr". Census returns – 1871 Census – Search results. Via ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
When Goodall left school he became an iron turner and later worked at the Glenfield Works in Kilmarnock."Gunpowder Accident". Irvine Times, Friday 21 September 1883, p.8. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
His mother married Joseph Barnes in 1880 at Kilmarnock."Joseph Barnes – Mary Goodall. Year: 1880. Ref: 597/ 166. RD Name: Kilmarnock (Ayr)". Statutory registers – Marriages – Search results. Via ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
Club career Early career Goodall played for Kilmarnock Burns,"Competition For Ornithological Association Badges. Burns v. 2nd Portland". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 29 May 1880, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2021. and then got into the second eleven team of Kilmarnock Athletic. He made his first team debut for Kilmarnock Athletic in September 1880 in a 3–1 victory over Mauchline, at Holm Quarry Park, Kilmarnock."Kilmarnock Athletic v. Mauchline". Ayr Advertiser, or, West Country And Galloway Journal, Thursday 23 September 1880, p.6. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2021."Ayrshire Notes On The International". Scottish Referee, Thursday 31 March 1892, p.1. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2021. He scored four goals in Kilmarnock Athletic's 7–1 win over Ayr on 17 September 1881 in a first round match of the 1881–82 Scottish Cup played at Kilmarnock."Football. Kilmarnock Athletic v. Ayr". Irvine Herald, Saturday 24 September 1881, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2021. In December 1881 he scored three goals for Ayrshire against Renfrewshire at Paisley, and his performance was reviewed very positively in the Athletic News."Scotch Football Notes". Athletic News, Wednesday 14 December 1881, p.5. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021. On 28 January 1882, at Cliftonville in north Belfast, he played on the right wing for Ayrshire again, this time against a team composed of players representing the Belfast and district football association. Ayrshire won the game 12–0 and John Goodall scored a goal."Football. Belfast And District v. Ayrshire". Northern Whig, Monday 30 January 1882, p.7. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2021. On 18 February 1882, Kilmarnock Athletic played in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Queen's Park F.C. at Hampden Park. Kilmarnock Athletic lost 3–2."Out-Door Sports. Football. Queen's Park v. Kilmarnock Athletic (Association Cup)". Irvine Times, Saturday 25 February 1882, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2021. But John Goodall gave a very creditable performance.
On 17 March 1883 his team played a replayed semi-final of the 1882–83 Scottish Cup, but lost 2–0 at home against Vale of Leven."Scotch Football Notes". Athletic News, Wednesday 21 March 1883, p.5. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
He represented Ayrshire again on 19 November 1883 at Kilmarnock in a match against a Lancashire representative team. Ayrshire won 6–3, and after the game Goodall was described in one review as being the best forward in the county."Lancashire v. Ayrshire". Athletic News, Wednesday 21 November 1883, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021."Scotch Football Notes". Athletic News, Wednesday 21 November 1883, p.5. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
Having played for Kilmarnock Athletic, he later joined the Scotch Professor exodus south and ended up at Great Lever. Kilmarnock Athletic played two matches in Lancashire in December 1883. The first was on 22 December 1883 against Great Lever, which resulted in a 3–1 win for Kilmarnock Athletic at the Great Lever ground in Bolton. Goodall scored one goal."Great Lever v. Kilmarnock Athletic". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Monday 24 December 1883, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2021. They then played against Preston North End at Deepdale on 24 December 1883 and lost 4–1."Football. North End v. Kilmarnock Athletic". Preston Herald, Wednesday 26 December 1883, p.5. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2021. This was the last game that John Goodall played for Kilmarnock Athletic. Along with Lucas, and Walkinshaw of Kilmarnock Athletic, John Goodall decided he did not want to return with his team back to Scotland and decided to stay in Lancashire joining the Great Lever Team because he could earn better wages in England."En Passant". Athletic News, Wednesday 2 January 1884, p.1. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
His first appearance for Great Lever took place on 29 December 1883 in a game against Halliwell."Association Football". Athletic News, Wednesday 2 January 1884, p.5. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2021. During the 1883–1884 season Great Lever played 45 matches. Of these, 35 were won, 8 were lost and 2 drawn. And with the help of John Goodall, the team became renowned for scoring lots of goals. They scored 180 goals and conceded 68."Great Lever Football Club". Athletic News, Wednesday 7 May 1884, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
On 6 September 1884 at Great Lever in a 4–2 win for his team, he scored a goal against Blackburn Rovers."Football. Association. Great Lever v. Blackburn Rovers". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Monday 8 September 1884, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2021. A week later he scored four goals at Great Lever in a 6–0 win over Derby County."Derby County v. Great Lever". Liverpool Mercury, Monday 15 September 1884, p.7. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 9 October 2021. On 17 November 1884 at Preston, he made an appearance for Preston North End, his future club, and scored a goal in a 3–1 win against Burnley. Both teams had the assistance of players from outside their usual elevens on this day."Preston North End v. Burnley". Athletic News, Wednesday 19 November 1884, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2021. Goodall scored many goals for the Leverites, and by the end of 1884 was being described as the best forward in Lancashire."The Association Game". Athletic News, Wednesday 31 December 1884, p.4. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021. He struck four goals against Walsall Swifts on 31 January 1885 in a 7–0 win at the Great Lever ground in Bolton."Football In Lancashire. Great Lever v. Walsall Swifts". The Sportsman, Monday 2 February 1885, p.4. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
His last match for Great Lever took place on 16 May 1885 at home against Bolton Wanderers F.C. and ended in a 1–1 draw. It came just a few days after the same team had defeated the Leverites 5–1 in the final of the Bolton Charity Cup."Bolton Wanderers v. Great Lever". Athletic News, Tuesday 19 May 1885, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
Preston North End 1885–1888 It was only by the sheer determination of representatives from Preston North End, that John Goodall agreed to play for them. He had been persuaded to join Bolton Wanderers F.C. He was at the club's headquarters when Ramsay, one of his teammates from Great Lever, came into the room and said he wanted to speak to him. When he got outside, there were two people from Preston North End. They bundled John Goodall into a cab, sent him to the nearest station and went to Preston via Blackburn. The Bolton representatives worked out what had happened but ended up going to the wrong station. Goodall joined Preston North End in August 1885 at the beginning of the 1885–86 season."Cricket, &c". Athletic News, Wednesday 5 August 1885, p.6. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021. He claimed a goal in the first game of that season at Preston on 22 August 1885 in a 7–0 win over Wednesbury Old Athletic."Football. Preston North End v. Wednesbury Old Athletic. Preston, August 22". The Referee, Monday 24 August 1885, p.1. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
On 17 August 1887, he scored nine goals in North End's 16–2 win in a friendly match away against Dundee Strathmore."Football. Preston North End v. Strathmore (Dundee)". Dundee Courier, Friday 19 August 1887, p.4. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 5 October 2021. When North End beat Hyde F.C. 26–0 on 15 October 1887, John Goodall only claimed the last goal."Association. English Challenge Cup. First Round". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Monday 17 October 1887, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021. This may in part be due to the fact that he was playing at half-back in the game."Football Association Challenge Cup. Preston North End v. Hyde". Sporting Life, Monday 17 October 1887, p.4. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 10 October 2021. That season, 1887–88 Preston North end reached the 1888 FA Cup Final. It was played at Kennington Oval on 24 March 1888 against West Bromwich Albion, John Goodall played centre–forward. North End lost 2–1.
1888–89 season