Mark Goodlad

Mark Goodlad
Personal information
Full nameMark Goodlad
Date of birth9 September 1979[1]
Place of birthBarnsley, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1998–2000Nottingham Forest0(0)
1999Scarborough (loan)3(0)
2000–2008Port Vale212(0)
Total215(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Mark Goodlad (born 9 September 1979 in Barnsley) is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Leaving Nottingham Forest for Port Vale in 2000 (also playing for Scarborough on loan), he became the Vale's first choice keeper for a number of seasons until he was forced to retire due to injury in 2008. During his time at Vale Park he was made Player of the Year in 2001–02, and also picked up a Football League Trophy winner's medal in 2001. In all he made 250 competitive appearances in a ten years professional career.

Playing career

Goodlad turned professional at Nottingham Forest, though did not make a first team appearance during the club's relegation from the Premier League in 1998–99. He was though loaned out to Third Division Scarborough in February, and played three games in what was the club's final season of league football.

Forest now in the First Division, he still failed to make it onto the pitch, and so in March 2000 he switched to league rivals Port Vale. Though he played only one game for the "Valiants" in 1999–2000, he was behind the more experienced Paul Musselwhite and his deputy Kevin Pilkington in the pecking order.

After Musselwhite and Pilkington moved on in the summer, Goodlad's only competition for the number one jersey came from Irishman Dean Delany, also aged 20.[2] A consistent Goodlad proved himself to be the superior talent,[3] and went to make fifty appearances in 2000–01, also keeping goal in the club's 2001 Football League Trophy success at the Millennium Stadium.[4] The young keeper also posted fifty appearances in the 2001–02 campaign, and was handed the club's Player of the Year award for his strong performances.[5]

Recovering from a dislocated finger to make the start of the 2002–03 season,[6] he went on to maintain his consistency over his 42 games despite the turmoil of the club entering administration. At the end of the season he was forced to undergo an operation on a finger injury, and thereby spend a lengthy time on the sidelines.[7]

He missed the entirety of the 2003–04 season due to his finger injury,[8] and was forced to make his recovery in games held behind closed doors.[9] A young Jonny Brain was signed to provide cover for Delany,[10] but instead took his place as Vale's regular stopper during Goodlad's absence. He missed the start of 2004–05 with a thigh muscle injury,[11] and only played twenty games all season.

Goodlad was back to his quiet and consistent best in 2005–06,[12] posting 52 appearances in both league and cup, fending off competition from a teenage Joe Anyon.[13] Throughout the season he faced four penalties, three of which he saved and one was of which hit the post. At the end of the campaign he put pen to paper on a new two-year deal,[14] despite rumours that circulated on a fan site of a falling out with manager Martin Foyle – one of many rumours that "quite annoyed" many of the players.[15]

The club's number one for the start of the 2006–07 campaign, injury struck him once again, this time ending his career. Before this though, he had one of the finest games of his career, picking up the man-of-the match award in a League Cup clash with top-flight Tottenham Hotspur.[16] He picked up his final injury on 30 December, in a game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate, after he got his ankle caught in mud and had to be stretchered off the field within the opening minutes.[17] He ruptured his right achilles tendon and had to have reconstructive surgery. Following the incident Musselwhite was re-signed by the club on an emergency basis, now aged 38.[18]

Goodlad played no part of the 2007–08 season, and announced his retirement on 2 January 2008 after it emerged that his Achilles tendon injury would need further surgery – surgery which carried the risk that he would have to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life.[19][20] Goodlad opted to retire rather than risk handicapping himself. A benefit match was arranged for Goodlad – Port Vale Legends against Wolves legends at Vale Park on 6 August 2008.[21]

Post-retirement

As of September 2010, he was working as both a goalkeeping coach at Nottingham Forest and a sports teacher at the JCB Academy.[22]

Statistics

Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[23] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1998–99[24]Nottingham ForestPremier League0000000000
1998–99[24]Scarborough (loan)Third Division3000000030
1999–2000[25]Nottingham ForestFirst Division0000000000
Total 0000000000
1999–2000[25]Port ValeFirst Division1000000010
2000–01[26]Second Division400202060500
2001–02[27]430202030500
2002–03[28]370101030420
2003–04[29]0000000000
2004–05[30]League One200000000200
2005–06[31]460501000520
2006–07[32]250204010320
2007–08[33]0000000000
Total 21201201001302470
Career total 21501201001302500

Honours

Individual
with Port Vale

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Name: Mark Goodlad". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  2. "Delaney wants to impress at Port Vale". kickinmagazine.ie. 14 June 2000. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. "Port Vale pen pictures". BBC Sport. 18 April 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  4. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  5. "Player Of The Year Announced". port-vale.co.uk. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  6. "Goodlad wins fitness race". BBC Sport. 8 August 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  7. "Goodlad blow for Vale". BBC Sport. 24 July 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  8. "Goodlad nears return". BBC Sport. 11 November 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  9. "Goodlad continues comeback". BBC Sport. 2 December 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  10. "Vale sign young keeper". BBC Sport. 22 August 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  11. "Goodlad blow for Vale". BBC Sport. 20 September 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  12. "Goodlad is spot on says Vale boss". BBC Sport. 12 January 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  13. "Anyon aims to be top Vale keeper". BBC Sport. 23 March 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  14. "Keeper Goodlad pens new Vale deal". BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  15. "Foyle fall out denied by Goodlad". BBC Sport. 14 March 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  16. "Tottenham 3–1 Port Vale (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  17. "Bristol City 2–1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  18. "Port Vale sign keeper Musselwhite". BBC Sport. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  19. "Port Vale keeper forced to retire". BBC Sport. 2 January 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  20. "Mark Goodlad confirmed to retire". Port Vale football Club. 2 January 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  21. "Mark Goodlad's testimonial game". Port Vale football club. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  22. Truswell, James (30 September 2010). "Ex-Vale star Mark Goodlad proves good catch for JCB Academy". The Sentinel. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  23. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
  24. 24.0 24.1 "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  25. 25.0 25.1 "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  26. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  27. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  28. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  29. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  30. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  31. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  32. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  33. "Games played by Mark Goodlad in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.

External links