The Roy Goodall Collection - In the September Auction
Some fine footballers have heralded from the City of Sheffield and its surrounding areas over the years. The city is defined as the birthplace of the modern game. One of its brightest stars from the inter-war years came from the village of Dronfield just a few miles outside the city centre, the home today of the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC. His name was Roy Goodall.
Quite how the two Sheffield professional teams missed out on his signature is the question. Both were renowned for scouting and promoting local talent through their ranks. However, Goodall slipped through their fingers and signed for Huddersfield Town at the age of 19 in 1921.
The manager at that point Ambrose Langley, was a resident of the steel city. He played with some distinction for the Wednesday back in the day. So, there is every chance that he may have seen Goodall playing at junior level. Or been made aware of his promise through the local football grapevine. Regardless, it was Leeds Road for Roy and not the Lane or Hillsborough.
Langley departed in the year he arrived, replaced by the man brought in as his assistant, a man who himself had plied his trade as a player for the Blades. His brother had also worn the blue and white of the Wednesday, winning an FA Cup Winners medal for them in 1907. He would leave his mark and name on the beautiful game forever; his name was Herbert Chapman.
There was a Sheffield connection there. Herbert and his brother, Harry, heralded from another village on the outskirts of Sheffield, Kiveton. Harry, like Langley, also had a spell as manager of Hull City. Football is always full of connections.
Chapman would make Roy Goodall his skipper, and in turn, Goodall would go on to lead the Yorkshire side to uncharted success for one of the youngest clubs in the league at that point. They won the League Championship three times in a row. He would also win the FA Cup, collect two runners up medals, see the club finish runners up in the League three times and lift the charity shield.
Goodall was no ordinary football defender. At his peak, he was widely recognised as one of the best defenders in the world. He played an incredible 25 times for his country, many as captain and at a time when the world was a far bigger place. 25 caps back then could arguably be the equivalent of over 100 today due to the number of games played.
Had England deemed to take a team to the first World Cup, Roy Goodall would have worn the armband. You have to wonder what other trophies he would have lifted on an even bigger stage to add to the wonderful haul his years in the game brought. When his playing career was over, he had a spell as manager at Mansfield Town - again not that far from where he was born.
Graham Budd Auctions are delighted and honoured to bring many wonderful pieces from the career of a Huddersfield Town giant and England legend to our September sale. This collection brings to the market his Cup winners and runners up medals, his precious League Championship gongs, shirts, caps and other ephemera with the provenance from his proud descendants to find new homes. Plus, to keep his name and triumphs around for the next generations to know his name, what he did, and the style in which he did it. A true footballer.
The Roy Goodall collection will form part of our sports memorabilia auction which will take place on the 5-6th of September.
