Verdi Godwin

Verdi Godwin

Personal information
Full name	Verdi Godwin[1]
Date of birth	11 February 1926[1]
Place of birth	Blackburn, England[1]
Date of death	1 December 2013 (aged 87)[2]
Place of death	Southport, England
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
	Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1946–1948	Blackburn Rovers	27	(6)
1948–1949	Manchester City	8	(3)
1949–1950	Stoke City	22	(2)
1950–1951	Mansfield Town	31	(9)
1951–1952	Middlesbrough	0	(0)
1952	Grimsby Town	1	(0)
1953	Brentford	7	(1)
1954–1955	Southport	17	(2)
1955–1956	Barrow	15	(3)
1956–1957	Tranmere Rovers	14	(2)
1957–1958	Macclesfield Town	3	(0)
Total		146	(28)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Verdi Godwin BEM (11 February 1926 – 1 December 2013) was a former English footballer who played in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Mansfield Town, Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town, Brentford and Stoke City.^[1]

Career

Godwin was born in Blackburn and began his career with local side Blackburn Rovers.^[1] He scored six goals in two seasons at Ewood Park and joined Manchester City in the summer of 1948.^[1] He scored three goals in eight matches for Man City before joining Stoke City whose manager Bob McGrory saw Godwin as the answer to Stoke's goalscoring problem in 1949–50.^[1] However, despite scoring on his debut Godwin was poor and scored just once more in the next 20 matches and by January he was used as a part exchange with Third Division Mansfield Town for Harry Oscroft.^[1] Godwin then became a journeyman striker spending short spells at Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town, Brentford, Southport, Barrow and finally Tranmere Rovers.^[1]

Personal life

After retiring from football, Godwin worked during the summer for 36 years as a lifeguard on Southport beach. He was award the British Empire Medal in recognition for his service.^[3]

Career statistics

• Sourced from Verdi Godwin profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Blackburn Rovers	1946–47	First Division	15	1	0	0	15	1
	1947–48	First Division	12	5	0	0	12	5
Manchester City	1948–49	First Division	8	3	0	0	8	3
Stoke City	1949–50	First Division	22	2	1	0	23	2
Mansfield Town	1949–50	Third Division North	17	7	0	0	17	7
	1950–51	Third Division North	14	2	0	0	14	2
Grimsby Town	1951–52	Third Division North	1	0	0	0	1	0
Brentford	1951–52	Second Division	1	0	0	0	1	0
	1952–53	Second Division	6	1	0	0	6	1
	1953–54	Second Division	0	0	0	0	0	0
Southport	1954–55	Third Division North	17	2	0	0	17	2
Barrow	1955–56	Third Division North	15	3	1	1	16	4
Tranmere Rovers	1955–56	Third Division North	14	2	0	0	14	2
Career Total			142	28	2	1	144	29

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. "R.I.P Verdi Godwin (Southport)". OTSNews. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
3. Brentford Football Club Official Programme versus Brighton & Hove Albion 10/02/07. 2007. p. 39.

External links

• Verdi Godwin stats at Neil Brown stat site