West Brom mourn death of goalkeeping great Tony Godden
Tony Godden, Albion’s goalkeeper in a thrilling period for the club in the late 1970s, has died aged 70.
Former Albion goalkeeping great Tony Godden has died, aged 70.
Godden was Baggies shot-stopper in one of the club’s great sides, the thrilling era of the late 1970s.
He made 329 appearances for Albion across nine years between 1977 and 1986.
Kent-born Godden moved to the Black Country from non-league outfit Ashford Town and was the man to succeed the great John Osborne between the sticks at The Hawthorns.
He went on to become a firm favourite among supporters and a reliable and familiar figure between the sticks - so much so that he still holds the club-record of 228 consecutive appearances for the club.
Godden made his debut as a 21-year-old at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane in March 1977 - on the same day winger Laurie Cunningham made his Baggies bow in a 2-0 win.
The young goalkeeper followed his maiden clean sheet with another on his Hawthorns bow in a 4-0 win over Ipswich, featuring a Bryan Robson hat-trick.
Albion ended that season seventh in the First Division, the first back in the top flight, before finishes of sixth, third and fourth in the next four campaigns in a thrilling era at The Hawthorns.
Godden was an ever-present in goal from the 1977/78 campaign under Ronnie Allen and Ron Atkinson.
From his 51 appearances that term he did not miss another fixture until a clash at Tottenham in November, 1981.
Godden was between the sticks for the iconic 5-3 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in December 1978 and made typically sprawling saves to frustrate Argentine star Mario Kempes in the UEFA Cup downing of Valencia.
Godden went on to have loans away from the Baggies at Luton, Walsall and Chelsea.
He moved permanently to Stamford Bridge in 1986 and is remembered with the Londoners for making two quickfire penalty saves in a 1-0 win at Manchester United.
The shot-stopper would go on to represent Birmingham City, Bury, Peterborough United and non-league Wivenhoe Town before retirement in 1991.
Godden managed non-league sides Kings Lynn and Bury Town later in the 1990s before he moved to Rushden & Diamonds as goalkeeper coach in 2006, where he had caretaker spells at the helm. He also served Brighton as goalkeeper coach.
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