Quick Facts
Biography
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.
Career
Godwin was born in Blackburn and began his career with local side Blackburn Rovers. He scored six goals in two seasons at Ewood Park and joined Manchester City in the summer of 1948. 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. 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. Godwin then became a journeyman striker spending short spells at Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town, Brentford, Southport, Barrow, Tranmere Rovers and finally Macclesfield.
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.
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 |
| Macclesfield | 1958–59 | Cheshire County League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career Total | 145 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 148 | 29 | ||