Alan Goad - Player Profile
Alan Goad has well over 450 professional games played and a playing career spanning three decades.
The Good Ol' Days
With well over 450 professional games played Alan’s career in football started with Exeter City in 1965. After 2 seasons with Exeter Alan made the move up north to join Hartlepool United in 1967. He joined Hartlepool only one season after Brian Clough and Peter Taylor left to begin their journey with Derby County. It was Hartlepool United’s new Manager, Angus McLean that signed Alan to a contract which saw him play over 12 season’s with Pools making 418 appearances (Still ranked 5th with the club).
In Alan’s first season Hartlepool were promoted to the 3rd division for the first time and one season later Alan was a regular in the starting 11. From 1967 to 1978 Alan played in every position (except goal) for Pools but Alan was best known for his aggressive, dependable defending that made him a staple in the Hartleppol back line. Even though he was more known for stopping attackers he managed to find the net 11 times for Hartlepool. He made 20 F.A. Cup appearances and 23 appearances in the Football League Cup. Alan is given lot of credit for remaining at a club that remained in the cellar of the Football League and one of the reasons why Brian Clough brought his Nottingham Forest team back to Hartlepool for Alan's Testimonial Match but a little known fact was that an agreed upon fee of 10,000 pounds from Carlisle United would have brought Alan into the second division (Chamionship league) back in 1972. Just a week before the deal was to be finalized Alan suffered a minor knee injury which forced Carlisle to look elsewhere to shore up their back-line.
Away from Victoria Park Alan ran his pub, The Mason’s Arms and later, The Square Ring (formerly The Spotted Cow). These Pubs became a meeting place for fans after the match with Alan much in the forefront after a big win and hiding in the back after a tough loss. Unfortunately it was an ultimatum from the brewery that forced Alan into retirement, a decision he looks back on with regret. Looking back now Alan feels he could have played another 4 or 5 seasons with Hartlepool as he was only 29 when he hung up his boots at Victoria Park. The biggest highlight of Alan’s career came after 10 season’s when the club offered Alan a testimonial match in 1977.
It was up to Alan to arrange the opponent for his own testimonial match and he decided to call upon ex Hartlepool Boss Brian Clough, now with Nottingham Forest. Brian was happy to oblige and he promised to bring a full squad. Forest were on the verge of winning the League and the League Cup and were only one season away from winning a European Cup. A packed house at a wet and cold Victoria Park saw Hartlepool take on Forest including the likes of Tony Woodcock, Viv Anderson, Archie Gemmil, Gary Birtles and ex Hartlepool midfielder John McGovern. After a 2-2 draw with Forest Alan was given signed England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales Jersey’s as well as a signed Pele, New York Cosmos jersey. A treasure the family still has to this day.
Two years away from the game saw Alan answer a calling from the west coast of Canada to coach and play with the Fraser Valley All-Stars in the North West League in British Columbia. With little money in the club Alan and his family were only weeks away from moving back to England. It was during a championship game that Alan was scouted by ex England goalkeeper Tony Waiters and Millwall legend Derek Possee who quickly signed Alan to play in the newly formed North America Indoor Soccer league with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Alan once again became the staple in the back line, this time for the Whitecaps and the dependable duo of Goad and Roger Kenyon struck fear into opposing attackers. It was a great ending to Alan’s career playing with the Caps alongside the likes of Bruce Grobbelaar, Terry Yorath, Peter Lorimer, Carl Valentine, Willie Johnston, Derek Possee and Pierce O’Leary. Retiring from the Whitecaps opened the door to many coaching opportunities where Alan ran the Whitecaps youth development system which led to coaching opportunities with 1966 World Cup Winner Nobby Stiles. Alan, to this day, talks about a game where he and 1966 England legend Stiles played in Central Defense together with compliments from Nobby saying that Alan could have easily played at the highest level in England. Alan, now retired, still coaches at the amateur level occasionally in British Columbia as well as traveling and spending time with his wife of 45 years, Sue.
Playing Career Statistics
· 1965-1967 - Exeter City - 6 Appearances
· 1967-1978 - Hartlepool United - 418 Appearances - 11 Goals
· 1980-1982 - Vancouver Whitecaps - 31 Appearances
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