OBITUARY | Karl Goddard - 1967-2023

Club historian Ron Parrott has recently become aware of the passing of former Hereford United player Karl Goddard, who played for two seasons at Edgar Street. Ron takes up the story:- “A Yorkshire lad, he had played for England Schoolboys and his future looked bright when he spent two seasons with Manchester United’s Academy. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out and Karl joined Bradford City

By the time he reached Edgar Street, he had calmed down somewhat and was probably the fittest member of the squad, with his training regime something to behold. He had the sweetest left foot and loved to play the ball out of defence and joining up with the attack, where he liked to have a pop. At the age of 33, Karl was always going to be prone to injury and so it transpired and he was out for most of his first season.

Karl remained cheerful and continued to enjoy his social life, whilst undergoing his recuperation. Sadly, the injury proved too great and forced him to leave Hereford, having made his final Football League appearance. Karl spent the rest of his days in his native Yorkshire and was taken from us on 25th June 2023 at the tragically young age of 55. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time, rest in peace Karl.”

 

For those readers who like to see the full “pen-pic”, Ron has reproduced this below:-

 

Appearances: 11 (10+1 sub.) Goals: 2

Seasons played: 1990/91 & 1991/92

Born Holbeck, Leeds 29th December 1967, died Bradford 25th June 2023

As a youngster, Karl played his football for Leeds City Boys’ team before he was spotted by Manchester United and signed on to spend two seasons at Manchester United’s Academy. This happened just before it was made famous by “The Class of 92” and although he played for England Schoolboys, he failed to make the grade at Old Trafford. In the summer of 1986, Karl moved east of the Pennines again and signed for Bradford City, where he remained for four seasons.  At 5’6”, he was on the short side for a defender but nevertheless, the fans loved him and Karl was voted into their best ever XI. He scored once in 91 appearances and after just one game on loan to Exeter City in December 1989, he was farmed straight back out again, this time to Colchester United in February 1990 until the end of the season.

Karl was released upon return to Bradford City and signed for Hereford United in September 1990. He walked into Colin Addison’s first XI and made his debut in the third game of the campaign then went on to feature in the next eight successive games before picking up an injury that was destined to keep him confined to the side-lines for the rest of the season. Karl eventually fought his way back to fitness and returned to the side, now managed by John Sillett, at the end of September 1991. Sadly, Karl only managed a substitute appearance at Walsall and a final game at Mostyn in the Welsh Cup before a recurrence of his injury forced him to give up the game at Football League level. In many ways Karl was a perfect professional and his training regime was a great example to all the younger players.  However, He worked hard and played hard and loved to socialise but still retained the respect of his fellow professionals.

After leaving Edgar Street, Karl returned to Yorkshire again and signed for Bradford Park Avenue in the Northern Premier League, before ending his career with Emley in the Northern Counties East League. After retirement, Karl settled in Leeds and worked as a builder but later moved to Bradford, where he died at the tragically young age of just 55.