*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Craig Godden
Appearances: 74 Goals: 0
Clean Sheets: 16
Date / Year of birth: 19th May 1963
Position: Goalkeeper
Season of first appearance: 1979/80
Season of last appearance: 1983/84
Also played for: Crawley Town, Peterborough United (0), Ashford Town and Whitstable Town
Brave, agile keeper born in Chatham who was the younger brother of Wayne (Margate) and Tony Godden (WBA & Chelsea).
Craig initially joined Margate in January 1980 aged 16 and at the time he'd been playing amateur football in his native Ashford. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Hounslow at Hartsdown Park on 29.1.80 in the wake of Bryan Parry's departure and Craig "showed definite promise" according to the Isle of Thanet Gazette. He made one further appearance during the 1979/80 season before departing.
Craig returned to Hartsdown in the summer of 1982 after a spell with Crawley and he was expected to be Thanet United's back-up keeper for the 1982/83 season. However when Brian Curtis was injured during a pre-season friendly Craig was given the opportunity of a run in the United side. He did so well that Curtis left the club once he'd recovered as Craig had firmly established himself as first-choice. He gained rave reviews for a string of fine performances. Craig had an excellent game in a 2-1 defeat at home to Tonbridge on 30.10.82, pulling off numerous saves, and on 13.11.82 he saved a penalty during a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Ashford. The Thanet Times said that Craig "pounced on the penalty kick like a cat". The same paper then praised him for making "three top-class saves" in a 6-1 defeat at Salisbury on 20.11.82. In December 1982 United took the unprecedented step (for Thanet) of giving Craig a contract and caretaker manager Peter Donnelly said at the time "I think Craig is good enough for Football League clubs to take a good, hard look at him." The Isle of Thanet Gazette also felt that Craig could go a long way and said that he was "continually improving". His eye-catching displays continued and on 1.1.83 Craig played brilliantly in a 5-0 defeat at Hillingdon. He was still in sparkling form towards the end of the season and the Thanet Times was full of praise for Craig's performance in a 1-0 win over Woodford at Hartsdown on 2.4.83. The paper said that he "distinguished himself with some outstanding saves and his handling throughout was impeccable". Craig made 41 appearances in total, missing only three games, and kept 12 clean sheets. He was a worthy winner of United's 'Player of the Year' award. Peter Donnelly agreed and described him as being "a brave and agile keeper with a lot of class."
Craig was in fine form again at the start of the 1983/84 season and he was watched by Football League scouts on several occasions. The local press described him as being "fearless" and Craig gave a brilliant display in 1-0 defeat at Salisbury on 12.11.83, making what the Thanet Times said were "three stunning saves" to cap "a superb performance". The same paper later praised Craig for "goalkeeping heroics" during a 1-1 draw at Waterlooville on 17.12.83 but after a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Addlestone & Weybridge on 4.2.84 he was dropped by new Thanet boss John Wickens. Bobby Miles took over as United's first-choice keeper and kept his place for the remainder of the season. That led to Craig leaving the club, having made 31 appearances during the campaign.
During the early part of the 1984/85 season he played for Peterborough's reserves and Craig then joined Ashford, making his debut for them in an Eastern Floodlight Cup tie at home to Thanet on 11.12.84.
In later years he had a spell with Whitstable, playing twice for their first team during the 1992/93 season. Craig also made numerous reserve team appearances.
His younger brother Justin played for Whitstable's youth team and reserve teams during the early 1990's.
In 2003 Craig was living in the Medway area of Kent.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1979/80 (MFC) |
2 (56) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (17TH OF 24) |
4QR |
3QR |
2R |
2R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1982/83 (TUFC) |
41 (44) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (14TH OF 18) |
3QR |
1QR |
1R |
2R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1983/84 (TUFC) |
31 (49) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (18TH OF 20) |
2QR |
1QR |
3R |
2R |