The Baggies Cat. The Tony Godden Story.

You can in your mind picture the kid from Kent.

A bouffant of wavy hair, diving from post to muddy post, making save upon save.

In his heart, emulating his Chelsea hero...

'The Cat'.

AKA Peter Bonetti.

This was the late 60's and early 70's when Anthony Leonard Godden graduated from a budding schoolboy defender into the green number 1 shirt..

The custodian..

The keeper of dreams...

And Tony's dream was to be Bonetti.

As a Chelsea fan as a kid back then you had other choices.

The stylistic finishing of Peter Osgood to the dribbling panache of Charlie Cooke..

Tony first graduated from defender to goalie, as his school team needed a ‘keeper to cover for an injury..

The ever willing Godden stepped up.

He never stepped back again..

From that inauspicious start, a line can be drawn to eventually becoming the record consecutive appearance holder in the history of West Bromwich Albion.

Over a four year and three month period, including a glorious, unbroken 180 Division 1 appearances, plus 49 games in Europe and beyond.

Just 11 years after first volunteering to pick up 'the gloves'..

Godden's career eventually became a classic, long term 'have gloves, will travel' scenario emanating from a sheer joy of playing as well as necessity to his family.

It’s better known now as a retirement plan..

Players were not remunerated like they are today, and a keeper of Godden's calibre and pedigree would still be attracting contracts at lower division clubs, until his retirement aged 38, back in 1993..

Gooden's career arc originally located in his home county of Kent, with his local Southern League team, Ashford Town, although he was also connected to his hometown club Gillingham, as an amateur player.

Ashford Town, are known as the 'Nuts and Bolts' and it’s amazing to note, just a couple of seasons before Tony became a first team regular, another future Baggies legend, was mixing his career as a PE teacher at the prodigious Alleyn's School in South London and also playing for part time for Ashford Town.

His name, Roy Hodgson..

Tony's time with Ashford coincided with a stirring FA Cup run resulting in a lucrative First Round home tie against a team, Tony would be on loan with sixteen years later, Walsall.

Ashford lost 3-1.

The game was played in front of a raucous crowd of 2,623 on a midweek afternoon, as Ashford's floodlights weren't deemed satisfactory enough for a game of that magnitude for such a small club…

Tony appeared 40 times for Ashford Town, and was originally on Wolves radar having, luckily for us, having an unsuccessful trial there.

West Brom had more confidence in the potential of the twenty year old, he was signed by John Giles in August 1975, joining a quartet of talented keepers, including the eclectic, eccentric fan favorite, and club legend, John Osborne, also Bob Ward and fellow youngster Mark Grew..

The first eighteen months of Godden's fledgling Baggies career, he gamely learnt his trade in a world away from the Southern League but inevitably, like all clubs, there was no specialist goalkeeping coach at West Brom.

Ironically, when Tony joined Chelsea almost a decade later, he would be under the tutelage of his first ever goalkeeping coach.

Of all people his childhood hero.

Peter Bonetti.

With such a surfeit of goalkeepers at The Hawthorns, it was judged Godden would benefit from a short loan spell at Preston North End, managed at the time by future West Brom boss, Nobby Stiles.

A classic case of brother in law scratching brother in law's back, with Stiles and Giles having that family background and of course both ex Man Utd midfielders..

Loan spells at Deepdale could work wonders on young players, ask David Beckham, a couple of decades later..

Tony was not to play a first team game at Preston but trained with players like eventual Baggies target transfer Mark Lawrenson, but still gained hugely from the experience.

Godden's fledgling Baggies season coincided with the 'safety first', possession football of Giles. 

Goals were hard to find.

In the first 27 games of that Division 2 promotion season, WBA only scored more than twice once.

Defensively, WBA were incredibly solid, as the Wile/Robertson central defensive partnership began to really blossom and the characterful veteran, 35 year old John Osborne had arguably the season of his life, with a club record of 20 clean sheets in 42 Division 2 games.

After promotion and somewhat inevitably, John Osborne began to show his age, [although physically, it can be argued, John never quite looked his age?!].

Osborne's personal nadirs were a 7-0 thrashing away at Ipswich Town and three months later a 6-1 reversal at Sunderland.

Bob Ward had deputized earlier for Ossie in a couple of games during the 1976 Festive season, and when a further injury to John's infamous 'bionic finger', [John had a plastic sheath inserted to alleviate arthritis in his knuckle], Giles only viable option was to select the deeply inexperienced Godden for his debut, away at Spurs.

Life is all about timing and it was to be a seminal week for West Brom as well as the 22 year old Gooden.. 

In five days, West Brom would beat both North London clubs, AWAY from home by the same score, 2-0.

It was actually an even bigger week for Tony, as he also became a dad for the first time..

Truly remarkable during this spell of time was the goalscoring run, from by a mile the best midfielder I've ever seen at The Hawthorns, Bryan Robson.

In six games, culminating in Godden's second start v Ipswich, Robbo had scored 7 goals, including a hat-trick against the tractor boys..

And Robbo had just turned 20 years old..

It seems, Godden took to first team football like the manor born, and considering he'd never played in front of even remotely large crowd before, it’s incredible to see how well his early games went?

Six games, four wins, zero defeats..

Goals conceded?

Five.

And two of those were penalties.

Godden also started a career trend as well, spectacularly saving a penalty in that run of games.

Of course, Tony's emergence coincided with Laurie Cunningham who debuted in that same Spurs game scoring three in his first six games..

Halcyon days to be a Baggie.

Bionic finger intact, John Osborne was again available for selection and Giles had a decision to make, returning to Godden's fellow cigarette smoker in gloves, citing the inexperience of the 22 year old as a reason to restore Osborne.

This situation was not universally received well by the Baggies faithful but one that would be set in stone for the rest of the season..

But for Ossie, it was the beginning of the end..

For Godden, it was to be ownership of the shirt.

And the start of Baggies history.

Although John Giles had given Tony his debut, his end of season resignation meant WBA would eventually be under the leadership of two very contrasting Ron's, who after 42 League games had exactly the same playing record.

Firstly, ex Baggies striker Ronnie Allen, replaced mid season by the 37 year old Ron Atkinson...

[Ron, looking back, seemed SO much older than 37…] 

For Godden, it was to be 51 uninterrupted games in his first full season, the start of a four and a half year run of games that would break Ally Robertson's short lived consecutive appearance record.

With the adages of bigger squads and far less loyalty to 'the shirt' now, this is a West Brom record that will unlikely ever to be broken.

180 Division 1 games. 49 Cup games.

Undoubtedly part of the seeds of success for West Brom was establishing a back four in front of Godden that became set in stone.

Reliability, dependence and assurance through character, understanding, and consistency in performance and most vitally, selection.

The longest serving of this quality quartet were the defensive anchors, John Wile and Alistair Robertson, who both quickly realized Godden's strength was instinctive shot stopping and certainly not dealing with crosses, reinforcing the simple rule of ‘staying on your line’ and 'they'd deal' with aerial threats..

Sounds simplistic.

But would you argue with a pair of Geordie and Scottish nuggets?

Tony was relatively small for a keeper, commanding the box was never an essential..

It was in simple terms, throughout Godden's career, a defensive risk..

Godden always saw Wile and Robertson, as crucial to his career development, in his words,

‘ I learned from the best, they were good pros'...

The third part of the Baggies defensive quartet emerged just a few weeks before Godden's debut, Derek Statham making the left back slot his own.

The final part of the defensive jigsaw was Big Ron's first WBA signing, Brendon Batson replacing the Irish maverick, Paddy Mulligan...

Statham and Batson could attack with pacy panache allied with being also wonderful defenders.

With this new defence set in stone, the Baggies reached the FA Cup Semi and gained a UEFA Cup spot, but greater things were expected for the following 1978/79 season..

It was perhaps Tony Godden's best ever season, certainly statistically, but sadly, was notorious of course for an ill judged moment against Liverpool.

Godden rolled the ball forward in his penalty area unaware that the sharpest of strikers in terms of nous and finishing, Kenny Dalglish, was awaiting behind him for this error of judgement.

The stealthy Scot scored a goal that can only be described as embarrassing, and sadly in some ways has come to be the first thing some fans still connect Tony to.

And still to this day, when people recognize the now 69 year old Baggie legend, it's the first theme they often ask about?

But it's grossly unfair to isolate a career in a moment…

In actual fact, the defensive core at WBA in that magical season of flair and panache, the likes we'll probably never see again, is often overlooked?

Of the 210 League games the recently established sextet could play in that season, only 7 games were missed.. 

Wile and Godden were ever present.

Brendon Batson missed one game and Ally Robertson and Derek Statham missed three each.

When you consider how tough those defenders were, where prisoners were never an option of being taken.

The tackles seemingly reverberated with the same power of Cyrille Regis's 30 yard piledrivers.

 An astounding record of durability..

Godden conceded just 35 league goals, a Baggies Division 1 record for a WBA keeper playing all 42 games, [the previous record was 53].

It says so much about Godden's ability as well as his brilliant defence in front of him..

Remarkbly, Liverpool only conceded just 16 that season.

One of the more unusual moments that season was when Tony shared a peak Saturday night TV screen with Bruce Forsyth on 'Bruce's Big Night Out'...

The reason involved contestants 'shooting' penalties at goalkeepers, through verbal directions and fired seemingly from a cannon, Tony's agility to attempt to save was there for all to see...

There was an amusing interaction, as the atypically comically dismissive host commented on Tony being 'small' for a goalkeeper, and Tony stating he was 6ft..

Those curly Godden locks may have added to the final 72nd inch on Tony's frame, but truly back then, it was an age of smaller shot stoppers..

Consider Bonetti's height?

5ft 10'.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2615474658475039

In 1979, Ron Atkinson signed a European Cup Finalist keeper, a decade older than Godden, but seemingly still at his peak, David Stewart from Leeds Utd, but Godden's inexorable run of games continued, being ever present yet again..

It was a season that may well mirror this season so far, for West Brom.

A plethora of drawn games, but back in those days, with two points for a win, draws were less of a problem..

In 42 League games, West Brom drew 19.

Stewart never once took Godden's shirt, in his 18 months as a Baggie, but was still an excellent keeper, gaining promotion with John Toshack's Swansea the following season..

All good runs come to an end, after another complete season of games in 1980/81, Tony eventually lost his place for West Brom, his last game of that sequence being on October 31st in a 3-3 draw with Birmingham City.

The five months Tony was out of the Baggies team, defensively WBA were still relatively solid, but the relegation derby away to bitter rivals Wolves on May 1st, called for experience, and Tony had that in spades..

The Baggies won 2-1..

Wolves' destiny was to be relegated.

Destiny would dictate pivotal relegation moments would that characterize Tony's most memorable performance and impact, the following season..

But it wasn't to be for West Brom.

After just a dozen games for Godden as Ron Wylie rotated around Paul Barron and Mark Grew, a broken finger to ex Villa keeper, Jake Findley in March 1983, led to David Pleat recruiting Tony for Luton Town's relegation battle..

In the first 11 games of Godden's loan stint with The Hatters, they lost just two games, and it came down to the last match of the season.

The ultimate relegation battle, away at Maine Rd.

All Man City needed to do to stay up was avoid defeat.

Luton had to win, and looking back, that game was a microcosm of Godden's career..

Bravery undoubted, shot stopping, extraordinaire’.

Crosses, let’s say less secure…

As ever, it's all about the clean sheet, and after the mercurial Raddy Antic's strike in the 86th Minute, Luton survived, winning 1-0 and cue Pleat's understandably joyous celebration as he jubilantly ran on the pitch..

Ask any Luton fan, Tony Godden's name is much loved, and it was also to be in Manchester where Godden, a few years later, would again make his mark.

The next season, Godden was again loaned out, this time to Walsall, where he would feel very much at home with ex Baggies team mates Ally Brown and Kevin Summerfield both enjoying late career sojourns with The Saddlers.

It was that remarkable giant killing season resulting in a League Cup Semi Final against Liverpool.

But the Saddlers proverbial bubble burst, in the 19 games Godden played for Walsall, they lost ten, finishing 6th.

That loan spell triggered Godden's favorability with the Hawthorns hierarchy, missing just one league game in 1984/85, but it was to be Tony's final Baggies swansong in many ways..

A transient life of loan deals and short term career moves awaited.

The common tapestry for so many players in their 30's and past their peak was about to unveil itself..

1985/86 was the season of Godden's well earned testimonial, and also an absolute nightmare for West Brom, winning only four league games..

Of all days, on Valentines Day, Ron Saunders was appointed Baggies boss.

Less than a month and two games later, Godden played his last WBA league game, a 5-0 thrashing ironically for Tony, away at Spurs, in front of a paltry crowd of 11,000.

The irony was, two weeks before the Spurs shellacking, Tony almost became the third Baggie to be re-acquainted with Ron Atkinson and a future with Man Utd.

By Gooden's account, a fee between the two clubs had been arranged, and in one of life's ironies, West Brom were due to play away at Old Trafford..

Atkinson, spotting Godden pre-game, asked him ‘Why wasn't he playing?’ 

Ron Saunders first signing for WBA was Stuart Naylor, seven years younger than Gooden, and was selected that day.

Atkinson invited Godden to 'sit with him', so the unusual sight of a Baggies player in the Man Utd dug out for a game occurred, but the story to the media of the proposed transfer had not broken.

Post game, Atkinson informed Godden 'I've signed you!', only for Tony to discover the next day, after being summoned to The Hawthorns, that the deal was off..

'Fans fury' was the boardroom’s reasoning, at postponing this proposed extension of the Baggies to Old Trafford exodus.

Saunders' theory to Godden in signing a new keeper, was the desire to create a younger team. 

The 'sweetener' was 'Tony, you can have a free transfer, if you take this loan!’ 

The ball for future negotiations being firmly and secretly in the players 'court.

Fate moves in mysterious ways and as with Luton Town, an injury to a first team keeper would facilitate an opportunity at another club.

At the time, Chelsea were 4th in Division 1, led by John Hollins, Eddie Niedzwiecki was injured and the only cover was the youngster, Steve Francis. 

An SOS came to The Hawthorns and the gloriously fateful roles of Bonetti goalkeeping coach and Godden as player came to fruition..

Godden still describes ‘idolizing’ Bonetti' and his calm coaching demeanour and exploratory manner becoming the DNA of his own coaching methodology..

Godden’s acceptance to the Chelsea dressing room was helped when he first spoke.

‘Most of the team 'assumed I was a Brummie..’

The Chelsea defender, Colin Pates, came up with the line 'You’re one of us!', as soon as he heard Tony's accent.

Tony missed the last game of Chelsea's season, due to a long standing commitment.

It was the same day as his Baggies testimonial, a win with a Don Goodman hat-trick v a WBA 1978 XI.

After signing on a 'free' transfer, Godden's 7th game as Chelsea keeper, he describes as 'his perfect day'.

But not so much for the manager who a few months earlier, 'assumed' he'd signed him..

Ron Atkinson..

The previous game for Godden was a nightmare in a 6-2 home defeat v Nottingham Forest, so a live Sunday live TV game at Old Trafford, seemed ominous..

In five, first half minutes, Godden saved TWO penalties in front of the Stretford End, by first Jesper Olsen and secondly, Gordon Strachan.

It was the game Atkinson described as 'The first nail in my coffin'.

Gooden had little sympathy for Big Ron, stating on live TV, 'He should have signed me on a free transfer to Man Utd!'.

Eight games later, Atkinson was fired..

Like the first steps, the first nails resonate..

It was to be a short Stamford stint for Gooden, playing just a dozen games in six months, so it was back to being a transfer target and this time it was Birmingham City.

The transfer to The Blues was judged by Godden to be a 'mistake', although the caveat was a fraction of a transfer fee, 'Helping with my pension'.

Blues were led by ex Baggie Gary Pendrey and coached by an ex teammate, whom Godden described as, ‘The best Baggies player when I was there', 

Bomber Brown.

Part of the reason the Blues experience became particularly blue was as Godden surmises, 'As an ex Baggie, the Blues crowd never took to me'.

It was to be a mere, underwhelming, dozen appearances.

In a very poor season for The Blues, they finished 19th in Division 2, one place above.

West Brom.

After leaving Blues it was an ongoing series of loans, originally to Bury, and amongst a plethora of short term clubs, also becoming a Ron Atkinson signing again, this time at Sheffield Wednesday.

Truth was, Tony actually started just two first team games, at Peterborough and Bury.

Once a 'Cat' always a 'Cat', so no surprise, Godden followed his role model Bonetti’s career arc, becoming a much respected goalkeeping coach, at clubs such as the 'other' Albion, Brighton and managed non league clubs March Town and Kings Lynn.

Unlike Bonetti, he didn’t end up locating to the Isle of Mull and becoming a postman, where the 60 year old ex keeper would never open a gate to deliver a letter..

When you are a cat, you simply jump…

Godden’s working life has been veritable, working long term in the furniture business as well as being a custody officer..

Age changes us all….

Tony’s curls have long disappeared, his shaven head and more burly figure shows the effects of time…

But when you hear Tony talk, the same natural enthusiasm clearly emanates, and the eyes twinkle..

Cat’s eyes.

And as Tony approaches his 70th birthday next year, he can be proud of a West Brom record that I doubt will ever be close to being beaten.

I hope a birthday return to The Hawthorns is greeted with the respect and ovation, such a record should be held in...

Please, no mention of Mr.Dalglish.

The Baggies cat was far more than that....