Tommy Godwin

Thomas Fergus Godwin (20 August 1927 – 21 August 1996), commonly referred to as Tommy Godwin, was an Irish footballer who played for Shamrock Rovers, Leicester City and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. On 21 September 1949, together with Con Martin, Johnny Carey and Peter Farrell, he was also a member of the Irish Football Team formed in Ireland that defeated England in 1949 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non – Uk team to beat England at home.

Playing career

Shamrock Rovers After playing as a youth with both Reds United and Home Farm, Godwin joined Shamrock Rovers while he continued to work as a carpenter. He made his Rovers debut in a friendly against Leeds United and saved a penalty. It was one of many penalties Tommy saved while at Milltown. He played in the semi-final of the 1948 FAI Cup, but missed the final after breaking a leg. While playing for Rovers, his teammates included, among others Frank Glennon and Paddy Coad. He also represented the League of Ireland XI and made his international debut for Ireland. In all he earned 5 caps while in the green and white.

Leicester City In September 1949, after his impressive performances while playing for Ireland, Godwin transferred to Leicester City. He made his English League debut for City on 26 November 1949 at home to Swansea Town. While with Leicester he faced competition for the goalkeepers position from Scotland international John Anderson. As a result, he made just 45 league appearances and 1 FA Cup appearances in four seasons.

Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic In June 1952 Godwin signed for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and remained with the club for ten years making 357 league appearances in the Third Division South and Third Division.

Ireland international Between 1949 and 1958 Godwin made 13 appearances for Ireland. He made his international debut on 22 May 1949 in a 1–0 win against Portugal at Dalymount Park. This would be the first of four clean sheets he kept during his international career. Godwin quickly established himself as a regular in the team and played in all four of the 1950 World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Finland. The highlight of his international career came on 21 September 1949 when he was a member of the Ireland team that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home. He put in an outstanding performance, keeping the third clean sheet of his international career. The game proved to be the turning point in his career and within days he was signed by Leicester City.

Godwin later lost his place in the Ireland team to Fred Kiernan, but in 1956 after a six-year absence, he earned a recall and subsequently played in two qualifiers for the 1958 World Cup, one against England and one against Denmark. He made his last appearance for Ireland on 11 May 1958 in a 2–2 away draw in a friendly against Poland. On 9 May 1955 at Dalymount Park, Godwin also played for an All-Ireland XI against an England XI in an unofficial international organised as part of the An Tóstal festival. His teammates included, among others, Robin Lawler, Con Martin, Peter Doherty and Peter McParland. The English XI won 6–5 .

Later years After retiring in 1962, Godwin settled in Bournemouth and worked for the local council as a parks supervisor.

Honours Shamrock Rovers

Dublin City Cup 1947–48: 1 Dublin and Belfast Intercity Cup 1948–49: 1 LFA President's Cup 1948–49: 1