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Freddie Goodwin |
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Freddie Goodwin has a very good reign as manager at St.Andrews. He took the job three months after it has been vacated by Stan Cullis, and with the Blues still in the Second Division, he faced a hard task in restoring their fortunes. Yet promotion was won in 1972 and Birmingham twice appeared in FA Cup Semi-Finals (1972 and 1975). At the end of the first season, the Blues had created a post-war record of 15 Home league games without defeat and finished ninth in Division Two. Goodwin signed five players - Mike Kelly, Roger Hynd, Alan Campbell, Gordon Taylor and George Smith - and sold seven - Micky Darrell, Tony Hateley, Trevor Hockey, George Johnston, Bert Murray, Johnny Vincent and Geoff Vowden. In addition, Trevor Francis came to the fore, scoring 15 goals in 22 league outings. The following season, the Blues regained their First Division status. There were more changes on the playing side, with Tommy Carroll, Bob Hatton and Stand Harland among the new faces, whole other were either on their way out or languishing in the reserves. Back in the top flight, the Blues more than held their own and enjoyed a great cup run. John Roberts and Tony Want arrived to add more cover and experience to the defence. But, as so often happens, results started to fluctuate and in 1973-74, and again in 1974-75, the Blues' form left a lot to be desired. They had some encouraging performances but their final league positions - 19th and 17th respectively - reflected on Goodwin's managaement. He switched his players around, introdcued new ideas and new formations. In the end, though, he lost his job, only five months after Birmingham had been beaten in the FA Cup Semi-Final replay against Fulham. Born at Heywood, Lancashire, on 28 June 1933, Goodwin stepped into the soccer world in the 1950's as one of the 'Busby Babes', signing professional forms at Old Trafford in October 1953. He played for United in the 1958 FA Cup Final and made over 100 senior appearances before joining Leeds United for 10,000 in March 1960. He made 120 appearances for Leeds before moving to Scunthorpe in 1964, taking over as manager in 1965-66. Goodwin then coached the New York Generals in the NASL, returning to England as boss of Brighton in 1968, becoming Blues manager two years later. Goodwin remembers his time as manager at St.Andrews fondly: "I am proud of my record as Manager of Birmingham City. I was appointed Manager in the summer of 1970 after the club had nearly been relegated to the third division and whose home crowds had dropped to 13,000. In my second season,we were promoted to the First division,as it was then called and also reached the semi final of the F.A. cup. In the next three seasons we maintained our First Division status even though we suffered numerous injuries.We also appeared in the semi final of the F.A.cup again in 1975. Unlike today, when teams can take players on loan and also sign foreign players,it was impossible to strengthen your team by these means.The average attendance during this time was nearly 30,000 and transfer transactions IN/OUT of the club showed a surplus." | |
| Managerial Career | |||||||
| Competition | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | For | Against | Perf % |
| League | xx | xx | xx | xx | xxx | xxx | xx.x% |
| FA Cup | xx | xx | xx | xx | xx | xx | xx.x% |
| Other | xx | xx | xx | xx | xx | xx | xx.x% |