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Tranmere Rovers FC 300 Club: Part 3 - Ian Goodison
Dec 29 2010 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Echo
Only three Tranmere Rovers Šfootballers came out of the first decade of the 21st century with a record of more than 300 games for the club. Football became a transient business for players in the lower divisions during the last 10 years, as clubs grew ever more reluctant to hand out long contracts. Footballers who made a lasting commitment to one club became increasingly rare but at Prenton Park, John Achterberg, Gareth Roberts and Ian Goodison were the exceptions.ŠIn the final part of his special series, NICK HILTON profiles the third of these outstanding Rovers’ servants, defender Ian Goodison...
WHEN Ian Goodison first arrived Prenton Park in February 2004, he was already a footballing legend in his native Jamaica.
Goodison’s 100-plusŠinternational caps and role as the central defensive anchor of the team that took the ReggaeŠBoyz all the way to the 1998 World Cup finals in France saw to that.
Few would have guessed back then that Goodison would go on to pass 300 games with Tranmere and become as much of an icon in Birkenhead as he is back home in Montego Bay.
Age was against him, for one thing. Goodison was in his 32nd year when he agreed to sign up for then Rovers manager Brian Little.
The notion that the man nicknamed ‘Pepe’ might be here to cash in on a few paydays in English football before returning to a hammock in the Caribbean was dispelled over the next seven years.
Goodison has earned his place amongst the finest defenders ever to wear a Tranmere shirt.
The experienced Little knew Goodison was equipped to handle the rough-and-tumble of the English game, and indeed to thrive on it. A few years before, he had recruited the Jamaican for a spell at Hull City, where Goodison was voted player of the year in 2000-01.
However, it was something of a surprise to Goodison that Little often played him at left-back in the early days at Tranmere, a role not perfectly suited to his 6ft 1in stature or abilities.
Goodison did not complain.
“I’m the type of player who, if the gaffer asked me to play somewhere, I’ll play there, I’ll go out and do my best,” he said in a rare interview at the time.
Whatever position Goodison was asked to fill, Tranmere supporters knew a good player when they saw one. They also recognised a footballer who was committed to their cause.
Goodison was left in no doubt about the esteem in which he was held by Rovers fans in the autumn of 2004, when Hurricane Ivan struck Jamaica.
Playing in a goalless draw at Barnsley, he saw the Jamaican flag unfurled amidst the ranks of Tranmere fans and knewŠ he was among friends on an afternoon when it was impossible to put aside personal anxieties as Ivan’s devastating power struck back home.
“I really appreciated seeing that flag at Barnsley,” Goodison saidŠ afterwards.
“I was thinking about the hurricane and worrying about my family during the Barnsley game. When it finished I tried to ring my sister back in Jamaica but I could not get a connection.
Then my brother rang me to say he had spoken to people back home and everyone in the family was OK.”
Goodison added: “I noticed the Tranmere fans putting out the Jamaican flag. I love that. I have to say thanks to the fans who bring it. I really appreciate it. It was a very welcome sight at the Barnsley game when I was so worried about everything that was happening back home.
“It cheered me on. I love them.”
Hurricane Ivan caused massive destruction and killed scores of people but spared those who are closest to Goodison.
When Little left Prenton Park at the end of the 2005-06 season, Goodison’sŠ Rovers contract was running out.
New manager Ronnie Moore made it his business to re-sign him and established Goodison as the central defensive pillar of the side over his three years in charge.
Such was the strength and consistency of Goodison’s performances that Moore was left to admit that his absences through injury or suspension often had a worrying impact on the rest of the side.
The advancing years seem to have taken little of the edge off Goodison’s game.
He Šwon a succession of awards as supporters’ player of the season and players’ player of the season and took the North West player of the season for League One three times in succession.
A few months ago, Goodison signed a contract extension with Tranmere taking him past his 39th birthday.
When the deal was announced, current manager Les Parry said: “He’s the best centre-back we’ve had here over the past 20 years.”
Parry should know because he was at Prenton Park throughout those two decades, spending most of the time as club physio.
Parry said: “I think the best people to talk about Ian Goodison would be the strikers in League One because I’m sure none of them like playing against him. He is one of the most formidable centre-backs in our division.
“He is the best centre-half we have had since I have been here.
“When he first came into the side he took a little bit of settling down but over the last few years he’s been the man we can depend on.”
Parry reckons it is a combination of qualities that have made Goodison a permanent fixture at the heart of the back four through 310 appearances.
“Ian is not the biggest centre-back, not the heaviest, not the quickest,” Parry said.
“He probably isn’t the best ball playing centre-back. But he is the best defender.”
If Goodison demonstrates leadership on the field it is by example rather than by communication.
Parry added: “Ian isn’t vocal. If he talks to you then you are very honoured. He will have a little moan on the pitch but you would not have him in your debating team because he is too quiet.
“All of that makes me sound as if I’m having a pop at Ian, but I’m not because that’s the way he is. Ian just turns up and gets on with it. That’s the nature of the beast.”
Goodison shows little sign of allowing the passage of time to take the edge off his game.
“It is the way he plays,” Parry said.
“He does not do much running. It’s no coincidence that centre-backs and goalkeepers tend to play on for longer than others because the physical demands of their positions are not so great.
“Ian can use his head a little bit to save his lungs. His performances show it works.”
The one-year contract extension Goodison signed in October will keep him at Prenton Park until the summer of 2012.
TRANMERE’S League One fixture at Brentford, due to be played yesterday, was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Rovers are next in action at Rochdale on New Year’s Day (ko 3pm).
Dec 29 2010 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Echo
Only three Tranmere Rovers Šfootballers came out of the first decade of the 21st century with a record of more than 300 games for the club. Football became a transient business for players in the lower divisions during the last 10 years, as clubs grew ever more reluctant to hand out long contracts. Footballers who made a lasting commitment to one club became increasingly rare but at Prenton Park, John Achterberg, Gareth Roberts and Ian Goodison were the exceptions.ŠIn the final part of his special series, NICK HILTON profiles the third of these outstanding Rovers’ servants, defender Ian Goodison...
WHEN Ian Goodison first arrived Prenton Park in February 2004, he was already a footballing legend in his native Jamaica.
Goodison’s 100-plusŠinternational caps and role as the central defensive anchor of the team that took the ReggaeŠBoyz all the way to the 1998 World Cup finals in France saw to that.
Few would have guessed back then that Goodison would go on to pass 300 games with Tranmere and become as much of an icon in Birkenhead as he is back home in Montego Bay.
Age was against him, for one thing. Goodison was in his 32nd year when he agreed to sign up for then Rovers manager Brian Little.
The notion that the man nicknamed ‘Pepe’ might be here to cash in on a few paydays in English football before returning to a hammock in the Caribbean was dispelled over the next seven years.
Goodison has earned his place amongst the finest defenders ever to wear a Tranmere shirt.
The experienced Little knew Goodison was equipped to handle the rough-and-tumble of the English game, and indeed to thrive on it. A few years before, he had recruited the Jamaican for a spell at Hull City, where Goodison was voted player of the year in 2000-01.
However, it was something of a surprise to Goodison that Little often played him at left-back in the early days at Tranmere, a role not perfectly suited to his 6ft 1in stature or abilities.
Goodison did not complain.
“I’m the type of player who, if the gaffer asked me to play somewhere, I’ll play there, I’ll go out and do my best,” he said in a rare interview at the time.
Whatever position Goodison was asked to fill, Tranmere supporters knew a good player when they saw one. They also recognised a footballer who was committed to their cause.
Goodison was left in no doubt about the esteem in which he was held by Rovers fans in the autumn of 2004, when Hurricane Ivan struck Jamaica.
Playing in a goalless draw at Barnsley, he saw the Jamaican flag unfurled amidst the ranks of Tranmere fans and knewŠ he was among friends on an afternoon when it was impossible to put aside personal anxieties as Ivan’s devastating power struck back home.
“I really appreciated seeing that flag at Barnsley,” Goodison saidŠ afterwards.
“I was thinking about the hurricane and worrying about my family during the Barnsley game. When it finished I tried to ring my sister back in Jamaica but I could not get a connection.
Then my brother rang me to say he had spoken to people back home and everyone in the family was OK.”
Goodison added: “I noticed the Tranmere fans putting out the Jamaican flag. I love that. I have to say thanks to the fans who bring it. I really appreciate it. It was a very welcome sight at the Barnsley game when I was so worried about everything that was happening back home.
“It cheered me on. I love them.”
Hurricane Ivan caused massive destruction and killed scores of people but spared those who are closest to Goodison.
When Little left Prenton Park at the end of the 2005-06 season, Goodison’sŠ Rovers contract was running out.
New manager Ronnie Moore made it his business to re-sign him and established Goodison as the central defensive pillar of the side over his three years in charge.
Such was the strength and consistency of Goodison’s performances that Moore was left to admit that his absences through injury or suspension often had a worrying impact on the rest of the side.
The advancing years seem to have taken little of the edge off Goodison’s game.
He Šwon a succession of awards as supporters’ player of the season and players’ player of the season and took the North West player of the season for League One three times in succession.
A few months ago, Goodison signed a contract extension with Tranmere taking him past his 39th birthday.
When the deal was announced, current manager Les Parry said: “He’s the best centre-back we’ve had here over the past 20 years.”
Parry should know because he was at Prenton Park throughout those two decades, spending most of the time as club physio.
Parry said: “I think the best people to talk about Ian Goodison would be the strikers in League One because I’m sure none of them like playing against him. He is one of the most formidable centre-backs in our division.
“He is the best centre-half we have had since I have been here.
“When he first came into the side he took a little bit of settling down but over the last few years he’s been the man we can depend on.”
Parry reckons it is a combination of qualities that have made Goodison a permanent fixture at the heart of the back four through 310 appearances.
“Ian is not the biggest centre-back, not the heaviest, not the quickest,” Parry said.
“He probably isn’t the best ball playing centre-back. But he is the best defender.”
If Goodison demonstrates leadership on the field it is by example rather than by communication.
Parry added: “Ian isn’t vocal. If he talks to you then you are very honoured. He will have a little moan on the pitch but you would not have him in your debating team because he is too quiet.
“All of that makes me sound as if I’m having a pop at Ian, but I’m not because that’s the way he is. Ian just turns up and gets on with it. That’s the nature of the beast.”
Goodison shows little sign of allowing the passage of time to take the edge off his game.
“It is the way he plays,” Parry said.
“He does not do much running. It’s no coincidence that centre-backs and goalkeepers tend to play on for longer than others because the physical demands of their positions are not so great.
“Ian can use his head a little bit to save his lungs. His performances show it works.”
The one-year contract extension Goodison signed in October will keep him at Prenton Park until the summer of 2012.
TRANMERE’S League One fixture at Brentford, due to be played yesterday, was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Rovers are next in action at Rochdale on New Year’s Day (ko 3pm).
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