Full name Verdi Godwin Name Verdi Godwin Role Footballer | Playing position | |
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Date of birth (1926-02-11)11 February 1926 Date of death 1 December 2013(2013-12-01) (aged 87) Died December 1, 2013, Southport, United Kingdom | ||
Verdi Godwin BEM (11 February 1926 – 1 December 2013) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Mansfield Town, Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town, Brentford and Stoke City.
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Career
Godwin was born in Blackburn and began his career with local side Blackburn Rovers. He scored six goals in two seasons at Ewood Park and joined Manchester City in the summer of 1948. He scored three goals in eight matches for Man City before joining Stoke City whose manager Bob McGrory saw Godwin as the answer to Stoke's goalscoring problem in 1949–50. However, despite scoring on his debut Godwin was poor and scored just once more in the next 20 matches and by January he was used as a part exchange with Third Division Mansfield Town for Harry Oscroft. Godwin then became a journeyman striker spending short spells at Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town, Brentford, Southport, Barrow, Tranmere Rovers and finally Macclesfield.
Personal life
After retiring from football, Godwin worked during the summer for 36 years as a lifeguard on Southport beach. He was award the British Empire Medal in recognition for his service.