Albion mourn death of goalkeeping great Tony Godden | OneFootball

Tony Godden, Albion’s goalkeeper during the club’s thrilling late 1970s era, has died aged 70.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the Kent-born stopper made 329 appearances between 1977 and 1986 after arriving from non-league Ashford Town. He succeeded John Osborne and set a club record of 228 consecutive appearances, becoming a terrace favourite.

He debuted at 21 at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane in March 1977 on the same day Laurie Cunningham made his bow in a 2-0 win. Another clean sheet followed on his Hawthorns debut in a 4-0 victory over Ipswich, which included a Bryan Robson hat-trick.

Albion finished seventh that season on their return to the First Division, then sixth, third and fourth over the next four campaigns. Godden was ever-present from 1977/78 under Ronnie Allen and Ron Atkinson, playing 51 times, and did not miss a game until Tottenham in November 1981.

He was in goal for the famous 5-3 win at Manchester United in December 1978. He also frustrated Mario Kempes during the UEFA Cup defeat of Valencia.

Loans followed at Luton, Walsall and Chelsea before a permanent move to Stamford Bridge in 1986. With Chelsea he saved two quickfire penalties in a 1-0 win at Manchester United.

He later played for Birmingham City, Bury, Peterborough United and Wivenhoe Town before retiring in 1991. Godden managed Kings Lynn and Bury Town in the 1990s, then became Rushden & Diamonds’ goalkeeper coach in 2006 with caretaker spells, and also coached at Brighton.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com