Alfred Goodwyn
Encyclopedia
Alfred George Goodwyn was an English
Royal Engineer, who represented his regiment
at football. He was a member of the Regiment's team that was defeated in the very first FA Cup final. He also represented England
in the second international football match against Scotland
in 1873.
. In 1869, he entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich
. In August 1871, he was commissioned as a lieutenant
in the Royal Engineers
.
He played football for the regiment, generally playing in defence, and was a member of the team who reached the first final of the FA Cup
in 1872. En route to the final, the Engineers did not concede a goal and defeated Hitchin
5–0, Hampstead Heathens 3–0 and Crystal Palace 3–0 (after a goalless draw). Although the Engineers entered the final, played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, as "favourites to win the trophy", their opponents, the Wanderers
, who had the pick of the public schools to choose from, won the match 1–0.
He was selected for the second official international match between England
and Scotland
played at Kennington Oval, London
on 8 March 1873, together with his Royal Engineers colleague, Pelham von Donop
who played alongside him in defence. England won the match 4–2. In its report on the match, the Glasgow Herald (Monday, March 10, 1873) noted that "the back play of A G Goodwyn ... was faultless".
In 1874, Goodwyn was posted back to India
with his regiment, where he died, at Roorkee
, on 14 March 1874 (the day after his 24th birthday) as a result of injuries suffered in a riding accident. Ironically, he died on the morning of the 1874 FA Cup Final where his colleagues were defeated 2–0 by Oxford University
. He was the first international footballer to die.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Royal Engineer, who represented his regiment
Royal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
at football. He was a member of the Regiment's team that was defeated in the very first FA Cup final. He also represented England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the second international football match against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in 1873.
Career
Goodwyn was born in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In 1869, he entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
. In August 1871, he was commissioned as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
.
He played football for the regiment, generally playing in defence, and was a member of the team who reached the first final of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1872. En route to the final, the Engineers did not concede a goal and defeated Hitchin
Hitchin F.C.
Hitchin Football Club were an English professional football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Formed in 1865 and based at Top Field, Hitchin took part in the inaugural FA Cup competition in 1871–72. Turning professional early in the twentieth century, financial worries were compounded by...
5–0, Hampstead Heathens 3–0 and Crystal Palace 3–0 (after a goalless draw). Although the Engineers entered the final, played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, as "favourites to win the trophy", their opponents, the Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
, who had the pick of the public schools to choose from, won the match 1–0.
He was selected for the second official international match between England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
played at Kennington Oval, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 8 March 1873, together with his Royal Engineers colleague, Pelham von Donop
Pelham von Donop
Lieutenant-Colonel Pelham George von Donop was an officer in the Royal Engineers and later Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways...
who played alongside him in defence. England won the match 4–2. In its report on the match, the Glasgow Herald (Monday, March 10, 1873) noted that "the back play of A G Goodwyn ... was faultless".
In 1874, Goodwyn was posted back to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with his regiment, where he died, at Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, on 14 March 1874 (the day after his 24th birthday) as a result of injuries suffered in a riding accident. Ironically, he died on the morning of the 1874 FA Cup Final where his colleagues were defeated 2–0 by Oxford University
Oxford University A.F.C.
Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford.-History:Formed in 1872, the club was a giant of the 1870s, winning the FA Cup 2-0 against Royal Engineers in 1874 and finishing the competition as runners up in 1873, 1877 and 1880, the...
. He was the first international footballer to die.
Sporting honours
Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
- FA Cup FinalFA Cup FinalThe FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
finalist: 1872
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum When the Sappers won the FA Cup (1875)
- England football career