Вышедшая книга рассказывает о жизни Джона Гуодолла — первого профессионального футболиста и прапрадеда советника

The great-great-grandfather of a Rosyth councillor, remembered as “the first truly great professional footballer”, is the subject of a new book. 'John Goodall: England’s Scotch Professor', by Mark Metcalf, tells the story of the Victorian age footballer and ancestor of Councillor Brian Goodall. Born in London in 1863 to Scottish parents, he was brought up in Kilmarnock before moving south to join Great Lever in 1883 and becoming a leading figure in the early professional game. The Scot who went on to play for England also starred for Preston North End’s famous “Invincibles” side, which won the league and FA Cup double without losing a match during the 1888-89 season. His 21 goals made him the football league’s leading scorer in its inaugural season, earning him recognition as the first Golden Boot winner. He also scored the goal which secured the title for Preston. Goodall went on to play 14 times for England and captained the national side on several occasions. Mark said the Kilmarnock-raised player was widely regarded as “the first truly great professional footballer” when writers in the 1930s and 1940s began looking back at the early history of the game. As well as starring on the pitch, Goodall wrote a book on association football, underlining his role as one of the early game’s most influential figures. The new book charts his rise from Kilmarnock Athletic to the English game at a time when football was moving away from amateurism. The author said Goodall was among the so-called “Scotch Professors”, a term used for Scottish-raised players who moved south and were associated with bringing a more technical, skilful, passing style of football to England. He had been brought up in Kilmarnock alongside his brother Archie. While John later played for England, Archie went on to represent Ireland. Mark said the pair were the first brothers to play for two different nations. Previously speaking to the Press, Cllr Goodall said: “My family are all very proud of our footballing legend ancestors and one of my dad’s proudest possessions is one of Johnny’s international match medals from a Scotland v England game in 1903. "We just don’t tend to mention what side he was playing for that day!” The Scottish Football Association’s opposition to professionalism meant players who moved south to play for money could face being barred from representing their clubs. In 1884, Goodall was named on a list of players who had moved from Scottish clubs to become professionals in England. The author said he had been regarded as Scottish during his early football career and was “definitely on his way" to play for his country before moving to England. The issue was repeatedly explored in Scottish newspapers when he played and scored for England against Scotland, he added. The Preston star scored in England’s 5-0 victory over Scotland in 1888, in his second international appearance. Mark said: “When he does play for England against Scotland, he is the man that turns it on its head. “I guess with him wanting to be paid he decided he’d not go home and thus he could not be an international player. I think he took a pragmatic decision to play for England.” After Preston, Goodall had another prolific spell with Derby County, where he played alongside Archie. He scored 76 goals in 211 appearances for the Rams. The book follows his later playing, coaching and management career with New Brighton Tower, Glossop and Watford, where he became the club’s first manager. His grave at Vicarage Road Cemetery in Watford is marked by a headstone bearing the Watford FC crest. The book also examines the sportsman’s life away from football. He played cricket, enjoyed curling, bred birds and was an amateur photographer. One of Mark’s favourite photographs in the book shows Goodall with a fox he had trained, alongside his cat and dog. “He had a lot of talent,” he said. “Very good, brilliant player, just a natural ball player in many respects.” An obituary in the Lancashire Evening Post described Goodall as “the finest centre forward in history”, adding that his qualities as “a schemer, a subtle finisher, and a scrupulously gentlemanly player” were “universally acknowledged”. Mark made contact with the Goodall family through a Facebook page after being told the story by a friend involved in fundraising for a new headstone for Archie Goodall in Derby. John Goodall: England’s Scotch Professor is available on Amazon priced £12.99, with a Kindle edition expected to follow.