Focus On…..Matty Gooderick

Series continues on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

Matty Gooderick

Matty kicked off his career at Burton Albion, where he was part of a very strong youth team that won Midlands Youth League and cups and many of whom went on to have impressive Football League careers.

Matty was top scorer of Brewers’ youth and reserve sides in consecutive seasons and broke into the first team in 1997/98.

Then followed a move to his home-town to join Oxford City, where again he was top scorer of the reserve side but couldn’t hold down a regular first team spot.

Kevin Brock noticed the 19-year-old’s goal scoring talents and made him one of his first signings as Banbury United manager.

Matty would go on to score well over 125 goals in just over 200 appearances for the Puritans, and only a horrific double leg break (that kept him out of action for 22 months) during the middle of that spell prevented him scoring many more.

He is fourth in Banbury’s list of all-time goalscorers.

Matty joined Wealdstone for a season in 2007 but never quite hit previous heights and returned to Banbury.

He finished his career following Kevin Brock to Hellenic League side Ardley United.

Clubs Played For:

Burton Albion, Oxford City, Banbury United, Wealdstone and Ardley United.

Best Game Played In?

Growing up as an Oxford United fan in the 1980s it was a dream to play at the old Manor Ground in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final.

Always loved a trip to a League ground, and lucky to have played at St Andrews, Bescot Stadium, The Kassam. All great memories.

One of my first games was Burton versus Tamworth as an 18-year-old sub, tasty!

And I will never forget scoring two in the last minute at Wisbech Town in a 2-1 win for Banbury.

Best 11 Played With:

Richard Knight (Burton Albion)

Aaron Webster (Burton Albion)
Andy Wallbridge (Banbury United)
Kieran Sullivan (Banbury United)
Les Robinson (Banbury United)

Les Phillips (Banbury United)
Darren Stride (Burton Albion) pictured)
Graham Montgomery (Wealdstone)
Justin Lee (Oxford City)

Steve Jenkins (Banbury United)
Andy Baird (Banbury United)

Subs:
Simon Tricker (Banbury United)
Howard Forinton (Banbury United)
Julian Dark (Oxford City)
Jody McKay (Banbury United)
Mark Blount (Burton Albion)

Best Captain?

Kieran Sullivan/ Jon `Skips` Corbett - Banbury United

Funniest Team-Mate/Manager?

Dream dinner table: Liam `Biz` O’Neill or Steve Jenkins!