KOA special: Paul Goddard on Town memories, Sarge nickname and being an agent

18:57Ross Halls:Yeah, I've heard so many great things about John Lyon. Of course, he'd done some great stuff at town. And yeah, Steve Witton, he signed sort of a similar time as you. And then, yeah, he joined from Sheffield Wednesday. So he's got one down. And yeah, that season, we just saw a lot. We're just sort of preparing, you know, building the team. and then the following season was very successful. What's your memories of that promotion winning season? Did you feel that the team had the opportunity to do it?

19:27Paul Goddard:Yeah, I mean, I don't think we were, you know, we didn't blow the league away, you know, a little bit like, you know, this year's championship, you know, sides, you know, I know Coventry come good and things, but it was very open and very, you know, you had to back, you know, it's a tough league to get out of. And we obviously, you have certain injuries as well. But, yeah, it was one where we were, John was still building a confidence in us. You know, John would come out with, you know, ideas about the play against people. I always remember early on in, I think it was at West Ham, we played Man United away at Old Trafford when they were flying.

20:21Paul Goddard:They were big. And he said, right in coaching on Thursday or whatever it was, okay, he said, we're going to do this this weekend. We're not going to play with any strikers. And so we're what? And he said, yeah, Paul, you're playing left wing. You play out there and in between there. David Cross you play who's playing in the middle no we haven't got anyone in there just let them have it and come at us we obviously worked on it in training and we went up to Old Trafford and got a draw which was like at the time it was wow how do you get a draw at Old Trafford so yeah it was a it grew the season grew which is how you would like it um and once it you know similar to this year for the boys at ipswich you know when it comes it's come down to the nitty gritties the last month so they've really come to the fore haven't they uh and and it was obviously similar for us

21:29Ross Halls:yeah i think one thing you know sadly i'll probably say support i wasn't born when we won that second division title won the other year. Sorry to say. But I always feel like it doesn't get mentioned as much. Like, of course, we, you know, 2000, George Burley, of course, led the team to Wembley. Promotion, that was fantastic. And, you know, we had the back-to-back promotions with Kieran McKenna. We've had this year's promotion. But I think 91-92, I don't know, it doesn't get as shouted about. You know, how do you feel about that? And, you know, it was still great. You know, you're winning the second division title.

21:59Paul Goddard:Well, I remember it. That's good enough for me. And I remember the year and the fun we had, the amount of travelling on buses, because everything was on a bus at that point. The amount of card games used to play on the bus going backwards and forwards. The Pranksters, the usual ones, and the Romeo Zondervans. It was just a great thing to be part of. and everybody played their part in being successful. So, yeah, no, it was a great memory.

22:41Ross Halls:Do you remember much being said about the Premier League? Because, of course, you're going to become one of the founding members of that newly formed Premiership. Can you remember much about it?

22:51Paul Goddard:Yeah, I mean, obviously, I had the experience of playing in the top flight or did one you know with derby and new carl swam west ham um so i i had you know pretty you know good experience of playing there and and i think you need that you need certain things i think you know hopefully this year um the boys are back in the big league and you know they might be able to find a few experienced players to guide them along. You know, you do need some help and do the right things at the right time in the right games.

23:32Ross Halls:Yeah, and how were you feeling when John went upstairs? Because that was, you know, the first season of Premier League, we stayed up, which was fantastic, and then he sort of moved upstairs and Mick McGivin was sort of given the role as the coach on the touchline.

23:46Paul Goddard:Yeah, yeah. I mean, it was, you know, obviously Mick was a sound and good man and he had his way, you know, he'd been with John for years and years, so the coaching and things was similar. But, you know, it wasn't, you know, Mick would be, it wasn't, you know, John, but John was around still and it was his decision to do it. it's just staying in the Premier League when you go up is a tough task you know as our lads found the other year and they got the next challenge in front of them this year and I'm sure Kieran the manager will be thinking of all sorts of ways that they can improve on the last year

24:40Ross Halls:and of course you became a caretaker manager alongside, you know, walking to three games. What was that like?

24:49Paul Goddard:Yeah, that was pretty, I didn't really go home, I don't think, in three games. I don't think my wife saw me. Yeah, I really enjoyed it, actually. I really enjoyed having John alongside me. And, yeah, I mean, I did enjoy it. It was different to, like, obviously I'd done a lot of the youth football and taken that. And even when I left Ipswich to go to West Ham with Glenn Rohder as the first team coach there, it wasn't too long before I realised that I actually enjoyed working with the younger players more than the senior players. And, you know, it's a different life when you're involved in the seniors and you're playing a game of football in the afternoon, Saturday afternoon, which could dictate whether you get sacked on Monday morning.

25:56Paul Goddard:It wasn't a nice feeling. It wasn't a nice feeling that I'd have. but there were still parts of it that you still enjoyed and there's obviously the expression from the fans and that is fantastic when things are going well but obviously it's tough and they don't always go well

26:19Ross Halls:and of course George comes in George Burley and then you're still at the club can you remember the infamous 7-0 9-0 defeat I wish it was 7-0 you know you weren't obviously involved but you know can you remember where you were

26:36Paul Goddard:oh yeah i was at home like feeling sorry for the lads because you know it's i think i think i've been there before and got done five or six with west ham or couldn't remember and uh it's not a nice feeling um i we went there with west ham um as when i was the assistant manager with glenn i always remember it because he just bought um and i'm trying to remember the player's name now you when you get a bit older you forget people's names but it yeah we had a nightmare i think we lost seven i think that day uh and glenn was coming and i thought oh he's gonna you know you're going to erupt and have a thing and and uh before we could say anything and i'm trying to really am struggling and remember who the player was but it was one that we just bought and before the manager could uh chris glenn could say anything he stood up in the dressing room and went lads sorry i said i thought i was good enough for the premier league but that game obviously proves that I've got a lot to learn.

27:51Paul Goddard:And to say that in amongst your peers in the changing room when the atmosphere wasn't good, obviously, because of... And I can always remember Glenn going... Well, Glenn turned around to him and said, well, I wish you had effing told me that before I signed you.

28:12Paul Goddard:And I know it was a thing, but it was a few laughs and gig around the place and and then glenn just went let's go and it was the right way to deal with something in a circumstances when you know we got beat seven or eight or i can't remember what it was but it was that sort of one probably not as big

28:35Ross Halls:as the ipswich defeat but yeah it's been close where it's been really beaten like some have and about a few and stuff. Can't free that nine.

28:44Paul Goddard:When you go to Old Trafford and Anfield, at this particular time, you were always due a bit of a spanking at times. I remember going there the very first day of the season. We QPI was to Anfield. And we were 2-0 down in three minutes on the first game of the season. first captain and uh we were like oh and i think we ended up losing three nil which which on the balance of the scores was a pretty good result but um but they were just a top top team you played and we you know if you're not at your very best you you don't you know you don't compete with

29:32Ross Halls:them no yeah unfortunately that day we didn't can you sort of remember where when sort of the players came back and you know sort of seeing them for the first time again I think John

29:45Paul Goddard:had a great way of talking to players he showed respect but don't get me wrong he would talk you know strong and hard if it needed to be you know and I think I don't remember but I think we had probably had a five minute meeting on or or Probably more favourable was John would take you out on the training ground and go through and point out what we did wrong and why we weren't competitive enough in the situations. And like in football, you move on. You move on to the next challenge.

30:27Ross Halls:Yeah, very much so. Every time I speak to other players and then if your name comes up, they call you Sarge. Where does that come from?

30:35Paul Goddard:Well, if you remember, I mentioned earlier that my dad ran a boys' brigade company. Well, when I made my debut for QPR at 17, I was actually a sergeant in the boys' brigade at that time. And obviously the press picked it up that day. We beat Coventry 2 when I scored on my debut. And it was obviously the papers the next day. And it was, they just linked into sergeant. And it's sort of, it's been my nickname in football. You know, people who don't know me call me Sarge. And I sort of always think, well, you know what, there's a lot of worse nicknames to have. So I sort of just accept it now. Some of my mates call me that still now.

31:24Paul Goddard:Yeah, so nice little memory.

31:27Ross Halls:Yeah, I just wanted to sort of bring that up because I always say, every time I sort of read your name, it's mentioned on the podcast.

31:32Paul Goddard:It's like, oh, yeah, Sarge. Yeah, I remember Sarge.

31:34Ross Halls:and stuff like that um so yeah i just wanted to ask that and um so yeah how would you sort of sum up your time at town because that's where you finished your career you know how would you you know sum up you know i loved it i loved um i loved it because it got me out of the situation

31:55Paul Goddard:from millwall where for the first time in my life i wasn't enjoying playing or being in football. I've been very, very lucky. I've played football since I've been a professional. I was an 11-year-old from QPR through to 35 at Ipswich. And I've loved every minute. And there's been tough times, obviously. And my family have been fantastic. They've come with me my wife and my kids um and we've gone everywhere uh and my wife would say we've gone everywhere for for football and me you know um and i it's just something i've always i wish i could play now what what some of the seniors and think you know um because i'm still in sort of one you know a lot of people in my generation you know really struggling you know you see them struggling because obviously the injuries we received in our careers weren't looked after as well as they are now.

33:01Paul Goddard:Therefore, most of us have issues with ankles and hips or backs or some form of disability. So, you know, but I loved every minute of it and I loved me involving in football. and look, I'm 66 now and I'm still going to watch games and looking at young lads. I saw two great young players last week. I won't say where they were and what they were. And it gave me a buzz. I love to see young players expressing themselves, you know, really showing their talent and, you know, a long way that continue.

33:49Ross Halls:Definitely, mate. And, yeah, of course, you became a youth coach at town, of course, at West Ham, as you mentioned as well. Can you sort of remember the players that you helped produce? Because there was a lot of players during that George Burley era, you know, like Sakim. Oh, gosh, yeah. Once you were happy to go, yeah, I was part of that sort of journey.

34:06Paul Goddard:Yeah, I mean, Titus Bramble, Kieran Dyer, you know, Darren Bent are all coming. and there's others as well that have gone on and had careers. You know, Richard Wright was in goal the year that I think, but he'd been in the club, obviously, the system. So we were, and Ipswich have always, it's only since recently, the recent years where the Premier League is such a gap, such a height to get to now. But generally, you know, there was always one or two very good young lads playing in the youth side at Ipswich Town. You know, it's tough now. It's tough for the lads who do it, taking it now. But, you know, I mean, then when I stepped into West Ham, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Defoe were all in the youth side just breaking into the first team.

35:16I'm not saying I had contact with them,

35:20Paul Goddard:but I've always enjoyed working with younger players.

35:25Ross Halls:Definitely. And you became a football agent. So how did that come about and how's that journey been? Can you sort of let us know any notable transfers or names you've presented?

35:34Paul Goddard:Yeah, I can do.

35:39Paul Goddard:I mention his name because he was influential. I was working for England actually, for Sven, Goran Eriksson. I used to do a lot of his scouting reports on the under-21s and the fall games. And I used to keep bumping into Cyril Regis, who was in the England squad when I made my debut. And he was the one who got injured for me to have to go on. And I can always remember he grabbed hold of me as I was going on to make my full debut. And he looked me in the eyes and said, get out there and make an impression. And I went out and I scored and we drew. We won all, but it was a warm-up game for Spain, 82 or something like that.

36:36Paul Goddard:But Cyril Regis was always a big factor. and I bumped into him again and he went, what are you doing? I said, well, I'm doing this England scout and he said, we desperately need a youth person, young scout for us with this agency. He was working for them. So I met David Manasseh, the owner, and the rest is history. And I found a lot of good players and helped a lot of players I was involved a little bit with Gareth Bale, Adam Alana, been very successful on the South Coast. Luke Shaw, you know, obviously, you know, lots of players. The agency have used me to pass my experiences on to the young players and help them through difficult times because it's not always great and things can go wrong.

37:37Paul Goddard:and you know some players with discipline problems and it i've really really enjoyed it um i'm still doing it um and hopefully can do it for a little bit longer definitely and yeah i can

37:52Ross Halls:i can imagine you can sort of share your experience as a player as well i'm sure players hearing from

37:57Paul Goddard:other players is you know so key yeah whereas i've gone through a fair bit to be funnest in career which and a lot of good and and some tough like everything is sometimes it's tough um but i've enjoyed it massively and i'm very very lucky um to have done what i've done and i'm very grateful for every club i've been at um and people i've worked with i've worked with some great people all over, great coaches and it's been a pleasure.

38:34Ross Halls:Have you been involved in any Itch with Town transfers over the last how many years?

38:40Paul Goddard:Yeah, a few of the young boys, Cameron Humphreys who's at the club still.

38:52Paul Goddard:I'm just trying to think. who my company's called not my company it's called stellar um uh the lad we sold to chelsea i'm just thinking um might help sort of look a little bit of him when he was there so you know um obviously come along to games and see them play give them a little bit of advice if they want it and um yeah no been been a very very enjoyable career that's good to hear mate and uh

39:26Ross Halls:so so many great memories and insight on your career there um sort of final sort of message to

39:30Paul Goddard:to the fact town fans listening and just yeah they've been brilliant to me um and they were great to me when i first come which was really important because i've just been for a like tough period of time in terms of footballs and and i've always even though obviously i spent six years or seven years at west end um ipswich has always been my hometown and my own team and obviously i'm living in the area now um and you know you obviously feel the passion for the place um you So, George Birdie was great with me as well and helped me out a lot. So, it was good to go, come along to some games and sit next to George now and have a chat and digest the game completely.

40:22Paul Goddard:And, of course, we'd never get anything wrong. But, no, it's just been a very enjoyable time.

40:31Ross Halls:Definitely. Of course, you're a part of that promotion-winning team. you know to win the second division title you'll always be sort of remembered at town because you're part of that that team and there's pictures of you know celebration opening top bus and everything

40:44Paul Goddard:yeah not quite like the boys um at it this year did they or or even on i saw the the the final uh game where they had to win and you know the the flares going up and everything yeah obviously the The new owners have brought a real dynamic atmosphere to the place. And it's great to go down to the games or Pulmo Road and listen to the atmosphere. And it's a great place to be playing your football.

41:18Ross Halls:Definitely, mate. Well, Paul, thank you so much for joining me. And yeah, all the best with the summer. I'm sure it's going to be a busy summer.

41:26Paul Goddard:Yeah, it's all we have a transfer of market. I don't you know, it won't be until after the World Cup. Yeah, the very few things happen before the World Cup. Yeah. And they fiddle around with the deadline dates. So I don't have to worry too much about that. But yeah, it's and obviously it's got Man City and Arsenal right to the end and we've got the English clubs in the European finals so there's still a World Cup

42:07Ross Halls:yeah

42:07Paul Goddard:if anyone can afford to go yeah

42:12Ross Halls:you've got to check your social media and check everything and they may even ban you for not going and stuff

42:17Paul Goddard:I bumped into a friend I know at the cinema yesterday and he said I got tickets to go to Scotland games in I can't remember even where they were now but I said oh gosh yeah how much are they and he well that all that all adds up to six grand and I'm like wow you want to pay six grand to go across and travel you that across to America and them South America in it or wherever um and you got be a real supporter but and and the games are on at strange times as well aren't they they are which is just yeah and they're making it it's too big now it's too it's too many teams there's too many average games i can remember you know every world cup game you sat down early got into it watched the game and you know mexico's and things and excitement and you just think there's going to be so many duffy games um but i hope the powers to be will decide these things

43:27Ross Halls:definitely yeah at least they'll be something for us to watch you know because when it's not a tournament over the summer it's like oh we need that football fix and uh at least we'll have it

43:36Paul Goddard:yeah so yeah does the season start later next year then yeah we'll be starting later yeah so it's

43:42Ross Halls:like late in August. So, you know, preseason will start a bit later and then, yeah, the season will start later.

43:49Paul Goddard:So there's going to be lots of games crammed in for the first team.

43:56Ross Halls:Yeah.

43:58Paul Goddard:The physical, you know, exertion that the players have to play now is a big factor. Obviously, the games are technically not as good or if our time was as good as they are now. But these lads are physical specimens. They're athletes. And everything is quicker and sharper. And obviously, that comes along with injuries and fatigue. league but you know um and our league is long long season and and can last a long time as well and

44:39Ross Halls:yeah yeah um suffer any post injuries are you still like you know you're obviously still fit

44:44Paul Goddard:and everything like that is there anything yeah i think i think i said earlier i think most football footballers who have played in Mountaine, have got, you know, my ankle swells up and I've had a new hip. But then that might have been normal for anybody. Yeah, no, I can still walk around the golf course and enjoy myself. So, and it's been well worth it.

45:19Ross Halls:good to hear my friend well thank you so much for your time take care and okay

45:24Paul Goddard:no problem nice talking to you let's go bye

45:57Thank you.

46:21Thank you.

46:50Thank you.