Mark Goodlad (born 9 September 1979) is an English former professionalfootballer who was most recentlyJohn Askey's assistantmanager atNational League clubHartlepool United.

Goodlad was agoalkeeper and began his career atNottingham Forest, playing onloan atScarborough, before joiningPort Vale in 2000. He became the Vale's first-choice keeper for several seasons until he was forced to retire due to injury in 2008. During his time atVale Park, he was madePlayer of the Year in2001–02 and also picked up aFootball League Trophy winner's medal in2001. He made 250 competitive appearances in a ten-year professional career, primarily in the third tier of theEnglish Football League.

He turned tocoaching after retiring as a player, working as a goalkeeping coach atNottingham Forest, theJCB Academy, theNike Academy,Barnsley andYork City. He became an assistant manager at Hartlepool United in February 2023 before leaving in December 2023.

Goodlad kept goal for Barnsley schoolboys from the age of eleven to sixteen, spent time at theRotherham United centre of excellence, and also represented England atunder-15 level.^[4] He turned professional atNottingham Forest, though did not make a first-team appearance during the club'srelegation from thePremier League in1998–99. He was thoughloaned out toThird DivisionScarborough in February. He played three games in the club's final season ofleague football.

Forest, now in theFirst Division, still failed to make it onto the pitch, and so in March 2000, he switched to league rivalsPort Vale. Though he played only one game for the "Valiants" in1999–2000, he was behind the more experiencedPaul Musselwhite and his deputyKevin Pilkington in the pecking order. After Musselwhite and Pilkington moved on in the summer, Goodlad's only competition for the number one jersey came from IrishmanDean Delany, also aged 20.^[5] A consistent Goodlad proved himself to be the superior talent,^[6] and went to make fifty appearances in2000–01, also keeping goal in the club's2001Football League Trophy success at theMillennium Stadium.^[7] The young keeper also posted fifty appearances in the2001–02 campaign and was handed the club'sPlayer of the Year award for his strong performances.^[8]

Recovering from adislocated finger to make the start of the2002–03 season,^[9] he went on to maintain his consistency over his 42 games despite the turmoil of the club enteringadministration. At the end of the season, he was forced to undergo an operation on a finger injury and thereby spend a lengthy time on the sidelines.^[10] He missed the entirety of the2003–04 season due to his finger injury,^[11] and was forced to make his recovery in games heldbehind closed doors.^[12] A youngJonny Brain was signed to provide cover for Delany,^[13] but instead took his place as Vale's regular stopper during Goodlad's absence. He missed the start of2004–05 with a thigh muscle injury,^[14] and only played twenty games all season.

Goodlad was back to his quiet and consistent best in2005–06,^[15] posting 52 appearances in both league and cup, fending off competition from a teenageJoe Anyon.^[16] Throughout the season he faced fourpenalties, three of which he saved and one was of which hit the post. At the end of the campaign he put pen to paper on a new two-year deal,^[17] despite rumours that circulated on a fan site of a falling out withmanagerMartin Foyle – one of many rumours that "quite annoyed" many of the players.^[18]

The club's number one for the start of the2006–07 campaign, injury struck him again, ending his career. Before this though, he had one of the finest games of his career, picking up theman of the match award in aLeague Cup clash with top-flightTottenham Hotspur.^[19] He picked up his final injury on 30 December, in a game againstBristol City atAshton Gate, after he got his ankle caught in mud and had to be stretchered off the field within the opening minutes.^[20] He ruptured his rightAchilles tendon and had to have reconstructive surgery. Following the incident Musselwhite was re-signed by the club on an emergency basis, now aged 38.^[21]

Goodlad played no part in the2007–08 season and announced his retirement on 2 January 2008 after it emerged that his Achilles tendon injury would need further surgery – surgery which carried the risk that he would have to use awheelchair for the rest of his life.^[22][23] Goodlad opted to retire rather than riskhandicapping himself. A benefit match was arranged for Goodlad – Port Vale Legends againstWolves legends atVale Park on 6 August 2008.^[24] In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" by members of theOneValeFan supporter website.^[25]

In September 2010, he was working as both a goalkeepingcoach atNottingham Forest and a sports teacher at theJCB Academy.^[26] He went on to work at theNike Academy. He later worked as head goalkeeper coach atBarnsley.^[27] In April 2022, he joinedYork City as goalkeeping coach.^[28] He left the role on the appointment of Joe Stead in January 2023.^[29] On 23 February 2023, he was appointed assistant manager toJohn Askey atLeague Two clubHartlepool United, the manager who had brought him to York City.^[30] However, on 30 December 2023, Askey and Goodlad were dismissed.^[31]

Port Vale

• Football League Trophy:2000–01^[42]

Individual

• Port Vale Player of the Year:2002^[8]

• 1979 births
• Living people
• Footballers from Barnsley
• English men's footballers
• England men's youth international footballers
• Rotherham United F.C. players
• Port Vale F.C. players
• Scarborough F.C. players
• Nottingham Forest F.C. players
• Men's association football goalkeepers
• English Football League players
• Association football goalkeeping coaches
• Nottingham Forest F.C. non-playing staff
• Barnsley F.C. non-playing staff
• York City F.C. non-playing staff
• Hartlepool United F.C. non-playing staff

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use British English from August 2011
• Use dmy dates from August 2021