David Goodwillie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
David Goodwillie

Goodwillie in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth	(1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 36)
Place of birth	Stirling, Scotland
Height	5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Glasgow United
Youth career
	Carse Thistle
2003–2005	Dundee United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2011	Dundee United	117	(29)
2007–2008	→ Raith Rovers (loan)	21	(9)
2011–2014	Blackburn Rovers	28	(2)
2012	→ Crystal Palace (loan)	1	(0)
2013–2014	→ Dundee United (loan)	19	(3)
2014	→ Blackpool (loan)	13	(3)
2014–2016	Aberdeen	48	(8)
2016	→ Ross County (loan)	9	(1)
2016–2017	Plymouth Argyle	16	(1)
2017–2022	Clyde	140	(92)
2022	Raith Rovers	0	(0)
2022	→ Clyde (loan)	0	(0)
2022	Livingston United	1	(2)
2023	Radcliffe	1	(3)
2023–	Glasgow United	39	(52)
National team
2004–2005	Scotland U16	12	(6)
2005	Scotland U17	2	(0)
2006–2008	Scotland U19	7	(4)
2008–2010	Scotland U21	9	(1)
2010–2011	Scotland	3	(1)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:30, 2 February 2022 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

David Goodwillie (born March 28, 1989) is a Scottish professional footballer. He plays as a striker for Glasgow United.

Goodwillie started his career in the youth system at Dundee United. He won important awards like the SPFA and SFWA Young Player of the Year for the 2010–11 season. His great playing led to him being chosen for the Scotland national team. He also made a big move to Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League.

He played for several clubs on loan, including Crystal Palace, Dundee United, and Blackpool. After leaving Blackburn, he joined Aberdeen. He then played for Ross County and Plymouth Argyle. Later, Goodwillie played for Clyde for over four years. In 2022, he signed with Raith Rovers, but due to public reaction, the club decided he would not play for them. He was released later that year. He has since played for Livingston United and Radcliffe, and currently plays for Glasgow United.

Club Career

Early Life and Youth Career

David Goodwillie was born on March 28, 1989, in Stirling, Scotland. He began playing football as a young boy for Carse Thistle, a local team in Stirling. When he was 14 years old, in 2003, he joined Dundee United. He was noticed during a trial for the Scottish Youth FA in Dundee.

In July 2005, Goodwillie got to play for Dundee United's first team in a pre-season tournament called the City of Discovery Cup. He came on as a substitute and helped his team win the tournament.

Playing for Dundee United

Goodwillie playing for Dundee United in 2011

Goodwillie officially signed as a professional player with Dundee United in March 2005. On December 31, 2005, he made his first official game for the club. He came on as a late substitute in a match against Rangers.

On March 4, 2006, in only his fifth game, Goodwillie scored his first goal for United. He came off the bench and scored a late goal against Hibernian. During the 2005–06 season, he played ten times for the first team, mostly as a substitute in the final minutes of games.

In October 2006, Goodwillie signed a new contract that lasted until May 2010. He also started his first match for the club against Falkirk. He started a few more games when other strikers were injured. However, after new players joined in January, he often remained on the bench for the rest of the 2006–07 season.

For the start of the 2007–08 season, Goodwillie played twice as a substitute. Then, in November 2007, he joined Scottish Second Division team Raith Rovers on a two-month loan. This loan was later extended until the end of the season. He scored nine goals in 21 league games for Raith Rovers.

He played for Dundee United again in the early games of the 2008–09 League Cup, scoring three goals. He added to his SPL goals later in the 2008–09 season. He scored a last-minute goal against Hibernian and also scored against Aberdeen.

In the 2009–10 season, Goodwillie became a regular starter for United. He scored three goals in the first five games. By mid-April, he had scored twelve goals. His strong performances earned him the Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Year award. In May 2010, Goodwillie scored the first goal as United won the 2010 Scottish Cup final 3–0 against Ross County.

Goodwillie scored in six league games in a row early in the 2010–11 season. This led the United chairman to say that any club wanting to sign him would have to pay a lot of money. Goodwillie signed a one-year extension to his contract in March 2011. Just two days after signing, he scored the winning goal for United against Rangers. His excellent playing was recognized with the SPFA Young Player of the Year award for 2010–11.

On July 31, 2011, Blackburn Rovers and Dundee United agreed on a transfer fee for Goodwillie. This allowed him to talk about joining the Lancashire club.

Time at Blackburn Rovers

Goodwillie with Blackburn Rovers in 2012

Goodwillie officially joined Premier League club Blackburn Rovers on a four-year contract on August 3, 2011. The manager, Steve Kean, compared him to "a young Wayne Rooney" when he arrived.

On August 6, 2011, Goodwillie scored a goal in his first friendly game for Blackburn against Kilmarnock. Blackburn won that game 4–1. On August 13, he made his official debut for the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He came on as a substitute in a 2–1 loss. On August 24, he scored his first official goal and helped set up another goal in a 3–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.

In January 2012, Goodwillie had a very good period at Blackburn. He scored his first league goal at home against Stoke City. Five days later, he scored his first FA Cup goal against Newcastle United. He also helped set up a goal in a 3–1 win against Fulham. Later that month, he scored his second league goal in a 1–1 draw with Everton.

Loan to Crystal Palace

On August 31, 2012, Goodwillie joined Championship team Crystal Palace on loan until January 2013. However, he ended his loan early in mid-October because he didn't play many games and found it hard to settle in London.

Return to Dundee United (Loan)

Goodwillie went back to Dundee United on July 2, 2013, for a six-month loan. On September 25, he scored three goals in a 4–1 win against Partick Thistle in the 2013–14 Scottish League Cup. He scored another goal in a 4–1 win against Kilmarnock in December 2013. On January 12, 2014, Dundee United decided not to extend his loan. Goodwillie scored six goals in 22 games during this time with Dundee United.

Loan to Blackpool

Goodwillie joined Blackpool on January 24, 2014, on loan until the end of the season. After returning to Blackburn, he left the club by agreement on June 20, with one year left on his contract.

Playing for Aberdeen

Goodwillie signed a one-year contract with Aberdeen in July 2014. On July 17, he played his first game for them as a substitute against FC Groningen in the Europa League. On September 13, he scored his first goal for Aberdeen in a 2–1 loss to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. By January 21, 2015, he had scored five goals and was a regular player. He then signed another one-year contract, keeping him at Pittodrie until summer 2016.

On February 1, 2016, Goodwillie moved to another Scottish Premiership club, Ross County, on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season. He played nine games and scored a late goal in a 1–1 draw against Heart of Midlothian on May 7.

Time at Plymouth Argyle

On June 29, 2016, Goodwillie signed with EFL League Two club Plymouth Argyle. He later asked to leave the club. In 22 games for Plymouth, he scored one goal, which was in his last game, a 4–2 home win over Stevenage on January 14.

Playing for Clyde

After returning to Scotland, Goodwillie briefly played for an amateur team. In March 2017, he joined Scottish League Two team Clyde on a short contract. Goodwillie made his debut for Clyde against Cowdenbeath on April 1. On April 15, Goodwillie scored three goals in a 3–2 win against Elgin City. In June 2018, Livingston was interested in signing Goodwillie, but they couldn't agree on a transfer fee with Clyde.

He won several awards at Clyde's Player of the Year events for the 2017–18 season and again the next season. The team then earned promotion to League One in 2018–19. He was also nominated for the Player of the Year and named in the Team of the Year for League Two in 2018–19.

Goodwillie was named club captain for the 2019–20 season. He became the first Clyde player in 68 years to score five goals in a single match. He also scored three goals from penalty kicks in one game. Both achievements happened in a 6–1 win over Stranraer. In April 2020, Goodwillie scored his 78th goal, moving him into the top ten of the club's all-time leading goal scorers.

With two goals in a 3–2 loss at Peterhead on September 11, 2021, Goodwillie reached 100 goals for Clyde.

Short Stays at Other Clubs

Goodwillie rejoined Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers in January 2022. However, due to public reaction, the club announced that he would not be chosen to play for them. Discussions were held about his contract.

On March 1, 2022, Goodwillie was loaned back to his former club Clyde for the rest of the 2021–22 season. However, Clyde cancelled the loan deal and returned him to Raith due to further public concerns. Goodwillie was released from his Raith Rovers contract on September 30, 2022.

Goodwillie played one game for Livingston United in November 2022 as a trialist, scoring two goals in a 3–1 win. Following public disapproval, Livingston United announced that Goodwillie would not continue with the club.

On February 7, 2023, Goodwillie played for Northern Premier League club Radcliffe. He scored three goals in a 4–2 win. A day later, Radcliffe announced that Goodwillie had left the club, saying they had made a "significant misstep" in signing him.

In June 2023, NPL Western Australia club Sorrento FC announced they had signed Goodwillie. However, hours later, his contract was cancelled. The Football West governing body stated that after talks with the club, Goodwillie's signing would not go ahead. Sorrento apologized to the community for any offense caused.

In July 2023, Goodwillie played for Glasgow United in a friendly match. Despite some public warnings, the club decided to support the player. He continues to play for Glasgow United.

International Career

Goodwillie made his first appearance for the Scotland national under-21 football team in November 2008. He was first called up to the senior side in November 2010 for a friendly game against the Faroe Islands. He made his debut in that match, coming on as a substitute.

His international career was paused for a while. Later, after some time, Scotland manager Craig Levein called Goodwillie back to the national team.

He scored his first goal for Scotland on October 11, 2011. It was from a penalty kick in a 3–1 loss against World Cup holders Spain. Goodwillie scored with his first touch after coming on as a substitute.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Goodwillie goal.

List of international goals scored by David Goodwillie

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	11 October 2011	Estadio José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain	Spain	1–3	1–3	Euro 2012 qualifying

Honours

Dundee United

• Scottish Cup: 2009–10

Clyde

• Scottish League One play-offs: 2018–19

Individual

• Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year: 2011
• Scottish FWA Young Player of the Year: 2011
• SPL Player of the Month: March 2011

See also

In Spanish: David Goodwillie para niños