Charlie Goode

Charles James Goode (born 3 August 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back.

A graduate of the Fulham Academy, Goode began his senior career in non-League football, before breaking into League football with Scunthorpe United in 2015. A loan to Northampton Town in January 2019 led to a permanent move to the club at the end of the 2018–19 season. Following victory in the 2020 League Two play-off final, Goode transferred to Championship club Brentford, with whom he was promoted to the Premier League in 2021. Following an injury and illness-affected spell in which he appeared sparingly, Goode was released in 2024. He was capped by England C at international level.

Early career
Goode began his youth career as a forward, before being moved back through midfield to right back. After a spell with hometown club Watford, he joined the Fulham Academy at the age of 10 and was released at age 16 in 2012. Goode dropped into non-League football and after a season with Harefield United U18, he gained his first experience of senior football with Hadley, A.F.C. Hayes and Hendon between 2013 and 2015. He was a part of the 2014–15 Hendon squad which reached the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off final and won the 2014–15 Isthmian League Cup and London Senior Cup. A growth spurt during the 2014–15 season saw Goode move from right back to central defence.

Scunthorpe United
On 10 June 2015, Goode joined League One club Scunthorpe United on a free transfer and signed a two-year contract, with the option of a further year. He failed to fully establish himself during four seasons at Glanford Park and by the time of his departure in July 2019, he had made 85 appearances and scored six goals.

Northampton Town
As a result of falling down the pecking order at Scunthorpe United, on 31 January 2019, Goode joined League Two club Northampton Town on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season. During what remained of the season, he made 17 appearances and signed a three-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee on 3 July 2019.

Goode was named team captain for the 2019–20 season and made 45 appearances and scored four goals during a campaign which culminated in promotion to League One, after victory in the 2020 League Two play-off final. He was voted the club's 2019–20 Supporters' Player of the Year, was named in the League Two PFA Team of the Year and was nominated for the September and October 2019 PFA Fans' Player of the Month awards. On 18 August 2020, Goode departed Northampton Town for a club-record fee. During 18 months at Sixfields, he made 62 appearances and scored four goals.

2020–21
On 18 August 2020, Goode transferred to Championship club Brentford and signed a four-year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee reported to be "just over" £1 million. Competing with Mads Bech Sørensen for third place in the centre back pecking order, Goode played sparingly during the opening months of the 2020–21 season. After a period out with illness, he returned to match play in mid-December 2020, but then spent another period out of the squad until returning to full fitness in March 2021. Goode made four late-season appearances, but did not appear during Brentford's 2021 EFL playoff campaign. As an unused substitute during the 2–0 victory in the Final over Swansea City, he received a promotion medal.

2021–22 and loan to Sheffield United
Goode made his first appearance of the 2021–22 season with a start in a EFL Cup third round match versus Oldham Athletic and his performance in the 7–0 win was recognised with a place in the EFL Cup Team of the Round. In early November 2021, injuries to summer transfers Zanka and Kristoffer Ajer allowed Goode to make a run of Premier League starts. His run was ended by a hamstring injury suffered in late December and he failed to return to the matchday squad prior to his departure on loan for the remainder of the season on the final day of the winter transfer window.

Linking up with Championship club Sheffield United, Goode was sent off for the first time in his professional career on his second appearance, for a two-footed challenge on Blackburn Rovers attacker Reda Khadra on 23 February 2022. While training during the suspension, he suffered a knee cartilage problem, which led to his return to Brentford for treatment in April. Goode failed to return to fitness before the end of the season and he was not involved in the Blades' unsuccessful playoff campaign.

2022–23 and loan to Blackpool
The knee cartilage problem saw Goode miss Brentford's entire 2022–23 pre-season and the first half of the regular season. He was included in the squad for the mid-season training camp and made one friendly appearance during the period. Goode returned to the matchday squad on Boxing Day 2022 and remained an unused substitute during a 2–2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. He failed to win any further first team call-ups before joining Championship club Blackpool on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season on 23 January 2023. Goode immediately went into the starting lineup, before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury on his third appearance.

2023–24 and loan to Wigan Athletic
During the 2023–24 pre-season, Goode was included in Brentford's 2023 Premier League Summer Series squad, but he did not receive a call into a matchday squad at the tournament. He returned to match play with the B team on 25 October 2023 and was an unused substitute during six first team matches either side of the turn of the year. On 22 January 2024, Goode joined League One club Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season. He made 13 appearances during the remainder of a mid-table season and returned to Brentford one week early, for personal reasons. Goode was released by Brentford when his contract expired at the end of the 2023–24 season. He made just 20 appearances during his four seasons with the club.

International career
Goode was capped once by England C, as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 friendly victory over Republic of Ireland U21 on 1 June 2015.

Personal life
Goode's father and brother Ben also became footballers. He is an Arsenal supporter. Goode attended Bushey Meads School and during his career in non-League football, he worked in his family's business, installing electric blinds.

Honours
Hendon
 * Isthmian League Cup: 2014–15
 * London Senior Cup: 2014–15

Northampton Town
 * EFL League Two play-offs: 2020

Brentford
 * EFL Championship play-offs: 2021

Individual
 * Harefield United U18 Players' Player of the Year: 2012–13
 * Northampton Town Supporters' Player of the Year: 2019–20
 * League Two PFA Team of the Year: 2019–20