About David Goodwillie
David Goodwillie is a Scottish professional footballer who began his career with Dundee United and was awarded the SPFA and SFWA Young Player of the Year honors in the 2010-11 season. His impressive performances led to his selection for the Scotland national team and a £2 million transfer to Blackburn Rovers, who were then competing in the English Premier League. Goodwillie had loan spells with Crystal Palace, Dundee United, and Blackpool before being released by Blackburn in 2014. He subsequently joined Aberdeen and later had a loan stint with Ross County. In 2016, he moved to Plymouth Argyle but departed in January 2017. He made his debut for the Scotland national under-21 football team in November 2008. However, Goodwillie's career has been marred by legal issues. He has been convicted of three assaults, which occurred in 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2011, he was accused, alongside his teammate David Robertson, of raping a woman. In a civil case in 2016, he was found liable for the rape and ordered to pay £100,000 in compensation. Following this, Goodwillie continued his football career with Clyde in the Scottish leagues. After more than four years with Clyde, he joined Raith Rovers in January 2022. However, due to a negative reaction to his signing, the club announced that he would not play for them, resulting in his release from the contract in September 2022. Since then, he has made appearances for Livingston United and Radcliffe. On 28 June 2023, NPL Western Australia club Sorrento FC announced that they had signed three players, including Goodwillie.
David Goodwillie Early Life & Family
David Goodwillie, a Scottish footballer, was born on March 28, 1989, which means he is currently 34 years old as of 2023. Hailing from Stirling, Scotland, Goodwillie holds Scottish nationality and belongs to a mixed ethnicity. Born under the zodiac sign of Aries, he follows the Christian religion. Growing up, he had a sister named Kayleigh, although he has chosen not to reveal much about his parents and other siblings to the public. Goodwillie received his education from well-regarded high schools and universities.
David Goodwillie Football Career
Youth Career
- David Goodwillie began his youth career at Carse Thistle in Stirling before joining Dundee United at the age of 14 in 2003.
- He was discovered during a Scottish Youth FA trial in Dundee.
- Following in the footsteps of Duncan Ferguson, who also played for Carse Thistle, Goodwillie made his first-team debut for Dundee United in July 2005 as a substitute in the City of Discovery Cup.
Dundee United
- Goodwillie signed his professional contract with Dundee United in March 2005.
- He made his competitive debut for the team on 31 December 2005 as a substitute in a match against Rangers.
- In his fifth appearance, he scored a late goal against Hibernian.
- During the 2005-06 season, he made ten substitute appearances for the team.
- In October 2006, Goodwillie signed a contract extension until May 2010 and started his first match against Falkirk.
- However, he had limited playing time due to injuries and new signings in the following season.
- He began the 2007-08 season with two substitute appearances for Dundee United before being loaned to Raith Rovers in the Scottish Second Division in November 2007.
- The loan was extended until the end of the season, during which he scored nine goals in 21 league games for Raith Rovers.
- He returned to Dundee United and made appearances in the early rounds of the 2008-09 League Cup, scoring three goals against lower-league opponents.
- Goodwillie added to his goal tally in the Scottish Premier League, scoring a last-minute equalizer against Hibernian and netting against Hibernian and Aberdeen.
- In September 2009, he was arrested for an incident involving a nightclub doorman, leading to a fine two months later.
- To prevent further trouble, Dundee United manager Peter Houston implemented a "house arrest" scheme for Goodwillie.
- During the 2009-10 season, he established himself as a regular starter for Dundee United and scored three goals in the first five matches.
- He continued to impress, reaching a total of twelve goals by mid-April and earning the Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Year award.
- In May 2010, Goodwillie played a crucial role in the Scottish Cup Final, scoring the opening goal as Dundee United secured a 3-0 victory over Ross County.
- The following season, Goodwillie maintained his impressive form by scoring in six consecutive league games.
- United's chairman, Stephen Thompson, stated that any club interested in signing Goodwillie would need to pay a £3 million fee.
- He signed a one-year contract extension in March 2011 and promptly scored the winning goal against Rangers at Ibrox just two days later.
- His outstanding performances led to him receiving the SPFA Young Player of the Year award for the 2010-11 season.
- On June 23, 2011, Cardiff City, a Championship team, initiated discussions with Dundee United regarding the transfer of Goodwillie.
- The next day, bids from Rangers and Blackburn Rovers were submitted but turned down by United.
- Eventually, on July 31, 2011, Blackburn Rovers and Dundee United reached an agreement on a transfer fee, with an initial payment of £2 million and additional clauses amounting to £800,000, allowing Goodwillie to negotiate personal terms with Blackburn Rovers.
Blackburn Rovers
- David Goodwillie joined Blackburn Rovers on a four-year contract on 3 August 2011, with manager Steve Kean comparing him to a young Wayne Rooney.
- Six months later, Dundee United finally received the payment for Goodwillie, after contacting the Scottish Premier League for assistance due to Blackburn missing the payment deadline.
- Goodwillie made a debut goal for Rovers in a friendly against Kilmarnock on 6 August 2011.
- He then made his competitive debut on 13 August, replacing Morten Gamst Pedersen in a 2-1 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
- Goodwillie scored his first competitive goal in a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.
- In January 2012, he scored his first Premier League goal against Stoke City and followed it up with his first FA Cup goal against Newcastle United.
- Goodwillie scored his second Premier League goal in a 1-1 draw against Everton in January.
- However, his loan spell at Crystal Palace was cut short in mid-October due to his struggle to settle in London, as stated by Eagles' Assistant Manager Lennie Lawrence.
Dundee United
- After returning to Dundee United on a six-month loan deal, David Goodwillie made an impact with the club.
- He scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Partick Thistle in the 2013-14 Scottish League Cup and contributed to United's 4-1 victory against Kilmarnock in December 2013.
- However, his loan deal was not extended, and Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson expressed disappointment with his performance.
- He scored a total of six goals in 22 appearances during his return to Dundee United.
Blackpool
- On 24 January 2014, Goodwillie joined Blackpool on loan until the end of the season, with Barry Ferguson serving as the caretaker manager.
- After his loan spell, he returned to Blackburn but mutually agreed to terminate his contract on 20 June, despite having one year left on the agreement.
Aberdeen
- In July 2014, Goodwillie joined Aberdeen, signing a one-year contract.
- He made his debut as a substitute against FC Groningen in the Europa League second qualifying round first leg on 17 July.
- Goodwillie scored his first goal for the team on 13 September in a 2-1 defeat against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
- After establishing himself in the first team and scoring five goals, he signed another one-year contract in January 2015, extending his stay at Pittodrie until the summer of 2016.
- On 1 February 2016, Goodwillie went on loan to Ross County, another Scottish Premiership club, for the remainder of the 2015-2016 season.
- During his loan spell, he made nine appearances and scored a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Heart of Midlothian on 7 May.
Plymouth Argyle
- On June 29, 2016, he joined Plymouth Argyle in EFL League Two.
- However, he left the club in January 2017 by mutual consent following a civil case where he was found to have raped a woman.
- Goodwillie scored one goal in 22 matches for Plymouth, with his final goal coming in a 4-2 home victory against Stevenage on January 17.
Clyde
- After a brief stint with Doune Castle in the Caledonian Amateur League, Goodwillie joined Clyde, a Scottish League Two team, on a short-term contract in March 2017.
- The club's decision to sign him received criticism, but Goodwillie made an impact by scoring a hat-trick in a 3-2 win against Elgin City.
- He went on to receive multiple personal accolades at Clyde's Player of the Year awards and helped the team secure promotion to League One in 2018-19.
- Goodwillie was named club captain for the 2019-20 season and achieved notable milestones such as becoming the first Clyde player in 68 years to score five goals in a single match and the first to score a hat-trick of penalties.
- In September 2021, he reached the milestone of scoring 100 goals for Clyde.
Raith Rovers
- In January 2022, Goodwillie made a controversial return to Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers.
- The signing drew criticism due to his civil responsibility for rape, leading to the resignations of club directors, staff members, and the women's team captain.
- The club faced backlash from sponsors and public figures, and the women's team severed ties with Raith Rovers.
- Shortly after the signing, Raith Rovers announced that Goodwillie would not be selected to play and discussions would be held regarding his contract.
- In March 2022, he was loaned back to Clyde but the loan deal was canceled due to further controversy.
- Goodwillie was eventually released from his contract with Raith Rovers in September 2022.
Later Career
- After playing as a trialist, Goodwillie scored twice for Livingston United in a match against Fauldhouse United. However, due to media and public disapproval, Livingston United announced that he would no longer be involved with the club.
- Goodwillie then joined Radcliffe, a Northern Premier League club, and scored a hat-trick in his debut match. However, the club later admitted their mistake in signing him and announced his departure.
- On June 28, 2023, Sorrento FC in NPL Western Australia initially announced Goodwillie's signing, but shortly after, his contract was rescinded following discussions with the governing body. Sorrento FC issued an apology to those who were offended by his signing.
David Goodwillie International career
- Goodwillie made his debut for the Scotland national under-21 football team in November 2008.
- He later received his first call-up to the senior side in November 2010, making his debut as a substitute in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands.
- However, his international career faced a setback as the Scottish Football Association (SFA) hesitated to select him due to his involvement in a legal process.
- Goodwillie had been charged with sexual assault, but the case did not proceed to trial at that time due to insufficient evidence. Once it was announced that he would not face prosecution, Scotland manager Craig Levein recalled Goodwillie to the national squad.
- On 11 October 2011, Goodwillie scored his first goal for Scotland from a penalty kick in a match against Spain, the current World Cup holders. The goal came moments after he was brought on as a substitute.
- However, Goodwillie also missed a clear opportunity in the same game, shooting wide instead of setting up an unmarked teammate, Craig Mackail-Smith.
David Goodwillie Criminal convictions and rape judgment
- In June 2008, Goodwillie was convicted and fined £250 for assaulting a man in a Stirling nightclub.
- In September 2009, he was arrested after a nightclub doorman was knocked unconscious and later convicted of assault, receiving a £200 fine.
- In 2012, he was convicted of assault for his involvement in an altercation where he repeatedly punched and kicked John Friel, who had attacked Goodwillie's teammate.
- He received a 12-month probation order and 80 hours of unpaid work, while Friel was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work as well.
- Goodwillie and his teammate David Robertson faced accusations of raping a woman in January 2011.
- While Goodwillie was charged with rape, the Crown Office decided not to pursue a criminal prosecution due to insufficient evidence.
- However, in a subsequent civil case in 2016, a judge ruled that both Goodwillie and Robertson had raped the woman and ordered them to pay £100,000 in compensation.
- The case was judged on the balance of probabilities and did not require corroboration of evidence.
- Following the conclusion of the case, Goodwillie left Plymouth Argyle and expressed intentions to appeal.
- In November 2017, the Court of Session upheld the ruling against Goodwillie and Robertson, but they both declared bankruptcy and have not paid the compensation awarded to the woman.
David Goodwillie Awards, Honors, & Achievements
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
David Goodwillie Married & Wife
David Goodwillie is happily married to his beautiful wife, Kirstie Goodwillie, who was a former Miss Scotland finalist. The couple exchanged vows on June 10, 2017, and have been enjoying their marital bliss. As of now, they do not have any children, but they are content and enjoying their life together without any disruptions. His sexual orientation is straight.
David Goodwillie Net Worth
David Goodwillie, the Scottish professional footballer, has an estimated net worth of $5 million as of 2023. His primary source of wealth is his successful football career, which has allowed him to accumulate substantial earnings. Through his contracts, career earnings, and endorsements, he earns an annual salary of around $1 million at present. Despite his financial success, Goodwillie leads a modest lifestyle and is content with his earnings.
David Goodwillie Height & Weight
David Goodwillie is a talented and stylish footballer known for his athletic physique. Standing at a height of 1.74 meters and weighing 72 kilograms, he possesses an impressive physical presence on the field. With his warm blue eyes and brown hair, Goodwillie exudes a charming and attractive appearance. He takes great care of his body as a professional athlete, engaging in regular exercise to maintain his fitness and ensure peak performance on the pitch.
