Edmund Goodman had his playing career cut short by an injury which meant he had to have his leg amputated. After this he became Assistant Secretary to his club, Aston Villa

Aston Villa F.C.

Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

. When Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace F.C.

Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

was founded they asked Aston Villa for help in setting up the club, Villa offered Palace Goodman and he helped to appoint the first manager and found the first Chairman. After two seasons he became manager and remained so for 23 years, becoming Crystal Palace's longest serving manager in the process. Goodman could be said to be the founding father of Crystal Palace F.C.