Ray Gooding

Gooding began his career with Coventry City, having been signed by Gordon Milne in 1976.^[1][2] He scored five goals in 49 league appearances over the next six years and spent a month on loan with Bristol City during the 1981–82 season.^[1] Gooding joined Plymouth Argyle in 1982 and scored once in nine league and cup games before suffering a cruciate ligament injury.^[2][3] Having been forced to give up professional football, he played briefly for Bedworth United in non-league football before ending his career.^[2]

Gooding returned to Coventry in 1988 when John Sillett appointed him to work with John Peacock as a football development officer in the community at the club's centre of excellence.^[4] He went on to be responsible for young player recruitment and first met Richard Money when he was appointed academy director during Gordon Strachan's tenure as manager.^[4] Under their stewardship, Coventry's youth team reached two FA Youth Cup finals.^[2][4] Gooding took redundancy in the summer of 2008 and became a member of Money's academy staff at Newcastle United.^[2][4] He later worked for Birmingham City as a recruitment officer and scout for their academy.^[5][6]