On 16 October 1965, he became the first substitute used by the club in a competitive fixture, after Ernie Hunt succumbed to injury during a 3–0 win over Middlesbrough.
Goodwin then dropped down two tiers to sign with Fourth Division side Stockport County, his hometown club, in January 1966.
County finished 13th in the Third Division in 1967–68, then ninth in 1968–69, before suffering relegation in last place in 1969–70 under Meadows's successor Walter Galbraith.
In March 1970, Goodwin joined Blackburn Rovers in a move which reunited him with former manager Eddie Quigley.
[5] He left Moss Rose and returned to the Football League with former club Stockport County, now managed by Jimmy Meadows, scoring one goal in 29 Fourth Division games in the 1974–75 season.