Charles McGoldrick was born on 30 November 1865 at 38 York Terrace in Everton and baptised at the church of Our Lady Immaculate. This being the case, his birth might well have been attended by the future director of Everton Football Club, Doctor James Baxter. He was the first child of Denis, an Irish born warehouse man, and his Preston born wife, Mary.
McGoldrick was first reported to be playing football on Walton Stiles, for the Stanley club, but by September 1886 had signed for Oakfield Rovers. Formed by members of a Wesleyan Methodist community they had, that year, opened a new place of worship on Oakfield Road that was adjoined by a church hall. Their home ground was on Lower Breck Road.
The club entered the Liverpool Senior Cup and reached the final on 2 April 1887, in which they faced Everton at the home of the Bootle club at Hawthorne Road. McGoldrick lined up alongside former Everton player Job Wilding, now with Bootle, who had decided to assist Oakfield Rovers in this tournament. Also, in the side was Caernarfon born Billy Hughes, then resident in Liverpool, who would go on to represent Wales on several occasions.
Interest in the contest had diminished after Everton disposed of Bootle in round one, so less than 4,000 people were present to watch George Dobson lift the trophy following a 5-0 win. After the game McGoldrick accepted an offer to play for Everton in a forthcoming fixture that had been arranged against an invitation XI who played under the banner of Lancashire Nomads. They had been formed by England goalkeeper Herbie Arthur and were made up of players from his home town of Blackburn. The match took place at Anfield, where Everton won 4-0.
The following season McGoldrick returned to Stanley and was in the side that faced Everton on 21 January 1888 at Walton Stiles in front of 4,000 people. The visitors, reeling from the loss of their imported players from Scotland, fielded an unsettled team. The home side, who took full advantage, won the game 3-0. Charles McGoldrick then continued his football career with Stanley and other amateur teams in the Walton area, before his career came to an end.
On 22 December 1892 he married Alice Ashton at the church of the Blessed Sacrament, Walton Vale, and the first of their seven children was born one year later. The 1901 census indicated that the family were living at 157 Goodison Road, where the head of the household declared himself to be a dock labourer. Charles McGoldrick later moved his family to 86 Claudia Street where he died on 12 December 1922.
Thanks so much for sharing this information Tony. Charles McGoldrick was my Gt. Grandad. I knew that he played for Everton but was not exactly sure when. I recently came across a newspaper article from the Liverpool Echo dated Sat, 19th January, 1924 which had a feature on old Liverpool football teams. The article included a photograph of Oakmere Rovers FC (they call it Oakmere not Oakfield – not sure which is correct). Charles McGoldrick is on the photo!