Fred Goodwin, born in Macclesfield, joined Exeter City from West Ham United and played for the Grecians in the Southern League between 1913 and 1915 during which time he was a member of the team which toured Argentina and Brazil in 1914. Injured during the fighting of 1914-18 he never played football again.

Fred started his professional career at Burnley in November 1906 but only made one senior appearance. He then appeared for Leek (5th Cheshire Volunteers) and Congleton Town before signing for Macclesfield the summer of 1907. He subsequenttly spent several seasons alternating between Congleton and Macclesfield ahead of moving south to join Brighton in May 1911 and West Ham United in April 1913.

Arriving at Southern League Exeter City in December 1913, Fred went straight into the side for the 2-0 home win over Southampton on 27 December 1913. Settling into a run of games from late January 1914 onwards, Fred totalled 14 league games (2 goals) during his first season with the club which culminated in City’s close season tour to Argentina and Brazil.

Returning from South America, Fred appeared in 26 league games in 1914/15 either side of missing most of the middle part of the season and - scoring three times - helped City finish 11th before football was eventually suspended for the duration of the Great War. 

Enlisting after what proved to be his final appearance for City against Southampton on 24 April 1915, Fred joined the 17th Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (known as the Football Battalion because it was made up primarily of professional footballers). Injured during the fighting, Fred never played football again.

Fred died in Macclesfield in 1945.