Alfred Goddard

Birmingham-native Alfred Goddard was a multi-sport athlete with the local Edgbaston Harriers, gaining prominence by setting local records in track and weightlifting in addition to making a name for himself in the sport of wrestling, winning the 1907 Birmingham open wrestling championship in the 9 stone 7lb class, defeating H. Brown of Hockley Hall Gymnasium.

Goddard was one of two wrestlers from Birmingham to compete in the wrestling events at the 1908 London Olympics, alongside George Faulkner of the Birmingham Athletic Institute. Competing in the featherweight class in the freestyle event, Goddard advanced to the quarter-final by defeating Ridson Couch in his first match, but ultimately lost to William Tagg. In 1912, Goddard was the 9.5 stone Midland champion, and later lived in Australia for a number of years where he was a fireman in Perth for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. There, he continued to participate in wrestling events, winning the Western Australian 9.5 stone championship in 1914. By 1926, Goddard had moved back to his hometown where he was a physical culture, weightlifting and boxing teacher.