Goodison Set For 300th League Start

Tranmere's Talisman defender Ian Goodison is set for to reach a huge landmark this Saturday against Charlton Athletic............

Evergreen Tranmere Rovers defender Ian Goodison will make his 300th League start for the club tomorrow when Les Parry's side take on Charlton Athletic at the Valley tomorrow.

In doing so, Goodison will become the first Rovers player to reach 300 league starts for the club since Kenny Irons achieved the same feat against Portsmouth in February 1999.

No other player in recent years has come close to reaching so many appearances for Tranmere, with tomorrow being Goodison's 345th appearance in all competitions in a Tranmere shirt.

The likes of Gary Jones, Danny Coyne, Ian Thomas-Moore and Alan Mahon, all of whom enjoyed two stints at the club, and Gareth Roberts and John Actherberg all fell short of the landmark by some distance.

Jamaican centre-back Goodison first joined Tranmere in February 2004, initially on trial, teaming up once again with Brian Little, who had been the players manager at Hull City.

He made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Oldham at Boundary Park, a game in which Eugene Dadi scored a late equaliser for Rovers and scored his first Tranmere goal in a 1-0 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road in November of the same year.

Since his debut, Goodison has become a cult figure at Prenton Park. His brilliant defensive ability, combined with his cool, carm Jamaican manner have created a strong bond between himself and the Super White Army, whilst his loyalty, longevity and fitness have helped make him a terrific player for the club.

He was made club captain by manager Ronnie Moore and although he relinquished the on-field captains duty a couple of years later, he still remains a key figure in and around the dressing room, one who is looked up to and a player who Tranmere often struggle when he's not on the team sheet.

Now 39, Goodison, who's contract at Prenton Park comes to an end next summer, continues to put in superb performances for Tranmere week after week and last summer earned himself a recall to the Jamaica squad for his fine form during the 2010/11 season.

As well as a great amount of appearances, the defender also holds the fantastic achievement of having netted in ten different league games for Tranmere, with Rovers not having lost any of them.

So, hopefully, Goodison will net tomorrow against Charlton, and, hopefully, there are many more appearances left in those Jamaican legs.