Goodliff, Fred – Journal editor was football club chairman

Frederick William Goodliff (1920-2011)

Frederick Goodliff  was born in Grantham, one of two children and the only son of the late William (‘Bill’) and Alice Goodliff. Bill was a railway passenger guard, who became Mayor of Grantham in 1951.

In March 1949 at he married Madge Cadwallader, eldest daughter of Tom and Phoebe Cadwallader, licencees of Fletchers pub in Westgate.

Following service in the Royal Air Force – some of that time spent in Scotland, using his interest in sport to help in the fitness training of pilots – he began his career with the Grantham Journal, a career to last 50 years, moving through the ranks to sports editor, and then for the last 17 years holding the post of editor.

He relinquished the editorship of the Journal in January 1985, when the family business was sold to newspaper giants EMAP.

He was closely involved with Grantham Football Club, and was a director for 12 years, before becoming chairman in 1972.

During these years he was involved in some of the most important moments of the club’s history, including the appointment of Terry Bly as manager, and promotion to the Southern League.

A founder member of Grantham and District Indoor Bowls Club, the game became a passion with Fred – he loved being part of the winning team – and was a hard-working chairman for a number of years.

Mr Goodliff was also a member and chairman of Grantham Round Table, a founder member and chairman of Grantham Crime Prevention Panel, and latterly a member of Table Enders.

His wife, Madge, who ran The Record Shop, in Wide Westgate, predeceased him. He died at home aged 90.