Footballing Heroes: Eddie McGoldrick

Howling, prowling, roaring, scoring, steady Eddie McGoldrick signed for Arsenal in 1993 after a successful spell at Crystal Palace.

At Palace he became a crowd favourite for his sterling work on the wing. At Arsenal he didn't.

Little is known of McGoldrick's early life other than the fact that he was born in Islington in 1965. He spent much of his childhood in foster care before he was adopted at the age of 7 by a very caring London couple.

At the time of his adoption little Eddie had only the clothes on his back and a strange amulet that that had been left in his cot when he had been abandoned on the steps of the foster home. Despite his now settled home life and the huge amount of love bestowed on him by his adopted parents McGoldrick always felt something was lacking in his life.

To try and combat this Eddie took to playing football, and despite his obvious mediocrity he persevered with the game eventually being snapped up by Northampton before moving to Palace. While at Palace he won the Zenith Data Systems Cup. As he was given his winners medal he was suprised to notice that the shape of it exactly matched his childhood amulet. He looked into the eyes of the man presenting him with the medal. The likeness was uncanny, Eddie had found his long lost twin brother.

His twin brother told him how he had orchestrated McGoldrick's entire career. Which explained why he had managed to get a professional contract despite his lack of talent. As a final act of kindness his brother said he'd get him a transfer to any club he liked. McGoldrick chose Arsenal.

£2000 in George Graham's back pocket later and Eddie McGoldrick arrived. His brother however fled the country under mysterious circumstances.

Eddie McGoldrick now wanders the Earth looking for his brother again, cradling his Zenith Data Systems Medal alongside his precious amulet and the Cup Winners Cup medal that he also actually, genuinely has.