Curtis Good, a former Bradford City loanee, will leave Melbourne City this summer after six years there.
Good holds the club record for most appearances, with 180 in two periods. The most recent of these began in 2018, and he’s won three A-League championships during that time, cementing his place as one of their greatest players. Because of his impact on the club, the Clubman of the Year Trophy will be renamed the ‘Curtis Good Award’.
The 31-year-old is now on his way to Thai champions Buririam United, who secured their third consecutive title with an 8-2 victory over Khon Kaen Utd yesterday. That implies trophy is certainly on Good’s horizon, something he nearly achieved during his brief stint in English football.
The central defender joined Newcastle United from his native Australia in 2012 for a reported sum of about £300,000. He spent six years in the northeast but did not participate in any league games for the team.
He did have a loan spell at Bradford City, which was controversial from the start. He made his FA Cup debut against Brentford, but was not initially recorded, almost causing the Bantams to be eliminated from the competition.
Following an appeal, the fine was reduced to £1,000. However, he helped them go to the Capital One Cup final against Swansea City. Despite only making three league appearances for his loan club, he played three cup games, including 46 minutes in the final, which they lost 5-0.
He later appeared twice for the Magpies, once in each domestic tournament, and had a brief stint with Dundee United before returning home in 2018. He got called up for his second cap with the Socceroos in 2021, seven years after his debut. To date, these are his only two international appearances.
He now travels to Buriram, where he will join a team that has won 20 titles in the last ten seasons.
Writer’s View
Curtis Good only played a minor role in Bradford’s cup run, but he wore the iconic shirt and remains a part of the story. Perhaps his best effort came in the semi-final against Aston Villa, which they lost 2-1 but advanced to the final on aggregate. Buriram is a formidable force in Thailand, and he will undoubtedly win some silverware.
Thailand, on the other hand, is struggling to establish dominance in the Asian football landscape. Still, a player with Good’s expertise might help them become a more serious contender for the coveted AFC Champions League, which a Thai team last won in 1995.
