Freddie Goodwin was NOT Albion’s first foreign manager – but he brought a foreign influence to the Goldstone Ground.

The Lancastrian, pictured above, who took over relegation scrappers in the old Third Division and turned them into promotion pushers has died at home in the USA, aged 82.

He will be remembered in Sussex for his efforts at the helm at the Goldstone between November 1968 and the end of the following season.

His work is also celebrated at Birmingham City, a club he took to promotion and two FA Cup semi-finals.

Former Albion player John Templeman recalls Goodwin as the man who, among other things, introduced Gatorade – and some fresh ideas – to the changing room.

Templeman was with the club throughout Goodwin’s tenure and remembers the excitement of his arrival at the age of just 35.

The new boss had made his name playing for Manchester United and then coached in New York.

“When I heard he was taking over I thought the news was brilliant,” Templeman told The Argus.

“He had played at the top level of the English game with United and he had been coaching in the USA.

“One of the things he brought in new was Gatorade, the sports drink he had discovered in the States.

“It was quite new back then. Over the years, coming up through junior football and the County League, I had been used to a slice of orange or a cup of sweet tea!

“He brought in new players, including his old Manchester United team mate Alex Dawson and a couple he had in America, Barrie Wright and Geoff Sidebottom.

“His youth was a really big plus for the players.

“For many of us, we were working with someone from the same age group. We talked about the same things after training or on away trips.”

Albion moved from third-bottom to mid-table in the third tier and were top in the closing stages of the following season.

However they lost four of their last five games to finish fifth – a play-off place these days but worthless back then.

Goodwin joined Birmingham before the summer’s World Cup in Mexico had got under way although Albion did not want to lose him.

They offered a three-year contract and eventually, and reluctantly, accepted £4,500 in compensation.

Templeman’s versatility cost him his place in the side during Albion’s rise under Goodwin.

But the full-back or midfielder – now a season ticket holder at the Amex – appreciates the part he played for the club.

He said: “Whether it worked out for me is immaterial because you are a player working for the group. The club comes first.

“He was a success for Brighton because he represented a fresh start.

“Who knows what would have happened if he had stayed at the club?

“He won promotion with Birmingham and I think he would probably have done the same at Brighton.”

Goodwin was a ‘Busby Babe’ as a player but made an inglorious entry to life at the Goldstone as Albion, from 2-0 up and cruising, were held 2-2 by West Midlands League outfit Kidderminster in the FA Cup.

They league side held on to win the replay 1-0.

An editorial in the programme for that first home game said of Goodwin: “He is one of the most important members of the band of tracksuit managers, all young and forward looking.”

Birmingham sacked him after a poor start to the 1975-76 season and he returned to the USA, where he coached and was also involved in the travel industry.