Don was not amused by McNab's Xmas 'present'
Goodman was signed in a blaze of publicity on the St James's Park pitch, despite being injured at the time.
He was brought to Exeter by the John Russell and Mike Lewis regime, although whether then manager John Cornforth had any say in the matter, who knows?
The forward — then aged 36 — arrived with an excellent pedigree, having played for Bradford City, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hiroshima (in the Japanese League), Barnsley, Motherwell and Walsall.
He played well over 100 league matches each for West Brom (60 goals), Sunderland (40 goals) and Wolves (33 goals).
But Goodman only managed three goals in his 25 games for Walsall, although that was a vital equaliser in the play-off final victory over Reading, which won the club promotion to the second tier.
After a further season at Walsall he moved to City in August 2002, but made only 13 appearances, scoring once.
When Cornforth was removed as Exeter manager, he was replaced by Neil McNab, who had one of the shortest stays at the club of any Exeter manager, but not before this little incident took place over the Christmas period.
Goodman eventually made his Exeter City debut in a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town and the only goal he scored for the Grecians was in a 2-0 win at Carlisle United.
The City line up in that Goodman debut game was:- Kevin Miller, Barry McConnell, Graeme Power, Santos Gaia, Chris Curran, Justin Walker, Glenn Cronin, Cleveland Taylor, Jamie Coppinger, Andy Roscoe and Goodman, with Martin Thomas, Steve Flack and Gareth Sheldon on the bench.
However, it seems Goodman was not at all impressed with the management at St James's Park when it came to the Christmas period in 2002.
"If you are lucky enough to be at your home on December 25, either for the whole day or just part of it, this is where discipline has to kick in," said Goodman.
"It is difficult when family and friends are all enjoying themselves and getting the food and drink down them, but with a game just 24 hours away you know that you cannot follow suit and have to be a lot more conservative with what you eat, with drink out of the question.
"One of the worst instances I can remember came in what was my final season as a player in the Football League.
"I was with Exeter City and had picked up an injury that was going to, at best, keep me out for three to five weeks.
"But the manager, Neil McNab, insisted that I drove down from my Wolverhampton home for half an hour's treatment from the physio. After that I was allowed to drive home.
"I felt really angry because the players knew I was injured and would not have minded me staying at home and watching my kids open their presents. But McNab told me he didn't want the rest of the lads to think that he was favouring me."
It wasn't a happy time for Goodman or Exeter City as they lurched from one crisis to another, ultimately being relegated to the Conference that season, but not before the player had been loaned out to Doncaster Rovers, where he played six games.
Goodman was released at the end of the 2002-03 season and had one further year with Stafford Rangers before announcing his retirement as a player.
Season 2002-03 as far as Exeter City were concerned was a complete disaster on and off the field and stories such as this one would make a fascinating read if they were brought together in a book.
Some of the tales and goings-on at St James's Park at that time were, quite frankly, almost unbelievable.
Former Exeter City striker Don Goodman shows his frustration in a derby game against Torquay. A similar expression probably formed on his face when told by then manager Neil McNab (inset) that he had to drive down to Devon from Wolverhampton on Christmas Day for half an hour's treatment on an injury
