Bert Goffey came through the junior ranks with Sevenoaks, Higham Ferrers Town and Northampton Nomads, and had trial periods with Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers before joining Norwich City as an amateur in December 1934.
After turning professional in May 1935, he scored nine goals in 32 Second Division matches for the ‘Canaries’ over the next two seasons, and came to the Goldstone in June 1937 when Charlie Webb laid out a sizeable fee for his transfer. Nevertheless, Bert was confined to a reserve-team role for the first three months of the 1937-38 campaign, but a series of excellent performances in early December then saw him gain favour over Jimmy Cargill.
Finding the net on his debut, a 3-1 defeat of Swindon Town at the Goldstone, he came into the side during a terrific run of eleven games undefeated which saw Albion soar from the lower reaches to fifth place in the Southern Section, and established himself at inside-left for the rest of the season as the club pushed for promotion to the Second Division.
Bert’s appearances were eventually divided between the two inside-forward positions, but on one occasion he was selected at centre-half in an emergency. The 28-year-old’s career was effectively brought end by the war, but he did turn out for the Albion on the rare occasions that service as an Army P.T. instructor afforded up to 1942. Bert was amongst those fortunate to be evacuated from the Dunkirk beaches in 1940.
Bert played 60 matches for the Seagulls between 1937 and 1942 scoring 10 goals.