As a farrier Phil Goodsell shod champion thoroughbreds and it was his role in horse racing industry which introduced him to greyhounds.
Among the greats Goodsell shod were dual Melbourne Cup winner Think Big, who won in 1974 and 1975, Scomeld, winner of the 1978 VRC Oaks and the mighty Ming Dynasty, the 1980 Caulfield Cup winner.
"As a 13-year-old at Nowra I taught myself to shoe horses because I had a couple of ponies,'' Goodsell recalled. "Five years later Kevin Robinson, the famous harness racing and thoroughbred trainer, who lived at nearby Berry, secured an apprenticeship for me with Albert O'Cass, racing's most famous farrier.
"After moving to Sydney I shod horses for trainers such as T J Smith, Neville Begg, Jack Denham, Theo Green, Brian Mayfield Smith and Clarry Conners but later had to return to Nowra due to serious illness and death in the family.
"Back in Nowra I began shoeing horses for Christine Tyrell, whose husband John was a prominent greyhound owner, trainer and breeder, and who raced the top notcher Bit Chili.
"It wasn't long before I was helping John with his greyhounds and he persuaded me to share ownership of a puppy with him."
Goodsell has had success latterly with the likes of Stilton Blue, who is back on the comeback trail after injury curtailed his sparkling 2014.
It was the puppy he shared in partnership with John Tyrell who proved his first star.
"Racing as Mrs Burns, our puppy reached the final of the Dapto Puppy Auction Classic," Goodsell said. "When mated to Bond she produced Gohan Girl.
"Stan Beckingham trained Gohan Girl for me and she won five races straight, including an $8000-to-the-winner Dapto Sprint Series Final over 297 metres.
"First winner I trained was Go For Bozz, named after my son Byron, which I bought from Les Deguara and who won at Nowra in May 2005.
"Burn It Up, who won a Paws Of Thunder heat at Wentworth Park and was a son of Mrs Burns, became my first winner as a trainer in September 2007."
Goodsell rates Stilton Blue as the best greyhound he has trained.
"Stilton Blue gave me my biggest thrill in the sport when he won the Nowra Puppy Classic in February last year," he said. "Now I am setting him for next month's Group 1 Dapto Megastar.
"Another handy dog I trained for Jason Bolwell was Stilton Lucky, who won a heat of a Dapto Puppy Auction Classic at odds of $68 before winning his semi-final where he paid $52!
"I have had a bit of luck with these Puppy Classics as another I trained, Avoid Island, was favourite for a Nowra final of this race.
"Open Fire has been a terrific money-spinner for me, winning six races and chalking up 19 seconds and 19 thirds and he is now headed off to the greyhound adoption clinic.
"His sister Carpark Ameena has also retired and as the family pet of her owners, she spends most of her day running around a beach.''
Goodsell is a true "jack of all trades'' as he refereed touch football for a decade.
He was so highly regarded was chosen to officiate at world cups in Sydney and in 1990, in Hawaii.
These days he works as an asset inspector with the Roads & MariTime Services Department.
"Most days I work 10 to 12 hours and cover between 200 and 300 kilometres,'' Goodsell said.
"But I still find Time to train greyhounds and have five in work, including Stilton Blue, Space And Time, a highly promising youngster who is in Thursday night's Dean Industrial Maiden Classic heats at Dapto, her sister Fire Inside, who has already won a race, and Leacoco, who won at Dapto last Thursday.
"I couldn't go past Fernando Bale as the best greyhound I have seen and while Dapto would have to be my favourite track, I really enjoy coming to Wentworth Park if I have one good enough to bring.''
