George Godsell

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Short description|British tennis player}}

{{Infobox tennis biography

| name = George Godsell

| image =

| fullname = George Edward Godsell

| country_represented = {{Flagu|United Kingdom}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|1907|04|26|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date and age|1953|05|01|1907|04|26|df=yes}}

| death_place = Kensington, London W8

| height =

| plays =

| careerprizemoney =

| singlesrecord =

| singlestitles =

| highestsinglesranking =

| AustralianOpenresult =

| FrenchOpenresult = 1R (1947)

| Wimbledonresult = 3R (1937, 1938)

| USOpenresult = 2R (1938)

}}

George Edward Godsell (26 April 1907 – 1 May 1953) was a British tennis player.{{cite news |title=G. E. Godsell Collapses At Wimbledon |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000320/19490621/051/0005 |work=Gloucestershire Echo |date=21 June 1949}}{{cite news |title=Tennis 'giant killer' dead |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19530504/081/0005 |work=Daily Herald |date=4 May 1953}}

Based in Gloucestershire, Godsell was active from the 1930s to early 1950s. Locally he won the singles title at Cheltenham four times and he was also a winner of the East of England Championships. He competed regularly at Wimbledon and reached the singles third round twice. Playing into his 40s, he reportedly appeared in 49 tournament finals across 1949 and 1950, believed to be the most of any male player during this time.{{cite news |title=Won 17 Titles In Season |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19501222/095/0012 |work=Dundee Evening Telegraph |date=22 December 1950}}

Godsell died at the age of 46 from carbon monoxide poisoning, having taken his own life. He was found dead at his home in West London. A neighbour revealed during an inquest that Godsell had been depressed and was suffering from a painful back injury, which had recently ended his tennis career.{{cite news |title=Wimbledon player found dead |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000437/19530508/084/0008 |work=West London Observer |date=8 May 1953}}

His death took place at 18, Sinclair Road, Kensington, London W8, and he left an estate valued for probate at £12,000.[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/13541105:1904?tid=&pid=&queryId=ef472e8d1246589611d45a09789be1e7&_phsrc=utI8&_phstart=successSource GODSELL George Edward of 18 Sinclair Road London W.8 died 1 May 1953] in England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995, ancestry.co.uk, accessed 7 January 2023 {{subscription required}}