 Hodgson in the 1932–33 season[1] | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1904-04-16)16 April 1904[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Benoni,Transvaal Colony[2][3] | ||
| Date of death | 14 June 1951(1951-06-14) (aged 47)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Stoke-on-Trent, England[2] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[4] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1919–1921 | Benoni | ||
| 1921–1922 | Rustenburg | ||
| 1922–1924 | Pretoria | ||
| 1924–1925 | Transvaal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1925–1936 | Liverpool | 358 | (233) |
| 1936–1937 | Aston Villa | 28 | (11) |
| 1937–1939 | Leeds United | 81 | (51) |
| Total | 467 | (295) | |
| International career | |||
| 1924 | South Africa | 2 | (0) |
| 1930–1931 | England | 3 | (1) |
| The Football League | 2 | (0) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1946–1951 | Port Vale | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gordon Hodgson (16 April 1904 – 14 June 1951) was a professional sportsman, born in Transvaal Colony, who is best known as astriker forLiverpool and as afast bowler forLancashire. He won two internationalcaps forSouth Africa and three forEngland.[5][6]
Hodgson signed forLiverpool on 14 December 1925, going on to score 241 goals in 377 appearances for theAnfield club.[5][7] Hetransferred toAston Villa on 8 January 1936 and scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for theVillans,[2] before joiningLeeds United in March 1937, scoring 53 goals in 85 appearances for theElland Road club. In total, Hodgson scored 305 goals in 490 appearances for his three English clubs, 295 of which came in 467 games in theFootball League, with the other ten coming in theFA Cup from 23 appearances.
He was appointedPort Valemanager in 1946, a position he would hold until he died in 1951.
Gordon Hodgson was born on 16 April 1904 inBenoni,Transvaal Colony to English parents. He married Doris Huckell, on 23 November 1928 atWest Derby Register Office They had two children: Doreen T. (born 1930) and Gordon (born 1934), before Doris died at the age of 27 on 8 March 1938, at Preston Parade inBeeston,Leeds. Gordon then met Alice Shepherd and they were married on 26 October 1940 at Hunslet Parish Church. Their son, Martyn was born the following year.[8]
Hodgson played football in South Africa with Benoni (1919–21), Rustenburg (1921–22), Pretoria (1922–24), and then Transvaal (1924–25).[3] He scored ahat-trick againstLiverpool for the South African Amateur team during a tour of the UK on 1 October 1924 and was signed by the club on 14 December 1925.[9] During his time in South Africa he worked as aboilermaker.[3]
Hodgson had a reputation early in his career as an unselfishforward who excelled in link-up play, but that didn't stop him from going on to become one of Liverpool and indeed theFootball League's greatest-ever goalscorers. Not averse to charging through defenders if other avenues to goal were barred, although he was capable of subtlety when the situation demanded it, Hodgson was exceptionally strong on the ball and possessed a terrificshot with either foot, which allied to his height,heading ability, pace, close-control, enthusiasm and a noted talent forshooting when going at top-speed made him a real force in attack. OnlyRoger Hunt (244) has scored more league goals for Liverpool, but all of Hodgson's 233 league strikes came in the top flight from 358 appearances, a fantastic goals-per-game ratio.[5] In total Hodgson scored 295 goals in 467 games in the Football League, 288 of which came in the top-flight from 454 appearances, leaving him fourth in theall-time list of top-flight goalscorers in English football with onlyJimmy Greaves (357),Steve Bloomer (314) andDixie Dean (310) having scored more.[10] Hodgson first came to Liverpool's attention in 1924 as one of the youngest members of the touring South African national team, who on 1 October beat Liverpool 5–2 atAnfield. He joined Liverpool a year later on 14 December 1925, making his debut in a 1–1 draw againstManchester City atMaine Road on 27 February 1926.[5] He opened his goal-scoring account eleven days later when he scored twice in a 3–3 draw againstManchester United atOld Trafford on 10 March 1926.[5] He scored the first of a still club record 17 leaguehat-tricks for Liverpool in a 5–1 win againstSheffield United at Anfield on 11 September 1926 in his seventeenth game.[5]
During his Anfield career, Hodgson missed very few games in the league or cup and scored prolifically throughout; therefore, it was a shame that his career coincided with a barren period for the club because his contribution to the Liverpool cause was massive. The 36 league goals Hodgson scored during the 1930–31 season beatSam Raybould's total of 31 scored in 1902–03 and set a new club record that would last for more than thirty years until it was beaten by Roger Hunt in 1961–62.[5] Hodgson scored three hat-tricks that season at Anfield, but perhaps it was the four goals he scored in an away match atHillsborough that gave him the most satisfaction of all.[5] He was the top scorer in seven out of the nine full seasons he played for Liverpool.[5] On completion of his ten years of service, he was honoured by the club with a benefit sum of £650.[11] His popularity prompted an ingenious biscuit seller to name the home-made ginger nuts, that he sold in a quantity of five for a penny on matchdays at Anfield, in his honour: "Hodgson's Choice! Hodgson's Choice!" he would call.[5] The 1935–36 season proved to be Hodgson's last at Anfield; his nine goals in 17 league appearances was yet again a decent return, but on 8 January 1936, he was allowed to move toAston Villa for £4,000.[12][13] In total Hodgson scored 241 goals in 377 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions,[5] earning him a place in the Liverpool FC Hall of Fame[14] and leaving him third in the all-time list of leading goalscorers for the Anfield club with onlyIan Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285) having scored more.[15][16]
Hodgson made his debut for Aston Villa in a 3–0 defeat againstPreston North End atDeepdale on 18 January 1936.[17] His first goal for Villa came in a 4–3 defeat againstBolton Wanderers atBurnden Park on 15 February 1936.[17] He wasrelegated with Aston Villa at the end of the 1935–36 season, his four goals in 15 league appearances not enough to help them beat the drop. His stay with Villa in theSecond Division was short. He left forLeeds United for £1,500 on 2 March 1937,[18] after scoring seven goals in 13 appearances for Villa in the Second Division, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 win againstBradford City atVilla Park on 14 September 1936.[19] In total Hodgson scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for Villa, all of which were in the league.[2]
At Leeds United, Hodgson showed that he still had what it took to score goals at the top level, scoring six goals in 13 league appearances in the second half of the 1936–37 season, including a goal on his debut in a 7–1 defeat against his old Merseyside rivalsEverton atGoodison Park on 3 March 1937.[20] Despite that defeat Hodgson's goals still proved enough to help Leeds avoid relegation. The following season, 1937–38, Leeds secured a top-half finish thanks in no small part to Hodgson, who scored 26 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions, including all four Leeds goals in a 4–4 draw against Everton atElland Road on 26 February 1938. His form was all the more remarkable considering the strain he'd been playing under as a result of the illness and subsequent death of his wife on 8 March 1938, leaving him a widower with two children.[5] Hodgson continued to show admirable professionalism and was as prolific as ever during the 1938–39 season, scoring 21 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions, including a still Leeds club record five goals in their 8–2 thrashing ofLeicester City at Elland Road on 1 October 1938. Hodgson scored 53 goals in 85 appearances for Leeds in all competitions, not including one in the 1939–40 season, which was abandoned after three games due to the outbreak ofWorld War II.[21] He was top scorer for Leeds in both of his two full seasons at Elland Road. During the war, Hodgson worked in a munitions factory whilst continuing to turn out for Leeds until 1941, making 34 war-time appearances for the Elland Road club, scoring 14 goals.[22] He also guested forHartlepools United (one appearance, 1939–40) andYork City (five appearances, two goals, 1939–40).[23] After hanging up his boots he helped tocoach the youth players at Leeds from 1942 to October 1946.[23][24]
Hodgson played twice at full international level for his nativeSouth Africa, making his debut in a 2–1 win in afriendly againstIreland atSolitude,Belfast on 24 September 1924,[5][25] in what was also South Africa's first ever full international match.[26] His second and final international appearance for South Africa came against theNetherlands in a 2–1 defeat in a friendly at het Nederlandsche Sportpark (het Oude Stadion),Amsterdam on 2 November 1924.[27] He also played and scored in several unofficial international matches for South Africa against British, Dutch, and Irish club sides during a 1924 tour, including appearances againstWimbledon andLiverpool; which is where they first noticed his talent and subsequently signed him the following year.[5]
Hodgson was alsocapped three times at full international level byEngland, making his debut against Ireland, in a 5–1 win in aBritish Home Championship, match atBramall Lane,Sheffield on 20 October 1930.[5][28][29] His only goal for England came in his second appearance in a 4–0 win againstWales in a British Home Championship match at theRacecourse Ground,Wrexham on 22 November 1930.[29] Hodgson's third and final international appearance for England came againstScotland in a 2–0 defeat in a British Home Championship match atHampden Park,Glasgow on 28 March 1931.[29] He also represented England against the Rest in a 3–2 win in an international trial match atHighbury,London on 4 March 1931[30] and theFootball League against theScottish League, scoring once in a 7–3 win in an Inter-League match atWhite Hart Lane, London on 5 November 1930.[31][32]
As well as being an outstandingfootballer, Hodgson was also a talentedcricketer. He once took allten wickets in an innings for just 13 runs in an amateur match against Liverpool Police.[33][34] Seeing his obvious potential,Lancashire soon signed him up to play for them. An extremely quick right-armfast bowler and hard-hitting lower order right-hand batsman, Hodgson played 56 first-class matches for the Red Rose county from 1928 to 1933, scoring 244 runs at an average of 6.97 and taking 148 wickets at an average of 27.75. He also took 38 catches.[35][36] His highest score infirst-class cricket was 20 for Lancashire againstIndia atAigburth in 1932.[37] His best bowling figures in first-class cricket were 6–77 for Lancashire againstMiddlesex atLord's in 1932.[38] Hodgson twice helped Lancashire to win theCounty Championship, in 1928 and 1930, although his football career took priority, as he didn't play a single game of cricket in April or September (and only one Second XI match in August) throughout his time atOld Trafford.[39][40]
After the war, Hodgson went into management, taking over the reins atThird Division South clubPort Vale in October 1946. He wasmanager when the club moved fromthe Old Recreation Ground to their new home ofVale Park in 1950.[5] Unfortunately, most of the money the club raised went towards the new ground, leaving Hodgson unable to spend money in thetransfer market.[41] This included the £12,000 he got for right-halfBill McGarry, and the £20,000 he got from the sale of strikerRonnie Allen.[42] Hodgson managed Port Vale in 222 matches, winning 84, drawing 54 and losing 84.[43] He was greatly respected both for his pre-war sporting career and also for encouraging young footballers inNorth Staffordshire. He had a reputation for having the ability to spot talented players and was not afraid to blood them in the league, and was also a good motivator.[44] He applied for the vacant management position atEverton in September 1948.[3]
Following the resignation ofLiverpool managerGeorge Kay in January 1951 for health reasons, Hodgson was among the hopefuls who were interviewed for the manager's job atAnfield.Don Welsh was eventually appointed, while Hodgson was admitted to hospital a couple of months later, but his "throat complaint" was deemed inoperable. He returned to his home inBurslem after a month in hospital. A few days later, with a promising managerial career still in its infancy, he died of cancer on 14 June 1951, at the age of 47.[5] Port Vale legendRoy Sproson had Hodgson as his first boss: "Gordon Hodgson was a fair chap. He would give you a rollicking one minute and then it would be forgotten. Everybody liked him and his loss was so sad." His benefit match was held against Port Vale's local rivalsStoke City on 1 October 1951; Vale lost the game 2–1. £383 was raised for his dependants.[45]
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Liverpool | 1925–26 | First Division | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| 1926–27 | First Division | 36 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 18 | |
| 1927–28 | First Division | 32 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 23 | |
| 1928–29 | First Division | 38 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 32 | |
| 1929–30 | First Division | 36 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 14 | |
| 1930–31 | First Division | 40 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 36 | |
| 1931–32 | First Division | 39 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 27 | |
| 1932–33 | First Division | 37 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 24 | |
| 1933–34 | First Division | 37 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 25 | |
| 1934–35 | First Division | 34 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 29 | |
| 1935–36 | First Division | 17 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 9 | |
| Total | 358 | 233 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 378 | 241 | ||
| Aston Villa | 1935–36 | First Division | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| 1936–37 | Second Division | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | |
| Total | 28 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 11 | ||
| Leeds United | 1936–37 | First Division | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| 1937–38 | First Division | 36 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 26 | |
| 1938–39 | First Division | 32 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 21 | |
| 1939–40 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 81 | 51 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 86 | 53 | ||
| Career total | 467 | 295 | 23 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 492 | 305 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 1924 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
| England[47] | 1930 | 2 | 1 |
| 1931 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 1 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Port Vale[48] | 1 October 1946 | 14 June 1951 | 222 | 84 | 54 | 84 | 037.8 |
| Total | 222 | 84 | 54 | 84 | 037.8 | ||
England
