Gordon Hodgson

Club career

Hodgson played football in South Africa with Benoni (1919–21), Rustenburg (1921–22), Pretoria (1922–24), and then Transvaal (1924–25). He scored a hat-trick against Liverpool 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. During his time in South Africa he worked as a boilermaker.

Liverpool

Hodgson had a reputation early in his career as an unselfish forward who excelled in link-up play, but that didn't stop him from going on to become one of Liverpool and indeed the Football 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 terrific shot with either foot, which allied to his height, heading ability, pace, close-control, enthusiasm and a noted talent for shooting when going at top-speed made him a real force in attack. Only Roger 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. 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 the all-time list of top-flight goalscorers in English football with only Jimmy Greaves (357), Steve Bloomer (314) and Dixie Dean…

As well as being an outstanding footballer, Hodgson was also a talented cricketer. He once took all ten wickets in an innings for just 13 runs in an amateur match against Liverpool Police. Seeing his obvious potential, Lancashire soon signed him up to play for them. An extremely quick right-arm fast 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. His highest score in first-class cricket was 20 for Lancashire against India at Aigburth in 1932. His best bowling figures in first-class cricket were 6–77 for Lancashire against Middlesex at Lord's in 1932. Hodgson twice helped Lancashire to win the County 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 at Old Trafford. In 1935 and 1936, Hodgson was employed as professional for Forfarshire in Scotland. His second season at the club was cut short in August due to Aston Villa's request he return to Birmingham for pre-season training.

Port Vale

After the war, Hodgson went into management, taking over the reins at Third Division South club Port Vale in October 1946. He was manager when the club moved from the Old Recreation Ground to their new home of Vale Park in 1950. Unfortunately, most of the money the club raised went towards the new ground, leaving Hodgson unable to spend money in the transfer market. This included the £12,000 he got for right-half Bill McGarry, and the £20,000 he got from the sale of striker Ronnie Allen. Hodgson managed Port Vale in 222 matches, winning 84, drawing 54 and losing 84. He was greatly respected both for his pre-war sporting career and also for encouraging young footballers in north 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. He applied for the vacant management position at Everton in September 1948.

Final years and death

Following the resignation of Liverpool manager George Kay in January 1951 for health reasons, Hodgson was among the hopefuls who were interviewed for the manager's job at Anfield. 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 in Burslem 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.…

Gordon Hodgson was born on 16 April 1904 in Benoni, Transvaal Colony to English parents. He married Doris Huckell, on 23 November 1928 at West 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 in Beeston, 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.