Gordon Hodgson

Gordon Hodgson (16 April 1904 – 14 June 1951) was a professional sportsman, born in South Africa, who is best known as a striker for Liverpool and as a fast bowler for Lancashire. He won two international caps for South Africa and three for England.[3][4]

Hodgson signed for Liverpool on 14 December 1925, going on to score 241 goals in 377 appearances for the Anfield club.[3][5] He transferred to Aston Villa on 8 January 1936 and scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for the Villans,[6] before joining Leeds United in March 1937, scoring 53 goals in 85 appearances for the Elland Road club. In total Hodgson scored 305 goals in 490 appearances for his three English clubs, 295 of which came in 467 games in the Football League with the other ten coming in the FA Cup from 23 appearances.

He was appointed Port Vale manager in 1946, a position he would hold until his death in 1951.

A burly six-footer from South Africa, Hodgson had a reputation early in his career as an unselfish forward who excelled in link-up play but that didn't stop him 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.[3] 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 (317) and Dixie Dean (310) having scored more.[7] 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 at Anfield. He joined Liverpool a year later on 14 December 1925, making his debut in a 1–1 draw against Manchester City at Maine Road on 27 February 1926.[3] He opened his goal scoring account eleven days later when he scored twice in a 3–3 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 10 March 1926.[3] He scored the first of a still club record 17 hat-tricks for Liverpool in a 5–1 win against Sheffield United at Anfield on 11 September 1926 in his seventeenth game.[3]

During his Anfield career Hodgson missed very few games in 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 beat Sam 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.[3] Hodgson scored three hat-tricks that season at Anfield but perhaps it was the four goals he scored in an away match at Hillsborough that gave him the most satisfaction of all.[3] He was top scorer in seven out of the nine full seasons he played for Liverpool.[3] On completion of his ten years service he was honoured by the club with a benefit sum of £650.[8] 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.[3] 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 to Aston Villa for £4,000.[9][10] In total Hodgson scored 241 goals in 377 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions,[3] earning him a place in the Liverpool FC Hall of Fame[11] and leaving him third in the all-time list of leading goalscorers for the Anfield club with only Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285) having scored more.[12][13]