32 Facts About Gordon Hodgson

Gordon Hodgson was a professional sportsman, born in Transvaal Colony, who is best known as a striker for Liverpool and as a fast bowler for Lancashire.

Gordon Hodgson won two international caps for South Africa and three for England.

Gordon Hodgson transferred to Aston Villa on 8 January 1936 and scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for the Villans, before joining Leeds United in March 1937, scoring 53 goals in 85 appearances for the Elland Road club.

In total, Gordon 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.

Gordon Hodgson was appointed Port Vale manager in 1946, a position he would hold until he died in 1951.

Gordon Hodgson was born on 16 April 1904 in Benoni, Transvaal Colony to English parents.

Gordon Hodgson then met Alice Shepherd and they were married on 26 October 1940 at Hunslet Parish Church.

Gordon Hodgson played football in South Africa with Benoni, Rustenburg, Pretoria, and then Transvaal.

Gordon Hodgson 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.

Gordon 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, Gordon 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.

In total Gordon 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, Steve Bloomer and Dixie Dean having scored more.

Gordon 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.

Gordon Hodgson was the top scorer in seven out of the nine full seasons he played for Liverpool.

In total Gordon Hodgson scored 241 goals in 377 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, earning him a place in the Liverpool FC Hall of Fame and leaving him third in the all-time list of leading goalscorers for the Anfield club with only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt having scored more.

Gordon Hodgson's stay with Villa in the Second Division was short.

In total Gordon Hodgson scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for Villa, all of which were in the league.

Gordon Hodgson's 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.

Gordon Hodgson was top scorer for Leeds in both of his two full seasons at Elland Road.

Gordon Hodgson guested for Hartlepools United and York City.

Gordon Hodgson played and scored in several unofficial international matches for South Africa against British, Dutch, and Irish club sides during a 1924 tour, including appearances against Wimbledon and Liverpool; which is where they first noticed his talent and subsequently signed him the following year.

Gordon Hodgson once took all ten wickets in an innings for just 13 runs in an amateur match against Liverpool Police.

An extremely quick right-arm fast bowler and hard-hitting lower order right-hand batsman, Gordon 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.

Gordon 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 throughout his time at Old Trafford.

Gordon Hodgson was manager when the club moved from the Old Recreation Ground to their new home of Vale Park in 1950.

Gordon Hodgson managed Port Vale in 222 matches, winning 84, drawing 54 and losing 84.

Gordon Hodgson was greatly respected both for his pre-war sporting career and for encouraging young footballers in North Staffordshire.

Gordon Hodgson had a reputation for having the ability to spot talented players and was not afraid to blood them in the league, and was a good motivator.

Gordon Hodgson applied for the vacant management position at Everton in September 1948.

Don Welsh was eventually appointed, while Gordon Hodgson was admitted to hospital a couple of months later, but his "throat complaint" was deemed inoperable.

Gordon Hodgson returned to his home in Burslem after a month in hospital.

Gordon Hodgson would give you a rollicking one minute and then it would be forgotten.