View source for Gordon Hodgson

{{Short description|Footballer, football manager (1904–1951)}}
{{distinguish|Gordon Hodgson (footballer, born 1952)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use South African English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Gordon Hodgson
| image          = Gordon Hodgson.jpg
| caption        = Hodgson in the 1932–33 season<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/SquadPicture/63 |title=Squad picture for the 1932-1933 season - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC! |publisher=LFChistory.net |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>
| full_name      =
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1904|4|16|df=y}}<ref name="Aston Villa profile"/>
| birth_place    = [[Benoni, Gauteng|Benoni]], [[Transvaal Colony]]<ref name="Aston Villa profile"/><ref name="efo">{{cite web |title=England Players - Gordon Hodgson |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersH/BioHodgsonG.html |website=www.englandfootballonline.com |access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
| death_date     = {{death date and age|1951|6|14|1904|4|16|df=y}}<ref name="Aston Villa profile"/>
| death_place    = [[Stoke-on-Trent]], England<ref name="Aston Villa profile"/>
| height         = {{convert|1.87|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doingthe92.co.uk/cards/display_player_cards.asp?step=60&ID=1&pid=46747&ptag= |title=DT92 Card Museum ~ Gordon Hodgson |publisher=Doingthe92.co.uk |access-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115071754/http://www.doingthe92.co.uk/cards/display_player_cards.asp?step=60&ID=1&pid=46747&ptag= |archive-date=15 January 2016}}</ref>
| position       = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1    = 1919–1921| youthclubs1 = Benoni
| youthyears2    = 1921–1922| youthclubs2 = Rustenburg
| youthyears3    = 1922–1924| youthclubs3 = Pretoria
| youthyears4    = 1924–1925| youthclubs4 = Transvaal
| years1         = 1925–1936| clubs1 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]        | caps1 = 358| goals1 = 233
| years2         = 1936–1937| clubs2 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]    | caps2 =  28| goals2 =  11
| years3         = 1937–1939| clubs3 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]  | caps3 =  81| goals3 =  51
| totalcaps      = 467| totalgoals = 295
| nationalyears1 = 1924     | nationalteam1 = [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]]| nationalcaps1  = 2| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1930–1931| nationalteam2 = [[England national football team|England]]          | nationalcaps2  = 3| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 =          | nationalteam3 = [[English Football League|The Football League]]     | nationalcaps3  = 2| nationalgoals3 = 0
| manageryears1  = 1946–1951| managerclubs1 = [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
}}

'''Gordon Hodgson''' (16 April 1904 – 14 June 1951) was a professional sportsman, born in Transvaal Colony, who is best known as a [[Forward (association football)|striker]] for [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and as a [[Pace bowling|fast bowler]] for [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]]. He won two international [[cap (sport)|caps]] for [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] and three for [[England national football team|England]].<ref name="lfch" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/double-caps.html |title=Players Appearing for Two or More Countries |access-date=30 June 2014 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803173844/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/double-caps.html |archive-date=3 August 2008}}</ref>

Hodgson signed for [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] on 14 December 1925, going on to score 241 goals in 377 appearances for the [[Anfield]] club.<ref name="lfch" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/history/past-players/gordon-hodgson |title=Gordon Hodgson |publisher=Liverpoolfc.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> He [[Transfer (association football)|transfer]]red to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] on 8 January 1936 and scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for the [[Aston Villa F.C.|Villans]],<ref name="Aston Villa profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/648.html |title=Aston Villa Player Database |publisher=Astonvillaplayerdatabase.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> before joining [[Leeds United F.C.|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 [[English Football League|Football League]], with the other ten coming in the [[FA Cup]] from 23 appearances.

He was appointed [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] in 1946, a position he would hold until he died in 1951.

==Early and personal life==
Gordon Hodgson was born on 16 April 1904 in [[Benoni, Gauteng|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|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.<ref>Register of Entry of Marriage Leeds District D2 771128</ref>

==Football career==

===Club career===
Hodgson played football in South Africa with Benoni (1919–21), Rustenburg (1921–22), Pretoria (1922–24), and then Transvaal (1924–25).<ref name="efo">{{cite web |title=England Players - Gordon Hodgson |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersH/BioHodgsonG.html |website=www.englandfootballonline.com |access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref> He scored a [[hat-trick]] against [[Liverpool F.C.|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liverpool career stats for Gordon Hodgson - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC! |url=https://www.lfchistory.net/players/player/profile/669 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=www.lfchistory.net}}</ref> During his time in South Africa he worked as a [[boilermaker]].<ref name="efo"/>

====Liverpool====
Hodgson had a reputation early in his career as an unselfish [[Forward (association football)|forward]] who excelled in link-up play, but that didn't stop him from going on to become one of Liverpool and indeed the [[English Football League|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 [[Shooting (association football)|shot]] with either foot, which allied to his height, [[Header (association football)|heading]] ability, pace, close-control, enthusiasm and a noted talent for [[Shooting (association football)|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.<ref name="lfch" />  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 [[List of English football first tier top scorers|all-time list of top-flight goalscorers in English football]] with only [[Jimmy Greaves]] (357), [[Steve Bloomer]] (314) and [[Dixie Dean]] (310) having scored more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Top_Flight_Highest_Goalscorers.html |title=English Football Top Flight Highest Goalscorers 1888-9 to 2013-14 |publisher=Myfootballfacts.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> 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 F.C.|Manchester City]] at [[Maine Road]] on 27 February 1926.<ref name="lfch" />  He opened his goal-scoring account eleven days later when he scored twice in a 3–3 draw against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford]] on 10 March 1926.<ref name="lfch" />  He scored the first of a still club record 17 league [[hat-trick]]s for Liverpool in a 5–1 win against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] at Anfield on 11 September 1926 in his 17th game.<ref name="lfch" />

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 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.<ref name="lfch" />  Hodgson scored three hat-tricks that season at Anfield, but perhaps it was the four goals he scored in an away match at [[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]] that gave him the most satisfaction of all.<ref name="lfch" />  He was the top scorer in seven out of the nine full seasons he played for Liverpool.<ref name="lfch" />  On completion of his ten years of service, he was honoured by the club with a benefit sum of £650.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/100-pwstk-no-54-gordon-hodgson |title=100 PWSTK - No.54: Gordon Hodgson |publisher=Liverpoolfc.com |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403103337/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/100-pwstk-no-54-gordon-hodgson |archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref name="lfch" />  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 F.C.|Aston Villa]]  for £4,000.<ref>[http://www.lfchistory.net/Transfers/ByManager/5-0]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301114441/http://www.lfchistory.net/Transfers/ByManager/5-0|date=1 March 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.lfchistory.net/Transfers/BySeason/66]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301114243/http://www.lfchistory.net/Transfers/BySeason/66|date=1 March 2014}}</ref> In total Hodgson scored 241 goals in 377 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions,<ref name="lfch" /> earning him a place in the Liverpool FC Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/history/hall-of-fame |title=Hall of Fame |publisher=Liverpoolfc.com |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430050151/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/history/hall-of-fame |archive-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Stats/PlayerGoalscorers |title=All time top goalscorers - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC! |publisher=LFChistory.net |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/have-you-seen/top-10-lfc-goalscorers-3 |title=Top 10 LFC goalscorers: 3 |publisher=Liverpoolfc.com |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403103340/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/have-you-seen/top-10-lfc-goalscorers-3 |archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>

====Aston Villa====
Hodgson made his debut for Aston Villa in a 3–0 defeat against [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] at [[Deepdale]] on 18 January 1936.<ref name="11v11.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/gordon-hodgson-45721/team/aston-villa/#clubmatches |title=Gordon Hodgson |publisher=11v11.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> His first goal for Villa came in a 4–3 defeat against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] at [[Burnden Park]] on 15 February 1936.<ref name="11v11.com"/> He was [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] 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 the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] was short. He left for [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] for £1,500 on 2 March 1937,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kjellhanssen.com/1937/03/02/gordon-hodgson-for-leeds-united/ |title=Gordon Hodgson for Leeds United &#124; Kjell Hanssen, football historian |publisher=Kjellhanssen.com |date=2 March 1937 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> after scoring seven goals in 13 appearances for Villa in the Second Division, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 win against [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] at [[Villa Park]] on 14 September 1936.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/aston-villa-v-bradford-city-14-september-1936-102329/ |title=Aston Villa v Bradford City, 14 September 1936 - 11v11 match report |publisher=11v11.com |date=14 September 1936 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> In total Hodgson scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for Villa, all of which were in the league.<ref name="Aston Villa profile"/>

====Leeds United====
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 rivals [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]  at [[Goodison Park]] on 3 March 1937.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/leeds_stats/leeds_united_player_details/H/HodgsonG_LUFC.php |title=Leeds United F.C. History |publisher=Ozwhitelufc.net.au |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> 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 at [[Elland 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.<ref name="lfch" />  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 of [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester 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 of [[World War II]].<ref>The three league games played in the 1939-40 season were expunged from Football League records as the season was abandoned due to World War II. The Association of Football Statisticians does not count them towards official player totals.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/leeds_stats/leeds_united_player_details/H/HodgsonG_WW2.php |title=Leeds United F.C. History |publisher=Ozwhitelufc.net.au |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> He also guested for [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepools United]] (one appearance, 1939–40) and [[York City F.C.|York City]] (five appearances, two goals, 1939–40).<ref name="ozwhitelufc1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/players_profiles/H/HodgsonG.php |title=Leeds United F.C. History |publisher=Ozwhitelufc.net.au |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> After hanging up his boots he helped to [[Coach (sport)|coach]] the youth players at Leeds from 1942 to October 1946.<ref name="ozwhitelufc1"/><ref name="Matthews, Tony 2006 p.115">Matthews, Tony (2006). Who's Who Of Liverpool. Mainstream Publishing. p.115. {{ISBN|1-84596-140-4}}</ref>

===International career===
Hodgson played twice at full international level for his native [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]], making his debut in a 2–1 win in a [[Exhibition game|friendly]] against [[Ireland national football team (1882–1950)|Ireland]] at [[Solitude (football ground)|Solitude]], [[Belfast]] on 24 September 1924,<ref name="lfch">{{cite web|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=669|title=Gordon Hodgson|work=lfchistory.net|access-date=2 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/ireland-v-south-africa-24-september-1924-266513/ |title=Ireland v South Africa, 24 September 1924 - 11v11 match report |publisher=11v11.com |date=24 September 1924 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> in what was also South Africa's first ever full international match.<ref>{{cite web|title=24/09/1924 v South Africa.|url=http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2006/08/disputed-internationals.html|work=Disputed internationals|publisher=Northern Ireland Football Greats|access-date=11 November 2013|date=8 August 2006}}</ref> His second and final international appearance for South Africa came against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in a 2–1 defeat in a friendly at het Nederlandsche Sportpark (het Oude Stadion), [[Amsterdam]] on 2 November 1924.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/netherlands-v-south-africa-02-november-1924-223492/ |title=Netherlands v South Africa, 02 November 1924 - 11v11 match report |publisher=11v11.com |date=2 November 1924 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> 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 against [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]; which is where they first noticed his talent and subsequently signed him the following year.<ref name="lfch"/>

Hodgson was also [[cap (sport)|capped]] three times at full international level by [[England national football team|England]], making his debut against Ireland, in a 5–1 win in a [[British Home Championship]], match at [[Bramall Lane]], [[Sheffield]] on 20 October 1930.<ref name="lfch"/><ref>[http://www.thefa.com/england/All-Teams/Players?p=334163] {{dead link|date=April 2015}}</ref><ref name="englandstats.com">{{Englandstats|ref=y|access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> His only goal for England came in his second appearance in a 4–0 win against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in a British Home Championship match at the [[Racecourse Ground]], [[Wrexham]] on 22 November 1930.<ref name="englandstats.com"/> Hodgson's third and final international appearance for England came against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] in a 2–0 defeat in a British Home Championship match at [[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]] on 28 March 1931.<ref name="englandstats.com"/> He also represented England against the Rest in a 3–2 win in an international trial match at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]], [[London]] on 4 March 1931<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-the-rest-04-march-1931-271925/ |title=England v THE REST, 04 March 1931 - 11v11 match report |publisher=11v11.com |date=4 March 1931 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> and the [[The Football League XI|Football League]] against the [[Scottish Football League XI|Scottish League]], scoring once in a 7–3 win in an Inter-League match at [[White Hart Lane]], London on 5 November 1930.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/gordon-hodgson-45721/team/football-league/#clubmatches |title=Gordon Hodgson |publisher=11v11.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/football-league-v-scottish-league-05-november-1930-271929/ |title=FOOTBALL LEAGUE v SCOTTISH LEAGUE, 05 November 1930 - 11v11 match report |publisher=11v11.com |date=5 November 1930 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

==Cricket career==
As well as being an outstanding [[Association football|footballer]], Hodgson was also a talented [[cricket]]er. He once took all [[Ten-wicket haul|ten wickets]] in an innings for just 13 runs in an amateur match against Liverpool Police.<ref name="Anderson, Jeff 2003 p.100">Anderson, Jeff; Done, Stephen (2003).The Official Liverpool FC Illustrated Encyclopedia. Carlton Books. p.100. {{ISBN|1-84222-950-8}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gordon |first=David |url=http://www.cricketscotland.com/news/article/way-we-were-david-gordon/ |title=The Way We Were |publisher=Cricketscotland.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> Seeing his obvious potential, [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]] soon signed him up to play for them. An extremely quick right-arm [[Fast bowling|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/14876.html|title=  Gordon Hodgson|work=cricinfo.com|access-date=2 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/30/30301/30301.html |title=The Home of CricketArchive |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> His highest score in [[first-class cricket]] was 20 for Lancashire against [[India national cricket team|India]] at [[Aigburth Cricket Ground, Liverpool|Aigburth]] in 1932.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/14/14279.html |title=The Home of CricketArchive |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |date=14 June 1932 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> His best bowling figures in first-class cricket were 6–77 for Lancashire against [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] at [[Lord's]] in 1932.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/14/14260.html |title=The Home of CricketArchive |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |date=7 June 1932 |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> 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 Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/30/30301/First-Class_Matches.html |title=The Home of CricketArchive |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/30/30301/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html |title=The Home of CricketArchive |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

==Football management career==
===Port Vale===
After the war, Hodgson went into management, taking over the reins at [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] club [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] in October 1946. He was [[Manager (association football)|manager]] when the club moved from the [[Old Recreation Ground]] to their new home of [[Vale Park]] in 1950.<ref name="lfch" /> Unfortunately, most of the money the club raised went towards the new ground, leaving Hodgson unable to spend money in the [[Transfer (association football)|transfer]] market.<ref name="if">''What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories!'' (Witan Books, 2011, {{ISBN|978-0-9529152-8-7}})</ref> 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]].<ref name="Kent">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Personalities|publisher=Witan Books|page=138|year=1996|isbn=0-9529152-0-0}}</ref> Hodgson managed Port Vale in 222 matches, winning 84, drawing 54 and losing 84.<ref>{{Soccerbase manager|543|Gordon Hodgson}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories|publisher=Witan Books|date=December 1991|page=169|isbn=0-9508981-6-3}}</ref> He applied for the vacant management position at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in September 1948.<ref name="efo"/>

===Final years and death===
Following the resignation of [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] manager [[George Kay (footballer)|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.<ref name="lfch"/>  Port Vale legend [[Roy 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 rivals [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] on 1 October 1951; Vale lost the game 2–1. £383 was raised for his dependants.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Potteries Derbies|publisher=Witan Books|page=153|date=November 1998|isbn=0-9529152-3-5}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|FA Cup
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|[[1925–26 Liverpool F.C. season|1925–26]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|12||4||0||0||0||0||12||4
|-
|[[1926–27 Liverpool F.C. season|1926–27]]
|First Division
|36||16||4||2||0||0||40||18
|-
|[[1927–28 Liverpool F.C. season|1927–28]]
|First Division
|32||23||0||0||0||0||32||23
|-
|[[1928–29 Liverpool F.C. season|1928–29]]
|First Division
|38||30||3||2||0||0||41||32
|-
|[[1929–30 Liverpool F.C. season|1929–30]]
|First Division
|36||14||1||0||0||0||37||14
|-
|[[1930–31 Liverpool F.C. season|1930–31]]
|First Division
|40||36||1||0||0||0||41||36
|-
|[[1931–32 Liverpool F.C. season|1931–32]]
|First Division
|39||26||4||1||0||0||43||27
|-
|[[1932–33 Liverpool F.C. season|1932–33]]
|First Division
|37||24||1||0||0||0||39||24
|-
|[[1933–34 Liverpool F.C. season|1933–34]]
|First Division
|37||24||3||1||0||0||40||25
|-
|[[1934–35 Liverpool F.C. season|1934–35]]
|First Division
|34||27||2||2||0||0||36||29
|-
|[[1935–36 Liverpool F.C. season|1935–36]]
|First Division
|17||9||0||0||0||0||17||9
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!358!!233!!19!!8!!0!!0!!378!!241
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
|[[1935–36 Aston Villa F.C. season|1935–36]]
|First Division
|15||4||0||0||0||0||15||4
|-
|[[1936–37 Aston Villa F.C. season|1936–37]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|13||7||0||0||0||0||13||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!28!!11!!0!!0!!0!!0!!28!!11
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
|[[1936–37 Leeds United F.C. season|1936–37]]
|First Division
|13||6||0||0||0||0||13||6
|-
|[[1937–38 Leeds United F.C. season|1937–38]]
|First Division
|36||25||2||1||0||0||38||26
|-
|[[1938–39 Leeds United F.C. season|1938–39]]
|First Division
|32||20||2||1||0||0||34||21
|-
|[[1939–40 Leeds United F.C. season|1939–40]]
|First Division
|0||0||0||0||1{{efn|Appearance in the Football League First Division. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Football League was suspended and matches up to that point struck from the records.}}||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!81!!51!!4!!2!!1!!0!!86!!53
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!467!!295!!23!!10!!1!!0!!492!!305
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[South Africa national football team|South Africa]]
|1924||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!2!!0
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[England national football team|England]]<ref>{{NFT player|33200|accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref>
|1930||2||1
|-
|1931||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!3!!1
|}

===Managerial===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]<ref>{{Soccerbase manager|543}}</ref>
|align=left|1 October 1946
|align=left|14 June 1951
{{WDL|222|84|54|84|decimals=1}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|222|84|54|84|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==
'''England'''
*[[British Home Championship]]: [[1930–31 British Home Championship|1930–31]] (shared)<ref name="efo"/>

==See also==
* [[List of English football first tier top scorers]]
* [[List of England international footballers born outside England]]
* [[List of English cricket and football players]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/gordon-hodgson Liverpool FC - Player Profile]
* [https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/188.html Leeds United Player Profile]

{{Liverpool F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Port Vale F.C. managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodgson, Gordon}}
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1951 deaths]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Gauteng]]
[[Category:English cricketers]]
[[Category:Lancashire cricketers]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Dual internationalists (men's football)]]
[[Category:White South African people]]
[[Category:South African men's soccer players]]
[[Category:South Africa men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:South African emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:York City F.C. wartime guest players]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League representative players]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:Port Vale F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:Association football coaches]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:20th-century South African sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]