Jack Hodge

John Hodge (1906 – March 1996) was an English professional footballer who played as an outside right in the Football League for Bristol City and Luton Town. He played in his hometown of Plymouth for a number of local amateur clubs, joining Plymouth Argyle briefly but failing to make any first-team appearances. He also represented Southern League club Colchester United, featuring in their first-ever match.

For other people named John Hodge, see John Hodge (disambiguation).

Jack Hodge
Personal information
Full name John Hodge[1]
Date of birth 1906[2]
Place of birth Plymouth, England
Date of death (aged 90)
Place of death Plymouth, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Outside right
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Truro City
Green Waves
Halls Engineers
Pearn Bros
St Austell
1933–1934 Plymouth Argyle 0 (0)
1934–1935 Bristol City 62 (8)
1935–1937 Luton Town 20 (1)
1937–1939 Colchester United 72 (26)
1939 Hereford United
Devonport Dockyard
Royal Naval Torpedo Depot
Plymouth City
Plymouth United
1945–1946 Plymouth Argyle (guest)
Torquay United (guest)
Total 154 (35)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Plymouth, Devon, Hodge[1] began his footballing career as an outside-right for local amateur sides, including Truro City, Greenwaves, Halls Engineers, Pearn Bros and St Austell prior to signing for his hometown Football League club Plymouth Argyle.[3] Joining for the 1933–34 season, Hodge failed to make a first-team appearance for the Second Division outfit, as he moved to Bristol City for the 1934–35 season.

Hodge's move to Bristol City saw him rack up eight goals in 62 Third Division South appearances.[1] During his stint with the Robins, he scored in an FA Cup giant killing, when City defeated First Division Portsmouth 2–0 in a fourth round replay match held on 30 January 1935. Hodge scored in the 86th minute to secure the victory.[4]

An £800 bid from Luton Town saw Hodge move to Kenilworth Road in 1935, and despite a large offer from Arsenal in the same year, Hodge remained with the Hatters. He proved instrumental in Luton's 1936–37 title win, providing numerous assists for Joe Payne. At the end of the season, further offers followed from Newcastle United and Crystal Palace. Luton rejected these advances, despite the player refusing to re-sign for the club. Manager of the newly formed Colchester United, Ted Davis, stepped in to sign the player after a deal to move to Newcastle hit a snag.[1]

Hodge made his Colchester United debut in their first-ever professional match as they fell to a 3–0 defeat to Yeovil & Petters United at the Huish on 28 August 1937.[5] He scored the first of his 41 goals for the club in a Southern League Mid-Week section match against Bath City just five days later as Colchester triumphed 6–1 at Layer Road, their first recorded victory.[6] Alongside his 41 goals in all competitions, Hodge made 112 appearances for the U's,[2] and became the first player to reach 100 appearances for the club.[1] While with Colchester, Hodge earned more silverware, winning the Southern League Cup in 1938 and winning the Southern League title in 1939.[2]

After taking a dislike to Colchester's training regime, Hodge was released at the end of the 1938–39 season, opting to move to Hereford United.[1] When the Second World War was declared in September 1939, he returned to Plymouth to work at Devonport Dockyard, representing the Dockyard team. He also represented to Royal Naval Torpedo Depot, Plymouth City and Plymouth United. He finally had his chance to represent Plymouth Argyle when he registered with the Football League in November 1945 to play as a guest for the club. He made three appearances, but the club failed to win any of these games. He played his last game for the club on 9 January 1946, before making one final guest appearance for Torquay United later in the same season.[3]

Death

Hodge died in Plymouth at the age of 90 in March 1996.[2]

Honours
Luton Town
Colchester United
  • 1937–38 Southern League Cup winner
  • 1937–38 Southern Football League Mid-Week section runner-up
  • 1938–39 Southern Football League winner
  • 1938–39 Southern Football League Mid-Week section runner-up
All honours referenced by:[2][7][8][9]

References
  1. Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  2. "Jack Hodge". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  3. "Jack Hodge". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  4. "1935 Giant Killers". The Giant Killers. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  5. "Yeovil & Petters United 3–0 Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  6. "Colchester Utd 6–1 Bath City". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  7. "Division Three South Champions". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  8. "Southern League Cup". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  9. "Southern League". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
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