Alan Hodgkinson
Encyclopedia
Alan Hodgkinson MBE
(born 16 August 1936 in Laughton Common
, England) is a former footballer
who played in the position of goalkeeper. At just over 5 in 9 in (1.75 m), Hodgkinson was on the small side for a goalkeeper, but made up for the lack of height by his good positional play.
from Worksop Town
on 1 August 1953, and made 675 first-team appearances (576 in the league
) for the Blades between 1953 and 1971, his first being a friendly game against Clyde
on 6 April 1954.
Hodgkinson made his league début in Division One
in a 2–1 away victory against Newcastle United on 28 August 1954 but despite showing his undoubted potential, the presence of number one goalkeeper, Ted Burgin
until 1957 and National Service
limited his opportunities for the first team.
However, the arrival of Joe Mercer
as manager established Hodgkinson's place as first-choice goalkeeper in the side behind the defensive line of Cec Coldwell
, Graham Shaw, Brian Richardson
, Joe Shaw
and Gerry Summers
. In 1966–67, he won the Sheffield United Supporters player of the year award. His brilliance and reliability made sure of his place until the signing of John Hope in 1971. His final appearance was, like his first, in a friendly, on 23 January 1971 against Chesterfield
.
Hodgkinson was also an England
International at full and under-23 levels, making his debut for both during the 1956–57 season. His first full England cap came against Scotland
in 1957 and he also played against Denmark
, and Republic of Ireland
(twice in World Cup qualifying games). He was in England's squad for the 1958 World Cup
in Sweden but did not feature in any of their games. Two years after his final cap, he returned to the England squad for the 1962 World Cup
in Chile as backup to Ron Springett
, but once again was not selected for any of the matches.
, Everton
, Manchester City
, Aston Villa
, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday
, Rushden & Diamonds
, Gillingham, Birmingham City
, and is credited with bringing Peter Schmeichel
to Manchester United
. Hodgkinson worked at United for seven years before becoming Scotland
national team goalkeeping coach where he tutored players such as Jim Leighton
and Neil Sullivan
and coaches Alex Penny
and Steve McVeigh. He also had a spell as a youth goalkeeping coach at Rangers
and Watford
. After a spell with Coventry City
, Hodgkinson moved to Oxford United
working with Jim Smith
, Billy Turley
and trialist Craig Johnson. Billy Turley
departed Oxford United
in 2010 but Hodgkinson remains and coaches Ryan Clarke
.
, alongside whom he played at Sheffield United.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 16 August 1936 in Laughton Common
Laughton-en-le-Morthen
Laughton-en-le-Morthen is a small dormitory village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham lying to the south of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, and its main attraction is the All Saints Church with its huge spire. It has a population of 1,185.- Origin :There are several...
, England) is a former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played in the position of goalkeeper. At just over 5 in 9 in (1.75 m), Hodgkinson was on the small side for a goalkeeper, but made up for the lack of height by his good positional play.
Football career
He signed for Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
from Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
on 1 August 1953, and made 675 first-team appearances (576 in the league
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
) for the Blades between 1953 and 1971, his first being a friendly game against Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
on 6 April 1954.
Hodgkinson made his league début in Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in a 2–1 away victory against Newcastle United on 28 August 1954 but despite showing his undoubted potential, the presence of number one goalkeeper, Ted Burgin
Ted Burgin
Edward "Ted" Burgin was a professional footballer who played 551 times in the Football League as a goalkeeper for Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers, Leeds United and Rochdale.-Career:...
until 1957 and National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
limited his opportunities for the first team.
However, the arrival of Joe Mercer
Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
as manager established Hodgkinson's place as first-choice goalkeeper in the side behind the defensive line of Cec Coldwell
Cec Coldwell
George Cecil Coldwell born January 12, 1929 in Dungworth, Stannington, Sheffield, England and died November 9, 2008 was a professional footballer who played for Sheffield United from 1951 to 1966...
, Graham Shaw, Brian Richardson
Brian Richardson
Brian Richardson was a professional footballer with Sheffield United, Swindon Town and Rochdale.Richardson signed for Sheffield United in 1954, aged 20, and stayed for 12 years, playing in 291 League matches...
, Joe Shaw
Joe Shaw (Sheffield United)
Joseph "Joe" Shaw was an English footballer who played for Sheffield United between 1945 and 1966. He also worked as a manager, being in charge of York City from 1967–1968 and Chesterfield from 1973-1976.-Football career:...
and Gerry Summers
Gerry Summers
Gerald Thomas Francis "Gerry" Summers was an English professional football player with West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Hull City and Walsall; he then went into football coaching with Oxford United, Gillingham, Derby County and Leicester City.Summers joined Sheffield United in May 1957, Joe...
. In 1966–67, he won the Sheffield United Supporters player of the year award. His brilliance and reliability made sure of his place until the signing of John Hope in 1971. His final appearance was, like his first, in a friendly, on 23 January 1971 against Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
.
Hodgkinson was also an England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
International at full and under-23 levels, making his debut for both during the 1956–57 season. His first full England cap came against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in 1957 and he also played against Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
, and Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
(twice in World Cup qualifying games). He was in England's squad for the 1958 World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
in Sweden but did not feature in any of their games. Two years after his final cap, he returned to the England squad for the 1962 World Cup
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
in Chile as backup to Ron Springett
Ron Springett
Ronald "Ron" Deryk George Springett was a football goalkeeper for Sheffield Wednesday, QPR and England.-Career:Springett made 33 appearances for England, then the most by any Sheffield Wednesday player. He held this record for 26 years. He made his England debut against Northern Ireland in 1959...
, but once again was not selected for any of the matches.
Coaching career
Hodgkinson moved on to professional coaching and has since worked at numerous clubs, including RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
, Gillingham, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, and is credited with bringing Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Hodgkinson worked at United for seven years before becoming Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
national team goalkeeping coach where he tutored players such as Jim Leighton
Jim Leighton
James "Jim" Leighton MBE is a Scottish former football goalkeeper. Among the clubs he played for are Aberdeen , Manchester United, Arsenal, Dundee and Hibernian.-Club:...
and Neil Sullivan
Neil Sullivan
Neil Sullivan is an English-born Scottish ex-international professional Association footballer. A goalkeeper, Sullivan currently plays for Doncaster Rovers after signing on a permanent basis from Leeds United at the end of the 2006–07 season, following two loan moves to Doncaster...
and coaches Alex Penny
Alex Penny
Alexander Penny is a former youth trainee footballer and is currently an academy coach with Southampton FC.-Playing career:...
and Steve McVeigh. He also had a spell as a youth goalkeeping coach at Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. After a spell with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, Hodgkinson moved to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
working with Jim Smith
Jim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
, Billy Turley
Billy Turley
William Lee "Billy" Turley is an English football goalkeeper who is currently playing at Southern League Premier Division side Brackley Town.- Career :...
and trialist Craig Johnson. Billy Turley
Billy Turley
William Lee "Billy" Turley is an English football goalkeeper who is currently playing at Southern League Premier Division side Brackley Town.- Career :...
departed Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
in 2010 but Hodgkinson remains and coaches Ryan Clarke
Ryan Clarke
Ryan James Clarke is an English footballer who plays for Oxford United as a goalkeeper. He previously trained with the England under-18 squad in La Manga.-Bristol Rovers:...
.
Managing career
Hodgkinson spent six years as assistant manager of Gillingham between 1975 and 1981, working as assistant to Gerry SummersGerry Summers
Gerald Thomas Francis "Gerry" Summers was an English professional football player with West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Hull City and Walsall; he then went into football coaching with Oxford United, Gillingham, Derby County and Leicester City.Summers joined Sheffield United in May 1957, Joe...
, alongside whom he played at Sheffield United.
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.
Sheffield United career
| Season | Division | League Apps | FA Cup Apps | FL Cup Apps | Other Apps | Total Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954–55 | One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 1955–56 | One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1956–57 | Two | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 1957–58 | Two | 36 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 42 |
| 1958–59 | Two | 42 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 50 |
| 1959–60 | Two | 39 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 46 |
| 1960–61 | Two | 41 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 49 |
| 1961–62 | One | 40 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 53 |
| 1962–63 | One | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 44 |
| 1963–64 | One | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 39 |
| 1964–65 | One | 40 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 46 |
| 1965–66 | One | 41 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 45 |
| 1966–67 | One | 42 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 54 |
| 1967–68 | One | 41 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 45 |
| 1968–69 | Two | 42 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 47 |
| 1969–70 | Two | 41 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 48 |
| 1970–71 | Two | 24 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 31 |
| Total | 576 | 52 | 24 | 23 | 675 | |