Martin Hodge
Encyclopedia
Martin Hodge is an English
former professional football player. He played as a goalkeeper
for Plymouth Argyle
, Everton
, Sheffield Wednesday
, Leicester City
, Hartlepool United
and Rochdale
. His career lasted from 1977 to 1996 during which time he played 602 league and cup matches.
, Merseyside
on 4 February 1959. He was spotted by Plymouth Argyle while playing for the amateur team Southport Trinity and was given a trial by the Devon Club. He signed as an apprentice for Argyle, and graduated through their youth scheme to make his debut during the 1977–78 season. He signed as a professional in February 1977, as he turned 18 years old. He played five times during 1977–78 and then forced his way into the first team to be the regular goalkeeper for 1978–79. Argyle had a pretty average season in Division Three that year but Hodge’s form caught the eye of Everton and he signed for them in July 1979 for a fee of £135,000. The 20-year-old Hodge had been signed by Everton as second choice keeper to George Wood, however Hodge forced his way into the first team in November 1979 with his good early form and played 23 league matches that season plus an FA Cup semi-final against West Ham United
. After that first season Hodge’s opportunities were limited by the arrival of Neville Southall
and he had spells on loan at Preston North End
, Oldham Athletic
and Gillingham
before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1983 in a £50,000 deal.
Hodge was a typical signing by the then Wednesday manager Howard Wilkinson
in that he was a player who had shown early promise but had lost his way somewhat. Hodge was not expected to be first choice for Wednesday for the 1983-84 season with Iain Hesford expected to be number one goalkeeper. However a combination of Hodge’s good pre season form and Hesford’ weight problems ensured that Hodge played the opening match of the season against Swansea City
and never looked back. His time at Sheffield Wednesday was excellent he played 214 consecutive League and Cup matches, a club record beating Mark Hooper
’s previous record of 189 and was part of the Wednesday side which gained promotion back to Division One in 1983–84 and then had several good seasons on their return to the top flight.
In total Hodge played 246 times for Wednesday and kept 60 clean sheets before leaving for Leicester City in March 1988, he is remembered at Hillsborough as a fine goalkeeper. Hodge was part of an unusual and rare incident on 25 October 1986 when during the Sheffield Wednesday v Coventry City
match, City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic
scored a freak goal directly from a kick out of his hand with the help of a following wind. This was an embarrassing incident for Hodge and one that he was continually reminded of by fans for many years. Hodge’s excellent form at Wednesday made him a favourite to make the England squad for the 1986 World Cup
in Mexico
, however Hodge missed out at the last minute when Gary Bailey
recovered from injury. Hodge has said that this was the biggest disappointment of his career.
Hodge’s £250,000 move to Leicester was not a great success, as he tore a stomach muscle in his first match and was out injured for several months. He made 80 appearances in three years before moving to Hartlepool in the summer of 1991, where he stayed for two years before joining Rochdale for a season. In the summer of 1994 he moved back to his first club Plymouth, where he played for two seasons and was also involved in coaching the youth team before retiring from professional football in May 1996.
In the summer of 1996 Martin Hodge returned to Sheffield Wednesday as goalkeeping coach. He later also took charge of the reserve team before being released by the club in July 2004, when he moved to Leeds United
to be their goalkeeping coach. With the advent of new Leeds manager Dennis Wise
in October 2006, Martin Hodge was relieved of his duties as goalkeeping coach and left the club. He currently works in a scouting role for Watford
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football player. He played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, 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...
, 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...
, Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
and Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. His career lasted from 1977 to 1996 during which time he played 602 league and cup matches.
Football career
Hodge was born in SouthportSouthport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
on 4 February 1959. He was spotted by Plymouth Argyle while playing for the amateur team Southport Trinity and was given a trial by the Devon Club. He signed as an apprentice for Argyle, and graduated through their youth scheme to make his debut during the 1977–78 season. He signed as a professional in February 1977, as he turned 18 years old. He played five times during 1977–78 and then forced his way into the first team to be the regular goalkeeper for 1978–79. Argyle had a pretty average season in Division Three that year but Hodge’s form caught the eye of Everton and he signed for them in July 1979 for a fee of £135,000. The 20-year-old Hodge had been signed by Everton as second choice keeper to George Wood, however Hodge forced his way into the first team in November 1979 with his good early form and played 23 league matches that season plus an FA Cup semi-final against West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. After that first season Hodge’s opportunities were limited by the arrival of Neville Southall
Neville Southall
Neville Southall MBE is a former Wales international footballer, best known for his time with Everton. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985...
and he had spells on loan at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1983 in a £50,000 deal.
Hodge was a typical signing by the then Wednesday manager Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson is a former English football player and manager, and has recently stepped down as a Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Wednesday after formerly relinquishing the chairman role to Milan Mandaric...
in that he was a player who had shown early promise but had lost his way somewhat. Hodge was not expected to be first choice for Wednesday for the 1983-84 season with Iain Hesford expected to be number one goalkeeper. However a combination of Hodge’s good pre season form and Hesford’ weight problems ensured that Hodge played the opening match of the season against Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
and never looked back. His time at Sheffield Wednesday was excellent he played 214 consecutive League and Cup matches, a club record beating Mark Hooper
Mark Hooper
Mark Hooper was a professional footballer who played for Darlington F.C., Sheffield Wednesday F.C. and briefly with Rotherham United in a 16 year career which lasted from 1923 to 1939 although he appeared in 1945 in a few games after World War II . In total he played 500 League games in that time,...
’s previous record of 189 and was part of the Wednesday side which gained promotion back to Division One in 1983–84 and then had several good seasons on their return to the top flight.
In total Hodge played 246 times for Wednesday and kept 60 clean sheets before leaving for Leicester City in March 1988, he is remembered at Hillsborough as a fine goalkeeper. Hodge was part of an unusual and rare incident on 25 October 1986 when during the Sheffield Wednesday v 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...
match, City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic
Steve Ogrizovic
Steven "Oggy" Ogrizovic is a former English goalkeeper who achieved fame during 16 years at Coventry City...
scored a freak goal directly from a kick out of his hand with the help of a following wind. This was an embarrassing incident for Hodge and one that he was continually reminded of by fans for many years. Hodge’s excellent form at Wednesday made him a favourite to make the England squad for the 1986 World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, however Hodge missed out at the last minute when Gary Bailey
Gary Bailey
Gary Richard Bailey is a former footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. He was capped twice for England....
recovered from injury. Hodge has said that this was the biggest disappointment of his career.
Hodge’s £250,000 move to Leicester was not a great success, as he tore a stomach muscle in his first match and was out injured for several months. He made 80 appearances in three years before moving to Hartlepool in the summer of 1991, where he stayed for two years before joining Rochdale for a season. In the summer of 1994 he moved back to his first club Plymouth, where he played for two seasons and was also involved in coaching the youth team before retiring from professional football in May 1996.
In the summer of 1996 Martin Hodge returned to Sheffield Wednesday as goalkeeping coach. He later also took charge of the reserve team before being released by the club in July 2004, when he moved to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
to be their goalkeeping coach. With the advent of new Leeds manager Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
in October 2006, Martin Hodge was relieved of his duties as goalkeeping coach and left the club. He currently works in a scouting role for 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...
.