Gordon Hodgson
Inside Right (1926-1936)
Date of Birth: 16-04-1904
Birthplace: Johannesburg .
Debut : 27th February 1926 v Manchester City (a) Football League Division One: Drew 1-1
1st team games: 378
1st team goals: 240
Other clubs: Transvaal FC (South Africa), Aston Villa, Leeds United, Port Vale (manager)
National Team: England (1930 - 1931) 3 caps/1 goal, South Africa (1924) 1 cap/0 goals
During an era when Liverpool often found themselves cast in the shadow of their near neighbours from across the park South African inside forward Gordon Hodgson was one of the few shining lights for the Reds.
Liverpool's answer to Everton legend Dixie Dean, Hodgson was a prolific marksman whose achievements in front of goal set new records at Anfield.
Born in South Africa to English parents Hodgson was spotted by Liverpool officials when visiting England with a touring South African side in the early 1920's.
He was signed up in December 1925, along with compatriots Arthur Riley and James Gray, and quickly set about re-writing the club's goalscoring records.
In 1930/31 he set a new Reds record of 36 league goals in a season and it was a feat not surpassed until the emergence of Roger Hunt in the sixties. His record of 17 Liverpool hat-tricks, however, is yet to be broken
A fine all-round sportsman, who won three caps for England, Hodgson also played first-class cricket for Lancashire while at Anfield and also excelled at baseball.
In January 1936 he was transferred to Aston Villa for £3,000 before finishing his career with Leeds United. In the aftermath of the Second World War Hodgson became manager of Port Vale but died prematurely, aged just 47, in June 1951.
Honours with Liverpool: None
Gordon Hodgson