Hodgson: John Percival (John)

1943-1948 (Player Details) (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Dawdon, Co. Durham: 10-05-1922

Debut: v Middlesbrough (h): 05-01-1946

5’11 1/2” 11st 8lb (1946)

During the War-time football Leeds United had some fine goalkeepers and Hodgson proved to be among the safest. He was signed from North-East club Murton Colliery in November 1943 and despite being on the end of an 8-1 away defeat at York City on 26th February 1944, in his first match after signing for Leeds, he showed considerable promise. He had two more games in the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (First Championship) at Roker Park in a 1-5 defeat by Sunderland and then a 2-3 defeat at Ayresome Park by Middlesbrough in consecutive games in September 1944 before he played all but six games in the final season of 1945-46 before the Football League fixtures recommenced. He made thity-nine Wartime appearances. In the first season after the War he and Harry Fearnley battled it out for a first team place, before both lost out to Jim Twomey, when he returned to United from Ireland after the War. He moved to Middlesbrough in March 1948, when used in a part-exchange deal which brought Jim McCabe to Elland Road, but made only thirteen appearances in eight seasons there, which was not surprising as Rolando Ugolini was the model of consistency racking up three hundred and twenty appearances in that time. He was released from his contract with Middlesbrough at the end of the 1954-55 season. He died in 1973.