Martin Hodgson(26 March 1909 – 23 July 1991) was an Englishrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Lauded as one of the game's greatest eversecond-rows,he representedGreat Britain,EnglandandCumberlandon many occasions. Hodgson played his entire club career withSwintonwith whom he won twoChampionships.[1]He touredAustralasiain 1932 and 1936 with the Great Britain lions, and became the only British forward to appear in fiveAshes-winning squads, between 1929 and 1937.[4]
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 26 March 1909 Egremont,England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 23 July 1991(aged 82) Swinton,England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Biography
editMartin Hodgson was born inEgremont,Cumberland,England, he worked in theheat treatingdepartment atDavid Brown Ltd.inLockwood,Huddersfield,he was thelandlordof The Unicornpublichouse (now demolished), Shambles Lane,Huddersfieldc. 1950–55,and he died aged 82 inSwinton,Greater Manchester,England.[5]
Playing career
editHodgson signed forrugby leagueclubSwintonaged 17 during January 1927, he became a goal-kickingsecond-rowforSwinton,with whom he reached the final of the1927 Lancashire Cup,playing in their victory over Wigan. He woncapsforGreat Britainwhile at Swinton in 1929-30 against Australia (2 matches), in 1932 against Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (3 matches), in 1933 against Australia (3 matches), in 1936 against Australia (3 matches), New Zealand, and in 1937 against Australia.[3]Hodgsoon also woncapsforEnglandwhile at Swinton in 1928 against Wales, in 1929 againstOther Nationalities,in 1932 against Wales, in 1935 against France, in 1936 against Wales (2 matches), France, in 1937 against France,[2]
During the1929–30 Kangaroo tour of Great BritainHodgson played as asecond-rowin the 2nd and 3rdAshes seriesTest matches againstAustralia,helping the hosts retain the title. He was selected to go on the1932 Great Britain Lions tour,playing as adNew Zealand.In1931Hodgson's Swinton side won the Championship. During the1933–34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britainhe was asecond-rowfor the Great Britain side that became the first to defeat Australia in all threeAshestests.In1935Hodgson was again part of a Swinton Championship-winning side.[6]
Hodgson was selected to go on the1936 Great Britain Lions tour,playing atsecond-rowand kicking goals in all three Ashes test against Australia. His goal kicking proved decisive in the third and deciding test. In April 1940 at a match for Swinton againstRochdale Hornetsat theAthletic Grounds,Rochdale,Hodgson set the long distance penalty goal record with a kick of 77.75 yards (71.09 m) in (This record is disputed.Arthur AtkinsonofCastlefordkicked a penalty goal from 75-yards in the 20-10 victory overSt. HelensatKnowsley Road,St. Helenson Saturday 26 October 1929). Swinton reached the final of the1940 Lancashire Cup,and Hodgson played in their victory over Widnes in the final.
After retirement
editIn 2005 Hodgson was inducted into theBritish Rugby League Hall of Fame.[7]
References
edit- ^ab"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org".rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^ab"England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 3 April 2018.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^ab"Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk".englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 3 April 2018.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^Morgan, Martin (17 October 2005)."Hall of Fame honour for league legends".The Cumberland News.Archived fromthe originalon 6 April 2012.Retrieved23 October2011.
- ^Bulls quick to trade Higham for Newton,Gareth Walker, The Guardian, Friday 21 October 2005
- ^"Club History".Swinton Lions Tales & More.swintonlionstales.co.uk.Retrieved10 February2018.
- ^Martin Hodgsonat therfl.co.uk
External links
edit- (archived by web.archive.org)Martin Hodgson at rugbyleaguehistory.co.uk