Post by auldreekie on Apr 8, 2018 10:04:22 GMT
In the last week there has been the sad news of the passing of former City player Frank Hodgetts at the age of 93. Frank was from Springfield, Dudley. At school he was a good all-round sportsman and won a schoolboy international football cap representing England against Wales in 1938. West Bromwich Albion moved quickly to sign him as an amateur when he left school and found him a job in an engineering firm. I assume this firm was the Oldbury-based tube manufacturer, Accles & Pollock, as he played for the works team in the Birmingham Works AFA league as well as for the Albion junior team. His form in local football saw him selected as a reserve for the Birmingham County FA team in the annual England v Wales junior international with Wales (North Wales Coast FA).
Frank made his Albion debut at just 16 years 26 days in war-time football on 26 October 1940 against Notts County. He signed for Albion as a professional from Accles & Pollock on 17 October 1942 and made 108 war-time appearances (22 goals). When league football returned after the War Frank played in 67 league matches (11 goals) over three seasons before asking to be placed on the transfer list. He was signed by Millwall in August 1949 for a £6,000 fee. Some newspaper reports say it was in fact a five figure fee and a Millwall record. Over four seasons at the Den he played in 34 league games (6 goals). His chosen position was on the right wing but throughout his career he proved versatile and played many matches on the left side.
Frank joined City for the 1954/55 season from Millwall and played for two seasons making 61 appearances (7 goals). However, after recovering from a cartilage operation in November 1955 he suffered a severed Achilles tendon in a Southern League match against Lovells on 24 March 1956. At 32 years of age the injury led to his retirement from the game as a player. He returned to the Hawthorns as a coach from 1958 to 1962. As befits an all-round sportsman, he later became actively involved in tennis, an interest he maintain until just a few years ago.
Frank made his Albion debut at just 16 years 26 days in war-time football on 26 October 1940 against Notts County. He signed for Albion as a professional from Accles & Pollock on 17 October 1942 and made 108 war-time appearances (22 goals). When league football returned after the War Frank played in 67 league matches (11 goals) over three seasons before asking to be placed on the transfer list. He was signed by Millwall in August 1949 for a £6,000 fee. Some newspaper reports say it was in fact a five figure fee and a Millwall record. Over four seasons at the Den he played in 34 league games (6 goals). His chosen position was on the right wing but throughout his career he proved versatile and played many matches on the left side.
Frank joined City for the 1954/55 season from Millwall and played for two seasons making 61 appearances (7 goals). However, after recovering from a cartilage operation in November 1955 he suffered a severed Achilles tendon in a Southern League match against Lovells on 24 March 1956. At 32 years of age the injury led to his retirement from the game as a player. He returned to the Hawthorns as a coach from 1958 to 1962. As befits an all-round sportsman, he later became actively involved in tennis, an interest he maintain until just a few years ago.