Bert Hodgkinson

Albert Victor Hodgkinson (10 August 1884 – 25 November 1939) was a Welsh footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in the 1900s, including making one appearance for the Wales national football team in 1908.

Football career Hodgkinson was born at Pembroke Dock in South Wales, but grew up in Derbyshire. His first professional club was Derby County before he joined Grimsby Town of the Football League Second Division in October 1903. After a season at Blundell Park, in which he made seventeen appearances, scoring five goals, Hodgkinson moved in May 1904 to Devon, where he joined Plymouth Argyle of the Southern League. This was followed by seasons with Leicester Fosse of the Second Division and Bury in the First Division.

In May 1907, Hodgkinson returned to the Southern League when he joined Southampton, along with his Bury teammate John Johnston. Described by the Saints' historians, Holley and Chalk, as "a consistent performer with all his previous clubs", Hodgkinson was "still developing as a dashing outside-left" when he came to Southampton. He soon formed useful partnerships with his fellow Welsh forward John Lewis and with George Smith, going on to make 29 appearances in 1907–08, scoring nine goals as Southampton finished the league season in mid-table. He also played in all six FA Cup matches as Saints reached the semi-finals, losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers

Hodgkinson is described by Holley & Chalk as "a mercurial player, who would suddenly achieve the sensational only to, just as suddenly, disappear from prominence; he also rarely did what his opponents expected of him."

He continued with the "Saints" for another season, at the end of which the club finished in third place, with Hodgkinson scoring 11 goals, just behind his fellow forwards Frank Costello on 13 and Arthur Hughes on 15.

In August 1909, Hodgkinson dropped down to non-league football with Croydon Common, followed by spells at Southend United and Ilkeston United.

Life outside and after football Hodgkinson was also a baseball player of some note, winning two gold medals at the National Baseball Association's annual tournament.

Family Hodgkinson's brother, Bill was a centre-forward with Derby County, playing 16 matches, scoring nine goals in the Football League First Division in the 1903–04 season.