Alan Hodgkinson

[silver blade]

Sad news.

When I was at primary school, my mate said one Monday morning that his Dad had taken him to a football match, he said that he had seen the goalkeeper dive at the feet of the other teams forwards & that not many goalkeepers did that as it was very dangerous.
He said the goalkeepers name was Alan Hodgkinson
R.I.P

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

 

[spongebobblade]

the word " LEGEND" is banded about far too often these days. This doesn't apply in Hodgys case though . A true Blades legend in every sense of the word. He loved the Blades as much as the Blades loved him
RIP Hodgy

 

[Deaneandagana]

As many have already said, a great Blades legend and a great keeper, him & Woody playing over 500 league games for 1 club - probably never to be repeated.

Sad day & sad year - come on Utd for fucks sake get your act together & give us something to smile about.

UTB

 

[Bladesman]

R.I.P Hodgy

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Sad news, when players like this pass away feels similar to a distant family member passing away. We've lost so many people this year in our Blades community, Woody, Shred, Gemma spring to mind and others.

Just shows life is precious and none of us are immortal.

RIP Hodgy

 

[DiggerBlade]

I remember standing on the wall with the white railings directly behind Hodgy's goal every home match. The Kop singing Hodgy Hodgy as he ran towards the fans. Bog rolls being hurled onto the pitch then seeing Hodgy scoop them up and throw em behind the net. The only time Hodgy wore gloves was when it was bitterly cold alongside tracky bottoms.

What a solid and dependable keeper he was.

RIP Hodgy.

 

[Pedro Verde]

RIP Hodgy was lucky enough to see him play when I first started going to The Lane

Bad year for us Blades weve lost too many

 

[Bladesince59]

A brilliant player and al lovely man. The times I watched him behind the likes of Caldwell, Shaw, Richardson, Summers, Joe.
What a team - what an era.

They truly wore the shirt. They were real Blades.

 

[Dnblade]

I probably stood next to you a few times Digger,as I often used to get behind the goal on the fence,or as near as possible...Hodgy was always greeted to the goal with that Aye,Aye Hodgy chant as he ran to the Kop,while he would do that Shoot the Kop gesture.

 

[Blade59]

Sad news. Hodgy was our keeper when I first started going in the late 60's and early 70's. Great keeper and a true professional and loyal Blade. RIP Hodgy.

 

[Barney]

Too young to have seen him play, but there's no doubting how highly regarded he was amongst supporters.

RIP.

 

[sitwell]

Your first group of hero players from your childhood always stay with you. So when it is time for each of them to leave us, it can hurt deep because even if you never knew them, they were a massive part of your life.
RIP.

A sign we are getting old.
Hodgy
Woodward
Hockey
Reece
All gone from my first team. leaving :
Badger
Hemsley
Flynn
Colquhoun
Currie
Dearden
Salmons

He was better than Yashin you know.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Really, really upsetting. There are going to be some tears shed on Sunday.

As has been mentioned, I can picture him now with his rolling gait, shooting the Kop as Hodgy Hodgy rang out.

Second highest number of appearances behind Joe Shaw.

He made the greatest double save I've ever seen, against Liverpool I think, hurled himself full length to his left to palm the ball away and it came back across and was heading into the top corner on the right hand side but he was up and flying back across to save it.

You deserve all the praise coming your way. John Garrett is brilliant at finding the right words, it will be moving on Sunday.

Goodbye, hero - Alan Hodgkinson.

Such style

 

[bornablade]

Part of that great defence in the early 1960's. A top flight club and a top flight team. A time when I started going to BDTBL and becoming a life long Blade.

He was well respected for his coaching work at Man Utd. I am sure we will arrange a tribute this weekend but would it be possible for both clubs to arrange a tribute prior to our FA Cup tie. Hodgy deserves a large audience to show its respect for his achievements in the game.

RIP Hodgy.

 

[Woodwardfan]

When I was at primary school, my mate said one Monday morning that his Dad had taken him to a football match, he said that he had seen the goalkeeper dive at the feet of the other teams forwards & that not many goalkeepers did that as it was very dangerous.
He said the goalkeepers name was Alan Hodgkinson
R.I.P

Never seen any goalkeeper save so many one-on-ones by diving at the forwards' feet.

It was as though the forward was never going to score, Hodgy timed his dive at their feet so well by waiting and waiting until the forward had to make the move. In those days forwards always tried to go round the keeper, not like these days when they almost invariably try to shoot past the keeper.

The dive was arms and head first, none of this feet first milarkey and he'd grasp the ball, not palm it away.

 

[sheffielder]

RIP Hodgy. Before my time to comment further.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Never seen any goalkeeper save so many one-on-ones by diving at the forwards' feet.

It was as though the forward was never going to score, Hodgy timed his dive so well by waiting and waiting until the forward had to make the move. In those days forwards always tried to go round the keeper, not like these days when they almost invariably try to shoot past the keeper.

A great guy and brave as a Lion

 

[Bladeloyal]

Really, really upsetting. There are going to be some tears shed on Sunday.

As has been mentioned, I can picture him now with his rolling gait, shooting the Kop as Hodgy Hodgy rang out.

Second highest number of appearances behind Joe Shaw.

He made the greatest double save I've ever seen, against Liverpool I think, hurled himself full length to his left to palm the ball away and it came back across and was heading into the top corner on the right hand side but he was up and flying back across to save it.

You deserve all the praise coming your way. John Garrett is brilliant at finding the right words, it will be moving on Sunday.

Goodbye, hero - Alan Hodgkinson.

Such style

What a keeper what a kit what a man .

 

[Cutbush City Limits]

Truly sad news. Never heard anything but good stories about Alan. Only on Thursday I was talking to someone who was coached by Hodgy who was singing his praises.

Legend.

 

[Lane Ender]

Aye aye aye aye Hodgy is better than Yashin
Mick Jones is better than Eusabio
And now you're in for a thrashin.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

This picture was given away free by the Star as I recall (proper glossy paper not newspaper) and I was given special permission to put it up on my bedroom wall with a drawing pin by my father (himself a blade from his childhood) who also sadly passed away recently. It adorned the wall above my bed for many, many years. So sad to see it now and to think of all the players in that team that are no longer with us. Hodgy is a special one to lose though. He was ours through and through and a fixture in my life throughout my childhood and teens.The world seems a poorer place tonight. RIP our keeper.

 

[Bladesince59]

I probably stood next to you a few times Digger,as I often used to get behind the goal on the fence,or as near as possible...Hodgy was always greeted to the goal with that Aye,Aye Hodgy chant as he ran to the Kop,while he would do that Shoot the Kop gesture.

What a hero. What a keeper.

 

[Superblades]

Way before my time. As sad as this news is, it's nice to read fellow forum members memories of him.

R.I.P

 

[Jonboy60]

The best keeper we ever had - R.I.P Hodgy.

View attachment 14724
· Born: 16 August, 1936

· Playing career: 1954-1971 - Sheffield United, 576 games, 1957-60 - England, five games

· Coaching career: Rangers, Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Gillingham, Birmingham City, Scotland, Manchester United, Watford, Coventry, Rushden & Diamonds, Oxford United.

Another blade not getting the recognition they deserved, because they played for an" unfashionable" team. Rip. Hodge.

 

[BerksBlade]

Another Blades legend gone. Our best ever keeper IMHO - another Blade with far less England caps than they deserve.
RIP Hodgy.

 

[blade.i.am]

My first season at the Lane. RIP Hodgy, a true legend

 

[LoughboroBlade]

RIP Hodgy. I hadn't realised till reading more today that he'd spent his entire playing career with us. Way way before my time. As was the case with Woodward, any footage of him in action would be greatly appreciated for those like me that never saw him.

 

[prince albert]

RIP Hodgy

 

[Silent Blade]

England 1962 World Cup squad. Of the 22 selected, the West Bromwich Albion striker, Derek Kevan (who had scored twice at the 1958 tournament), was to remain at home on reserve, whilst the Burnley skipper and uncapped Footballer of the Year, Jimmy Adamson, was to go to Chile as Walter Winterbottom's assistant manager.

13 of the squad are still living and Hodgy is the 9th to have passed away