Hodgy the Great Retires

[Hodgyman]

Alan Hodgkinson is to retire from football after 60 years.

He was undoubtedly the best United Goalkeeper that I have ever seen,. He was also a great coach too, his employers included Manchester United (it was him who brought Peter Smeikel to that club) Glasgow Rangers and the Scottish International team. Scottish goalkeepers were the subject of many jokes until his tenure, but not since.

He was honoured with an OBE for his services to football, but not only was he a great man for the game, he has always been a real and true gentleman. He is admired by all who have met or listened to him (he did an excellent interview on Radio Sheffield and drew praise from "presenters" and listeners alike.

No prizes for who inspired my S24SU name then!

 

[Hodgyman]

Alan Hodgkinson is to retire from football after 60 years.

He was undoubtedly the best United Goalkeeper that I have ever seen,. He was also a great coach too, his employers included Manchester United (it was him who brought Peter Smeikel to that club) Glasgow Rangers and the Scottish International team. Scottish goalkeepers were the subject of many jokes until his tenure, but not since.

He was honoured with an OBE for his services to football, but not only was he a great man for the game, he has always been a real and true gentleman. He is admired by all who have met or listened to him (he did an excellent interview on Radio Sheffield and drew praise from "presenters" and listeners alike.

No prizes for who inspired my S24SU name then!

For those not familiar with his career, more info from the wiki can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Hodgkinson

P.S. Apologies for the earlier mis-spelling of Schmeichel

 

[Kenilworth]

Never saw him play but my father always says he was the best Blades keeper he has ever seen.
I caught the interview on RS last year - came across as a really nice bloke and you could tell how well respected he was. A real Blades legend it seems - no smoke and mirrors needed for Hodgy

 

[Deleted member 875]

Hate to be picky, but wasn't a long and illustrious career tainted by a short stint coaching at the dark side?

 

[oldblade]

post: 440623, member: 875"]Hate to be picky, but wasn't a long and illustrious career tainted by a short stint coaching at the dark side?

So what. John Harris became a scout for Sheffield Wednesday after leaving United, but I don't think many would argue that taints his illustrious management career.

 

[broomhillblade]

I hate to be picky, too, but this was discussed a couple of weeks ago on this very site.

 

[beightonblade]

Hodgy Hodgy Hodgy hoy hoy hoy .............. a gentleman....just like me.

 

[Hodgyman]

I hate to be picky, too, but this was discussed a couple of weeks ago on this very site.

Apologies yet again, I had been away and missed the story and the first thread.

I agree with a comment in the earlier thread too, let's have statue of him and perhaps add him in the "legends" panel at the top of this site.