Frank Hoddinott

Frank Hoddinott
Personal information
Full nameFrancis Hoddinott
Date of birth29 November 1894
Place of birthBrecon, Wales
Date of deathNovember 1980
Place of deathSouthend, England
Playing positionCentre forward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1913–191xAberdare Athletic
1919–1921Watford52(29)
1921–23Chelsea31(4)
1923–1926Crystal Palace79(20)
1926–1927Rhyl
1927–1928New Brighton23(6)
1928–1930Newark Town
1930–193xGrantham Town
National team
1921Wales2(0)
Teams managed
1929–1930Newark Town
1930–193xGrantham Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Frank Hoddinott (born Francis Hoddinott, 29 November 1894 – November 1980) was a Welsh association footballer. As well as being a professional footballer, he also boxed professionally in the 1920s.[1]

Career

Born in Brecon, Hoddinott started his career in the Southern League with Aberdare Athletic, before moving to reigning Southern League champions Watford in 1919. Hoddinott's opportunities were limited in 1919–20; he played 13 of Watford's 43 fixtures, scoring 7 goals.[2] Watford joined the Football League the following season. Hoddinott finished it as Watford's top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions.[3] Additionally, he became the first player in Watford's history to earn international caps whilst at the club, and at the end of the season was sold to Chelsea for a fee of £3,500; higher than anything Watford had previously received.[1]

However, Hoddinott was unable to maintain the form he had shown at Watford, scoring only 4 goals in 31 Chelsea league matches. He subsequently joined Crystal Palace in 1923, Rhyl in 1926 and New Brighton in 1927. Towards the end of his playing career, Hoddinott player-managed Newark Town and Grantham Town, before joining Chelmsford City as a coach in 1933.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jones, Trefor (1996). The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. pp. 120, 279. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
  2. Jones, Trefor (1998). Watford Season by Season. pp. 62–63. ISBN 0-9527458-1-X.
  3. Jones, Trefor (1998). Watford Season by Season. pp. 64–65. ISBN 0-9527458-1-X.