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Fullname: John McGeachie Hodge
aka: John Hodge, Johnny Hodge
Born: 5 May 1879
Died: 29 April 1959
Birthplace: Greenock
Signed: 7 Jan 1899
Left: 22 May 1902 (Portsmouth)
Position: Outside-right
Debut: 6th GRV 1-8 Celtic, Scottish Cup, 14 Jan 1899 (scored once)
Internationals: Scotland/Scottish League
International Caps: 0/2
International Goals: 0/0
Biog
This “hardy little tyke” signed from Port Glasgow in January 1899. Greenock-born John Hodge was a brave and hardworking wideman with an excellent eye for goal.
The young outside-right made his debut for the Bhoys in a Scottish Cup tie on 14th January 1899 and scored once in this debut match in a 8-1 triumph at Dalbeattie against the 6th Galloway Rifle Volunteer.
He would score the clinching goal in the Scottish Cup final in 1899 against Rangers, a 2-0 win, in which it was reported that he placed the ball just at his foot by the Rangers goalkeeper (from a rebound) and Hodge “had no difficulty in getting it into the desired haven“, also:
“A like remark applies to the half-backs, Divers, McMahon and Hodge continually worrying the half-line trio. Hodge was very forcible in his tactics”.
This was a major victory & surprise result as Rangers had gone the whole season undefeated with 18 victories in 18 league games.
Sadly, John Hodge would miss much of the following season through injury. Although not always the most thoughtful or composed performer John Hodge was a whole-hearted player who was a constant menace to any defender he faced.
He went on to win two Scottish League caps (scoring twice v the Irish League side in a 6-0 thumping), and also picked up a second Scottish Cup winners medal with Celtic (in 1900 v Queen’s Park), playing in the final. This Scottish Cup victory v Queen’s Park was a pivotal victory as in retrospect it put a cap on the end of the old amateur era and marked the success of the transition to professionalism for the game in Scotland.
He was reported to be a dangerous rival to Jack Bell for a full cap v England (but it was not to be).
In total he played 42 times in the league & Scottish Cup for Celtic, scoring a wonderful 22 goals, a great strike-rate.
He had a short loan move to Morton in May 1902, then moved south to Portsmouth in May 1902. It was a successful time to have been at Portsmouth, who won the Western League Championship for the third successive season, and had won the Southern League the season before he had arrived.
He later went on to return on a permanent basis to play for his hometown club Morton in Apr 1903. He then soon moved on to Thornliebank in 1904, hanging up his playing boots in 1906.
Apparently, he was an active guy, and his hobby was camping and he would discourse at length on the joys of the open air.
He passed away after a long life in 1959, just short of his 80th birthday.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1899-1902 | 34 | 8 | – | – | 42 |
| Goals: | 17 | 5 | – | – | 22 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish Cup
Pictures
