Gordon Hodgson (16 April 1904 – 14 June 1951) was a professional sportsman, born in Transvaal Colony, who is best known as a striker for Liverpool and as a fast bowler for Lancashire.

[3] He scored a hat-trick against Liverpool for the South African Amateur team during a tour of the UK on 1 October 1924 and was signed by the club on 14 December 1925.

[3] Hodgson had a reputation early in his career as an unselfish forward who excelled in link-up play, but that didn't stop him from going on to become one of Liverpool and indeed the Football League's greatest-ever goalscorers.

Not averse to charging through defenders if other avenues to goal were barred, although he was capable of subtlety when the situation demanded it, Hodgson was exceptionally strong on the ball and possessed a terrific shot with either foot, which allied to his height, heading ability, pace, close-control, enthusiasm and a noted talent for shooting when going at top-speed made him a real force in attack.

[5] He scored the first of a still club record 17 league hat-tricks for Liverpool in a 5–1 win against Sheffield United at Anfield on 11 September 1926 in his seventeenth game.

[11] His popularity prompted an ingenious biscuit seller to name the home-made ginger nuts, that he sold in a quantity of five for a penny on matchdays at Anfield, in his honour: "Hodgson's Choice!

[5] The 1935–36 season proved to be Hodgson's last at Anfield; his nine goals in 17 league appearances was yet again a decent return, but on 8 January 1936, he was allowed to move to Aston Villa for £4,000.

His form was all the more remarkable considering the strain he'd been playing under as a result of the illness and subsequent death of his wife on 8 March 1938, leaving him a widower with two children.

Hodgson scored 53 goals in 85 appearances for Leeds in all competitions, not including one in the 1939–40 season, which was abandoned after three games due to the outbreak of World War II.

During the war, Hodgson worked in a munitions factory whilst continuing to turn out for Leeds until 1941, making 34 war-time appearances for the Elland Road club, scoring 14 goals.

[27] He also played and scored in several unofficial international matches for South Africa against British, Dutch, and Irish club sides during a 1924 tour, including appearances against Wimbledon and Liverpool; which is where they first noticed his talent and subsequently signed him the following year.

[5] Hodgson was also capped three times at full international level by England, making his debut against Ireland, in a 5–1 win in a British Home Championship, match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield on 20 October 1930.

[5][28][29] His only goal for England came in his second appearance in a 4–0 win against Wales in a British Home Championship match at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham on 22 November 1930.

[29] Hodgson's third and final international appearance for England came against Scotland in a 2–0 defeat in a British Home Championship match at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 28 March 1931.

[38] Hodgson twice helped Lancashire to win the County Championship, in 1928 and 1930, although his football career took priority, as he didn't play a single game of cricket in April or September (and only one Second XI match in August) throughout his time at Old Trafford.

Don Welsh was eventually appointed, while Hodgson was admitted to hospital a couple of months later, but his "throat complaint" was deemed inoperable.