Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Francis Hoddinott | ||
Date of birth | 29 November 1894 | ||
Place of birth | Brecon, Wales | ||
Date of death | November 1980 | ||
Place of death | Southend, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Centre forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1913–191x | Aberdare Athletic | ||
1919–1921 | Watford | 52 | (29) |
1921–1923 | Chelsea | 31 | (4) |
1923–1926 | Crystal Palace | 79 | (20) |
1926–1927 | Rhyl | ||
1927–1928 | New Brighton | 23 | (6) |
1928–1930 | Newark Town | ||
1930–193x | Grantham Town | ||
International career | |||
1921 | Wales | 2 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
1929–1930 | Newark Town | ||
1930–193x | Grantham Town | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Francis Hoddinott (29 November 1894 – November 1980), also known as Tom Hoddinott,[2] was a Welsh association footballer. As well as being a professional footballer, he also boxed professionally in the 1920s.[3]
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.[4] Watford joined the Football League the following season. Hoddinott finished it as Watford's top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions.[5] 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.[3]
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.[3]