Ken Hodgkisson facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Kenneth Hodgkisson | ||
| Date of birth | 12 March 1933 | ||
| Place of birth | West Bromwich, England | ||
| Date of death | 10 May 2018 (aged 85) | ||
| Playing position | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1950–1955 | West Bromwich Albion | 21 | (4) |
| 1955–1966 | Walsall | 336 | (58) |
| 1966–1967 | Worcester City | ||
| 1967–1968 | Dudley Town | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1968–1971 | Dudley Town | ||
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William Kenneth Hodgkisson (born March 12, 1933 – died May 10, 2018) was an English professional footballer. He played as an inside forward, which is a type of attacking player. Ken started his football journey with West Bromwich Albion. He made his first professional appearance in 1953. Later, in 1956, he moved to Walsall. He played over 350 games for Walsall during eleven years. During his time there, his team won promotion twice. After Walsall, he played for Worcester City and Dudley Town. He also managed Dudley Town for three years.
Contents
Ken's Football Journey
Ken Hodgkisson was born in West Bromwich. He went to George Salter Academy. He began playing football for his hometown club, West Bromwich Albion. He started as an amateur player. In April 1950, he signed his first professional contract.
Early Days at West Brom
Three years later, in April 1953, Ken made his first senior game. This was against Aston Villa. He scored three goals in five games at the end of that season. However, he found it hard to get a regular spot in the first team. He played twenty league games in six years for the club.
Time at Walsall F.C.
In December 1955, Ken moved to Walsall. He quickly became a key player. He formed a strong attacking team with Tony Richards. They helped Walsall win the Fourth Division title in the 1959–60 season. The next year, they earned a second promotion. This took them up to the Second Division.
In August 1965, Ken made history for Walsall. He was the first Walsall player ever to be used as a substitute. This happened during a match against Workington. Ken played over 350 games for Walsall in all competitions. He stayed with the club for eleven years.
Later Career and Management
In 1966, Ken left Walsall. He joined Worcester City. The next year, he moved to Dudley Town. In 1968, he became the manager of Dudley Town. He managed the team until 1971.
After Playing Football
In 1975, Ken Hodgkisson went back to West Bromwich Albion. This time, he was a coach. In 1981, he became the youth team manager. He stayed in this role until 1985. Later, he worked as a scout for Derby County. A scout finds new talented players for a team.
Achievements
Walsall
- Football League Fourth Division winner: 1959–60
