Noel Hodgson 1938-2020
We are sorry to confirm that another former Workington player has passed away following the announcement of Noel Hodgson’s death on Monday. He was 81.
Born on Christmas Day in 1938, Noel joined Reds in 1956 and would spend the next six seasons at Borough Park. He left in 1962 as part of the exodus that took a number of Reds players to Netherfield.
After two fruitful seasons in the North Eastern League, Joe Harvey handed Noel his Football League debut towards the end of the ’57-58 campaign. He wore the number 7 shirt in a 4-0 home win over Mansfield Town on 23 April, 1958.
Three days later, he bagged his first goals in the League scoring twice in a 3-3 draw at Bradford Park Avenue.
He scored no fewer than forty goals for the Reserves in the North Eastern and Northern Counties leagues and, in fifty-one first-team appearances, netted twelve more in the Football League including the first Fourth Division goal by a Reds player at Borough Park.
Towards the end of his time with his hometown club, Noel bagged all four goals in a 4-1 victory over Blyth Spartans in a reserve team fixture.
Last May, Noel stepped on to the Borough Park pitch for the final time as family members and carers accompanied him to celebrate the Reds Legends day.
Our condolences go to Noel’s family.
