Gordon Hobson
Encyclopedia
Gordon Hobson is a retired English footballer who played as a forward, spending most of his career with Lincoln City
, with shorter periods at Grimsby Town
, Southampton
and Exeter City
.
attending Firth Park School but played his youth football with Winterton Rangers
in Lincolnshire
. Trained as a plumber, Hobson continued to play in local football, turning out for Sheffield Rangers on Saturdays and for Manchester Villa, a Chesterfield
pub team, on Sundays.
Shortly after his 20th birthday, he was signed by Lincoln City
, then in the Football League Third Division
. He made his professional debut against Cambridge United in April 1978, producing "a sparkling performance in which he seemed to mesmerise the opposition defenders" with his crosses from the right flank providing two goals for "the Imps" and scoring once himself in a 4–1 victory.
Hobson quickly became established as a first-team regular, generally playing at outside-left with Glenn Cockerill
on the right and Mick Harford
in the centre. After being relegated in 1979 and a lacklustre 1979–80 season (in which Hobson scored his first hat-trick in a 5–2 victory at Torquay
on the final day of the campaign), manager Colin Murphy moved Hobson into the centre where his 21 goals helped the Imps secure promotion to Division Three with a second place finish behind Southend United
. A highlight of the promotion season was an 8–0 demolition of Northampton Town
in which Hobson scored four times.
In 1981–82, Lincoln mounted a creditable attempt to reach the Second Division, missing out on promotion by one point. Over the next few seasons, Lincoln generally finished in mid-table and in the summer of 1985, Murphy resigned. In June, Hobson moved on to Grimsby Town
of the Second Division
for a £35,000 fee. In his first season at Grimsby, Hobson finished leading scorer with 15 league goals.
In November 1986 he was sold to First Division Southampton
for £120,000 where he linked up with Cockerill, his former Lincoln City team mate. He made his debut for "the Saints" on 29 November 1986 when he scored the final goal in a 3–1 victory, knocking in the loose ball after goalkeeper Tony Coton
failed to hold a shot from Cockerill. On 11 April 1987, Hobson scored three goals at Maine Road
, where Southampton defeated Manchester City
4–2. Hobson's hat-trick (a header, a tap-in and a penalty) was the Saints' first away from home for 18 years.
Although he showed "a nice sense of balance and an eye for goal", Hobson suffered from an ankle injury after a month of the 1987–88 season. Graham Baker
took his place in the side, and by the time that he was fit again, Hobson found it hard to break back into the team, especially with the emergence of younger players such as Rod Wallace
, Matthew Le Tissier
and Alan Shearer
.
In September 1988, he returned to Sincil Bank
, rejoining Lincoln City for a club record fee of £60,000. His first match back at Lincoln was a League Cup
match against the club he had just left, Southampton, in which Hobson scored City's consolation goal at The Dell. Hobson spent two more years with Lincoln, finishing as top scorer both seasons, with a hat-trick in a 4–1 win at table-topping Burnley in November 1988. In his two spells with Lincoln, Hobson made a total of 386 first-team appearances, scoring 105 goals.
In the summer of 1990, he joined Exeter City
for one last season of League football before dropping down to the lower leagues. At Salisbury City
, he dabbled in management as assistant manager in 1985 and again in 1997.
area and became a director of a yacht charter and sales business, based in nearby Hamble-le-Rice
.
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, with shorter periods at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
.
Football career
Hobson was born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
attending Firth Park School but played his youth football with Winterton Rangers
Winterton Rangers F.C.
Winterton Rangers F.C. are a football club based in Winterton, England. They play in the Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division.-History:...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. Trained as a plumber, Hobson continued to play in local football, turning out for Sheffield Rangers on Saturdays and for Manchester Villa, a Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
pub team, on Sundays.
Shortly after his 20th birthday, he was signed by Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, then in the Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. He made his professional debut against Cambridge United in April 1978, producing "a sparkling performance in which he seemed to mesmerise the opposition defenders" with his crosses from the right flank providing two goals for "the Imps" and scoring once himself in a 4–1 victory.
Hobson quickly became established as a first-team regular, generally playing at outside-left with Glenn Cockerill
Glenn Cockerill
Glenn Cockerill is a retired English footballer who played more than 700 games in The Football League in a 22-year career. He is perhaps best remembered from his eight-year spell at Southampton...
on the right and Mick Harford
Mick Harford
Michael Gordon "Mick" Harford , is an English former football player turned manager. He is former manager of Rotherham and Luton Town and has also been caretaker manager of Nottingham Forest and QPR...
in the centre. After being relegated in 1979 and a lacklustre 1979–80 season (in which Hobson scored his first hat-trick in a 5–2 victory at Torquay
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on the final day of the campaign), manager Colin Murphy moved Hobson into the centre where his 21 goals helped the Imps secure promotion to Division Three with a second place finish behind Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. A highlight of the promotion season was an 8–0 demolition of Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in which Hobson scored four times.
In 1981–82, Lincoln mounted a creditable attempt to reach the Second Division, missing out on promotion by one point. Over the next few seasons, Lincoln generally finished in mid-table and in the summer of 1985, Murphy resigned. In June, Hobson moved on to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
of the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
for a £35,000 fee. In his first season at Grimsby, Hobson finished leading scorer with 15 league goals.
In November 1986 he was sold to First Division Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
for £120,000 where he linked up with Cockerill, his former Lincoln City team mate. He made his debut for "the Saints" on 29 November 1986 when he scored the final goal in a 3–1 victory, knocking in the loose ball after goalkeeper Tony Coton
Tony Coton
Anthony Philip "Tony" Coton is an English former footballer who made 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing as a goalkeeper for Birmingham City, Watford, Manchester City and Sunderland...
failed to hold a shot from Cockerill. On 11 April 1987, Hobson scored three goals at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, where Southampton defeated Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
4–2. Hobson's hat-trick (a header, a tap-in and a penalty) was the Saints' first away from home for 18 years.
Although he showed "a nice sense of balance and an eye for goal", Hobson suffered from an ankle injury after a month of the 1987–88 season. Graham Baker
Graham Baker
Graham Baker is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Southampton, Manchester City and Fulham.-Southampton:...
took his place in the side, and by the time that he was fit again, Hobson found it hard to break back into the team, especially with the emergence of younger players such as Rod Wallace
Rod Wallace
Rodney Seymour "Rod" Wallace is a retired English footballer.Wallace played predominantly as a striker or part of an attacking forward line. He started his career at Southampton in 1988 playing 128 league games scoring 45 goals. This form earned him a transfer to Leeds where he won the first...
, Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew "Matt" Le Tissier is a retired English footballer who played for Southampton and England.An attacking midfielder with exceptional technical skills, Le Tissier is the second-highest ever scorer for Southampton behind Mick Channon and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1990. He was...
and Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
.
In September 1988, he returned to Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
, rejoining Lincoln City for a club record fee of £60,000. His first match back at Lincoln was a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match against the club he had just left, Southampton, in which Hobson scored City's consolation goal at The Dell. Hobson spent two more years with Lincoln, finishing as top scorer both seasons, with a hat-trick in a 4–1 win at table-topping Burnley in November 1988. In his two spells with Lincoln, Hobson made a total of 386 first-team appearances, scoring 105 goals.
In the summer of 1990, he joined Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
for one last season of League football before dropping down to the lower leagues. At Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
, he dabbled in management as assistant manager in 1985 and again in 1997.
Career after football
Hobson retained his home in the SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
area and became a director of a yacht charter and sales business, based in nearby Hamble-le-Rice
Hamble-le-Rice
Hamble-le-Rice is a village in the Borough of Eastleigh in Hampshire, UK. It is best known for being an aircraft training centre during the Second World War and is a popular yachting location...
.