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15 February 2023
 
 

Denny Hodgetts

Aston Villa FC

 6 appearances, 1 goal

P 6 W 5 D 1 L 0 F 23: A 5
92% successful
1888-94

captain: none
minutes played: 540

Timeline
  Henry Dennis Hodgetts
Birth Saturday, 28 November 1863 in Birmingham, Warwickshire
  registered as Dennis in Birmingham October-December 1863
 

According to the 1871 census, Dennis is the youngest of three children to Henry and Mary (née Foster),  living at Court House in Graham Street, Birmingham.
 

According to the 1881 census, Dennis remains the youngest of three children, now living at 82 Great Russell Street in Birmingham. Dennis is a labourer, his father a slater, employing one, possibly Dennis.
Marriage to Alice Eleanor Handley, on Friday, 24 December 1886 at St. Matthew's Parish Church, Birmingham. Both living in Great Russell Street. Dennis is a toolmaker.
  registered as Henry Dennis in Birmingham October-December 1886
Children Denny and Alice Hodgetts had one son together. Dennis Henry (b.1888).

According to the 1891 census, Henry D. is married to Alice E, they have one son, also called Dennis. They live at 55 Aston Street in Birmingham. He is a publicans manager. They have a servant and a barman.
At the time of Howard's baptism, they are living at Star Hotel in Birchfield area of Handworth.
 

According to the 1901 census, Dennis remains married, and with still one son, they live at 8 Colmore Row in Birmingham. Dennis is a licensed victualler, and they have one servant and three bar staff.
"DENNIS HODGETTS ASSAULTED―'YOU CAN HANG ME'
"Dennis Hodgetts, landlord of the King's Head, Hagley Road, and formerly the well-known member of the Aston Villa team, appeared at the Victoria Courts to-day against Thomas Daley and Edwin Adams, both of Smethwick, whom he charged with assault. On February 4th, he stated, the men went into the house and behaved in a disorderly manner. His daughter and the barman endeavoured to keep them quiet, but without success. At this moment complainant came in, and the pair turned upon him. Daley struck him on the nose, and Adams picked up a stool and would have thrown it at him had the barman not intervened. The men left the house, but when outside threw some bricks at Mr. Hodgetts....[Daley] was sent to prison for two months, and Adams for one month." - Birmingham Mail, Wednesday, 15 February 1905.
   
"Dennis Hodgetts, the old Aston Villa outside-left and former English International footballer, has been robbed of a case containing numerous medals, which he won during his career, at his public house in Birmingham." - The Devon and Exeter Gazette, Saturday, 2 October 1909.
    "At Birmingham yesterday, George Guest and Charles Fenton were sentenced to six months' hard labour each for stealing 21 gold medals belonging to Dennis Hodgetts, a former Aston Villa and Small Heath footballer. The trophies stolen, none of which have been recovered, included League Championship and English Cup medals." - The Devon and Exeter Gazette, Saturday, 4 March 1911.
 

According to the 1911 census, Dennis remains married with one son. They live and manage 'The Salutation' at 86 Snow Hill in Birmingham. The census return reveals that another child had been born and died.
 

According to the 1921 census, Dennis remains married with one son and with one servant. They now live and manage 'The Beehive' at 45 Bull Street in Birmingham.
  According to the 1939 register, Dennis is retired and widowed. He lives at 115 Linwood Road in Handsworth. He lives with his son, Dennis, a motor driver, and his wife, Elsie.
Death Sunday, 25 March 1945 at Dudley Road Hospital in Birmingham, Warwickshire
aged 81 years 117 days registered in Dennis in Birmingham January-March 1945

Obituary
"MR. DENNIS HODGETTS.
"Mr. Dennis Hodgetts, one of the most notable of Aston Villa footballers and a vice-president of the club since June, 1930, died in Birmingham yesterday. He played for the Villa in the F.A. Cup finals of 1887, when West Bromwich Albion were beaten by two clear goals; 1892, when Albion had revenge by three clear goals; 1895, again against Albion, when Villa won by the only goal scored. In the first game he was outside-left to Howard Vaughton, but in the second and third he was in the inside position to Campbell and Stephen Smith respectively. Mr. Hodgetts played for England six times while a member of the Villa team, which he joined in 1885-6; and the club won the Football League championship on as many occasions during that period. His last important match for Villa was a cup-tie at Derby in 1896, and the next year he played for Small Heath, forerunner of Birmingham City, then in the Second Division. Mr. Hodgetts was born in Birmingham November 1863." - Birmingham Post, Monday, 26 March 1945.
Funeral

Wednesday, 28 March 1945
 Handsworth New Cemetery
Birmingham
"FUNERAL OF FORMER VILLA PLAYER.
"Four Villa players, their trainer, and a former member of the Cup Final team in 1924 acted as bearers at the funeral this afternoon, at Handsworth New Cemetery, of Mr. Dennis Hodgetts, former Aston Villa forward, who died on Sunday at the age of 81. Villa directors present included Mr. F. H. Normansell (chairman), Mr. Norman Smith and Mr. Edward Smith (directors), and Mr. Willie Smith (secretary). Aston Villa shareholders, Birmingham City F.C. and West Bromwich Albion were also represented." - Birmingham Mail, Wednesday, 28 March 1945.
Probate 'HODGETTS Dennis of 115 Linwood-road Handsworth Birmingham died 25 March 1945 at Dudley-road Hospital Birmingham Probate Birmingham 25 May to Denis Henry Hodgetts motor driver and Richard Ernest Voisey manufacturer.
Effects £1742 0s. 11d.'

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Hodgetts played with The Dreadnought FC, as well as Birmingham St George's FC and Walsall Town FC in 1883, representing Birmingham & District FA, before then playing professionally with Great Lever FC in Bolton from August that year. The result of which, he was suspended from playing until January 1884. He returned to St. George, and continued to represent his Association. Hodgetts was linked to a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in April 1885, but signed for Aston Villa FC in April 1886. Despite an offer to join Preston North End FC, he decided to retire from playing in March 1896. However, he kept assisting Villa and was then persuaded to join rivals Small Heath FC on 12 October 1896, instantly installed as club captain.  He retired from playing in August 1897, but never being very far away from Villa, he began officiating in their matches.
League History
203 appearances, 73 goals		 Aston Villa FC 1888-96 181 appearances, 62 goals
debut: 8 September 1888 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1 Aston Villa FC 1
Small Heath FC 1896-97 22 appearances, nine goals
debut (second division): 17 October 1896 Small Heath FC 2 Gainsborough Trinity FC 2.
last (second division): 19 April 1897 Small Heath FC 3 Manchester City FC 1.
Club honours FA Cup winners 1886-87, 1894-95 (5ᵃ), runners-up 1891-92 (5ᵃ 6ᵍ);
Football League runners-up 1888-89 (17ᵃ 7ᵍ), Division One Champions 1893-94 (29ᵃ 12ᵍ), 1895-96 (21ᵃ 3ᵍ);
Individual honours Football League (one appearance);
Distinctions Dennis Hodgett's benefit match was played on 30 January 1893 at Perry Barr between Aston Villa FC and Preston North End FC, in front of 8,000. Villa lost 3-1.
Hodgetts also designed his own boot, a 'lace-to-toe' boot that was eventually made, and became known as the 'Denny Hodgetts Gout Boot.'
Height/Weight 5' 11½", 13st. 10lbs [1892].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career
Player number One of seven who became the 140th player (146) to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside/inside-left.
First match No. 32, 4 February 1888, Wales 1 England 5, a British Championship match at the Alexandra Recreation Ground, Nantwich Road, Crewe, aged 24 years 68 days.
Last match No. 50, 3 March 1894, Ireland 2 England 2, a British Championship match at Cliftonville Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast, aged 30 years 95 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1887-88, 1891-92, 1893-94;
Team honours British Championship winners 1887-88, 1891-92;
Individual honours The North (one appearance 1ᵍ, January 1888)
The Stripes (one appearance, February 1892)
The Whites (one appearance, March 1894)

Beyond England
Following his retirement from playing, Hodgetts returned to Aston Villa FC as a coach, but after only a year, he went on to become the a publican in The Salutation, in Aston, and in June 1930 was elected Aston Villa's vice-president, a position he held until his death. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.131/2.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
6 6 6 540 1 540 min 1 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
6 5 1 0 23 5 +18 0 2 3.833 0.833 91.7 +5
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition and at an away venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1887-88 3 3 0 0 15 2 +13 0 1 5.00 0.667 100.0 +3
BC 1891-92 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 0 1 3.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC 1893-94 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC All 6 5 1 0 23 5 +18 0 2 3.833 0.833 91.7 +5

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 6 5 1 0 23 5 +18 0 2 3.833 0.833 91.7 +5
6 5 1 0 23 5 +18 0 2 3.833 0.833 91.7 +5

Match History

 Club: Aston Villa F.C. - six full appearances (540 min) 1ᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - six full appearances (540 min) 1ᵍx

Age 24 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 14 January 1888;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 32 4 February 1888 - Wales 1 England 5
Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe 		BC AW   ol

one of seven who became the 140th player (146) to appear for England
 - the first new players from the International selection committee
the fourth player from Aston Villa FC represent England

2 33 17 March 1888 - Scotland 0 England 5
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AW 31 low shot ol
3 34 7 April 1888 - Ireland 1 England 5
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast		 BC AW ol
  

Age 28 trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 29 February 1892;

4 44 5 March 1892 - Ireland 0 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   ol
5 46 2 April 1892 - Scotland 1 England 4
Ibrox Park, Glasgow		 BC AW   ol
  

Age 30
6 50 3 March 1894 - Ireland 2 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AD hit crossbar [0-0] il
  

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 15 March 1894;

     

 
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