IT WAS A LESSON FOR
THE ENGLISH PLAYERS
AND THE INSIDE-RIGHT
HODGSON TOOK THE
EYE FROM THE START
So the tourists’ games against
Wimbledon, Dulwich Hamlet,
Brentford, Aston Villa, Zwaluwen
of Holland and Colwyn Bay
& District attracted plenty of
interest. And their results and
style of football impressed –
never more so than during their
two visits to Liverpool.
The first of those took them to
Anfield in October 1924 where,
watched by 15,000 spectators,
they ran out 5-2 winners. The
Echo newspaper’s reporter
Ernest ‘Bee’ Edwards described
the 90 minutes as “a lesson for
English league players.”
Two individuals earned praise.
Of Hodgson he remarked: “The
inside-right, who took my eye
from the first moment, is only
19 [he was actually a year
older] but plays like a seasoned
professional.” Edwards found
Riley “a tall, keen fellow who has
reach, anticipation and a safe
pair of hands, is only twenty but
looks more like thirty-five.”
joined Liverpool to take up the
unenviable task of being back-
up to the great Elisha Scott.
The arrival of a substitute
goalie didn’t quicken the pulse of
those on the Kop. A letter to the
local paper from a fan who gave
himself the title of ‘Constant
Supporter’ details as much: “I
think it’s high time the Liverpool
directors parted with a little
money for a first-class centre.”
When it was announced that
Hodgson had been purchased,
too, it probably wasn’t what
fans had in mind. Indeed there
was more eye-catching transfer
activity elsewhere in the First
Division that December as
Newcastle United signed Hughie
Gallacher from Airdrie for £6,500;
he'd go on to score 143 goals in
174 games for the Magpies.
Hodgson, though, had again
travelled the 5,335 nautical
miles to reacquaint himself with
Liverpool. The Toffees still hadn’t
given up hope of securing hisIt's since been reported that
Hodgson scored three of the
visitors’ five goals when in fact
he didn’t get on the scoresheet.
But those at the club must have
been impressed and there’s
every chance that an Anfield
delegation made the short trip to
Goodison Park that December to
view the South Africans again as
they completed their tour with a
3-2 victory over Everton.
While the tourists enjoyed a
farewell dinner at the Exchange
Hotel on Tithebarn Street,
thoughts of staying in the UK to
forge a new career must have
formed in their minds.
Everton were most keen to
make those hopes a reality, as
minutes from a meeting of their
directors confirms. Under the
caption 'S. African Players' was
the note: “Some of these were
desirous of returning to play in
England & it was agreed that
we make endeavours to secure
the services of Riley, Murray,
Hodgson and Walker.”
Approval from the FA had to
be sought and, if granted, the
Everton board agreed to pay the
quartet £5 per week.
In July 1925 both Riley and
forward David Murray returned
to Merseyside. Murray failed
to settle at Everton, however,
leaving for Bristol City after
12 months. Riley meanwhile