Footballers who have played league football for PNE & Plymouth Argyle
A-K
858) BERESFORD David (PNE signed Dec 99 4 app 0 gls) (Ply 17 apps 0 gls)
692) BROWN David (PNE signed June 86 74 apps 0 gls) (Ply 5 apps 0 gls)
320) EASTWOOD Cyril (PNE signed 1925/26 20 apps 2 gls) (Ply 108 apps 3 gls)
793) FLEMING Terry (PNE signed July 94 32 apps 2 gls) (Ply 17 apps 0 gls)
649) HODGE Martin (PNE first signed Dec 81 44 apps 0 gls) (Ply 60 apps 0 gls)
444) HUNTER Jimmy (PNE signed 1939/40 3 apps 0 gls) (Ply 95 apps 15 gls)
926) JARRETT Jason (PNE signed Mar 2006 15 apps 1 goal) (Ply 7 apps 0 gls)
714) JOYCE Warren (PNE signed Oct 87 177 apps 35 gls) (Ply 30 apps 3 gls)
Player Profile MARTIN HODGE
Martin John Hodge was born in Southport on 4 February 1959 and during his career signed for both Preston and Plymouth on two occasions.
Whilst playing for Southport Trinity he was spotted by a Plymouth Argyle scout who was based in the North West. After successful trials Hodge was signed on as an apprentice at the age of 16.
Hodge signed professional forms in February 1977 and in the following season Hodge made 5 league appearances. He eventually became their first choice keeper making 38 appearances for the Third Division side in 1978/79.
In July 1979 Hodge returned to the North West as Gordon Lee signed him for Everton for a tribunal fixed fee of £135,000.
Initially signed as understudy to Scottish international goalkeeper George Wood, he eventually ousted Wood from the number one position in November. Hodge's debut for Everton was a 5-1 victory at Goodison Park against Leeds on 13 November and made 23 league appearances during 1979/80 season as well as in the FA Cup semi-final defeat against West Ham.
The following season he suffered a knee injury and found it difficult to regain his first team spot. The two appearances he made in the 1980/81 season were his last in an Everton shirt.
Rather than stagnate in the reserves he put himself in the shop window and signed for Preston on loan for the remainder of the season in December 1981, who was then managed by Gordon Lee.
Hodge replaced Peter Litchfield between the sticks and made his PNE debut on 5 January 1982 in a goalless draw at Chesterfield , Hodge kept a clean sheet in the next three games.
In total, Hodge had 12 clean sheets, in 28 appearances as PNE finished fourteenth in the Third Division.
Hodge returned to Merseyside, but went on loan to Oldham in July 1982 making 4 appearances for the Division Two club.
During January 1983 Hodge signed a month's loan with Third Division side Gillingham , making four appearances.
Gordon Lee signed Hodge for the third time as he retuned to Preston for his second loan spell to replace the injured Peter Litchfield. His second debut for the Whites was a 3-0 home win against Brentford on 1 March 1983. Unfortunately Hodge always played for a struggling PNE side with gates of around 4000.
North End fans took to Hodge at it was obvious that he belonged to an higher division as PNE fortunes improved as they only lost two of the last sixteen games for PNE. His seven clean sheets, with three in the last three games as PNE achieved 9 points out of 9 and helped PNE to sixteenth position. His sixtieth and final game for PNE was a 1-0 win at Wigan on 15 May 1983.
Preston could not afford to sign Hodge permanently and with the arrival of Neville Southall at Everton saw him join Sheffield Wednesday as Howard Wilkinson paid £50,000 for him in August 1983.
This was money well spent as after making his debut for the Owls in a 1-0 win at Swansea on 27 August, he was an ever present as Sheffield Wednesday was promoted to the First Division at the end of the 1983/84 season.
Hodge played in every league game for the next three seasons and put him in line with a call up to England's World Cup squad of 1986, but missed out at the last minute.
He was limited to 29 appearances in 1987/88 and after 197 matches Hodge was transferred to Second Division Leicester in August 1988. His debut was on 27 August in a 1-1 draw at home to West Brom and made 19 appearances during the 1988/89 season. Hodge was an ever present in 1989/90 and made the last of his 75 appearances for Leicester in the 1990/91 before signing for Hartlepool in August 1991.
In two seasons for Hartlepool, Hodge made 69 appearances before signing for Rochdale in July 1993. He made his debut for Dale away at Darlington on 14 August, making a total 42 appearances in the 1993/94 season. His performances saw Rochdale go to the top of the league after a victory at Carlisle and along with Alan Reeves he was named in the PFA Divisional side. This was the last time a Rochdale player was selected for the side
In August 1994 he was signed by another famous goalkeeper Peter Shilton as Hodge returned to Plymouth for the second time. Hodge became player coach with Rochdale receiving £10,000 compensation. Hodge made 17 appearances during 1994/95 and 60 in total from his two spells with the Pilgrams.
Hodge returned briefly to Rochdale in 2002/03 as a coach alongside the current Preston boss Paul Simpson.