Tag Archives: Albert Alexander snr

The 1920s: Peter Hodge

Continuing the series on Manchester City in the 1920s here’s a brief post on 1920s City manager Peter Hodge. Enjoy!

Peter Hodge

City Manager between: 26 April 1926 – 12 March 1932

Previously:  Former Leicester City manager.

Took Over From: Committee led by vice-chairman Albert Alexander snr.

Inherited: Sam Cowan, Tommy Johnson & Frank Roberts.

Players Brought In: Eric Brook & Fred Tilson.

Youngster Gave Debut To: Matt Busby

Players He Let Go/Sold:  Tommy Johnson in 1930, leading to widespread demonstrations and a boycott (crowds dropped by around 8,000 following the move). 

First Game: City 2 Leeds Utd 0 (City scorers Austin & Johnson), 27 April 1926, Division One, attendance 43,475 

Lows: Relegation five days and 2 games after taking over in 1926.

Last Game: Arsenal 1 City 0, 12 March 1932, FA Cup semi final at Villa Park,  attendance 50,337.  

Unusual Start:  It was agreed Hodge would become City manager in 1926 but would only take up the post after his current club Leicester ended their own season.  Their last game was on 24th April 1926 and he became City’s manager with 2 League games left the following Monday.  The Blues looked safe from relegation, but defeat at Newcastle saw City demoted (a point would have kept them up).

Similar End:  Hodge’s City career ended with defeat by a solitary goal in the dying seconds of the FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal in 1932.  The manager had already agreed to return to his previous club Leicester once City’s FA Cup campaign ended.

Season By Season Record:

League

1925-26 P 2 W 1      D 0      L 1      GF 4               GA 4   Pts 2

1926-27 P 42 W 22 D 10    L 10    GF 108          GA 61 Pts 54

1927-28 P 42 W 25 D 9      L 8      GF 100           GA 59 Pts 59

1928-29 P 42 W 18 D 9      L 15    GF 95             GA 86 Pts 45

1929-30 P 42 W 19 D 9      L 14    GF 91             GA 81 Pts 47

1930-31 P 42 W 18 D 10    L 14    GF 75             GA 70 Pts 46

1931-32 P 32 W 11 D 10    L 11    GF 70             GA 59 Pts 32

2 points for a win

FA Cup

1925-26 City competed in the FA Cup Final 2 days before he took over.

1926-27 P 1 W 0      D 0      L 1      GF 1   GA 4   Reached 3rd round

1927-28 P 3 W 2      D 0      L 1      GF 3   GA 2   Reached 5th round

1928-29 P 1 W 0      D 0      L 1      GF 1   GA 3   Reached 3rd round

1929-30 P 5 W 2      D 2      L 1      GF 18 GA 7   Reached 5th round

1930-31 P 1 W 0      D 0      L 1      GF 0   GA 3   Reached 3rd round

1931-32 P 5 W 4      D 0      L 1      GF 16 GA 7   Reached semi-final

TOTAL (League & cup fixtures)

P260   W122  D59     L79     GF  582         GA 446

Trophies Won: Second Division title 1927-28, the season after missing out on promotion by the tightest margin in the history of the game.

Followed By: City secretary Wilf Wild who went on to become a truly successful manager.

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The 1920s: Wembley

The new series on Manchester City in the 1920s continues today with a 4,900 word subscriber article on the 1925-26 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you are not currently a subscriber then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?

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Manchester City v Crystal Palace: A Record Breaking FAC Tie

With City and Palace now scheduled to meet in the FA Cup final it’s worth remembering that on 20 February 1926 City recorded an amazing victory over Palace in the competition. It was a fifth round FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace at Maine Road. The Blues, without a manager since November, were being managed by committee with director Albert Alexander senior making the final decisions. It’s an incredible thought that a director without ever being known as a player, could make these decisions but Alexander was a knowledgeable football man and had been with the club since formation in 1894.

By half-time the score was 7-0 to the Blues, but Palace would not give up and quickly pulled back four goals.  City were knocked out of their period of complacency and soon found their goalscoring touch again.  By the end it was 11-4 and, according to a number of spectators present on the day, Manchester fans rushed on at the final whistle and carried off the Palace ‘keeper shoulder high.  Apparently he had played extremely well and, somehow, managed to keep the score down, although one cannot help wondering if he’d have been given such a reception had the scores been reversed.

Frank Roberts was the City star for this particular game, scoring a remarkable five, while Tommy Browell also earned a few plaudits with his hat-trick. The other scorers were: Billy Austin, George Hicks and Tommy Johnson.

With no management and such a miserable time in the League, no one could believe how City had been able to deliver such strong cup performances.  Here’s film of the game:

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/crystal-palace-overwhelmed

The 1900s: 1903-1904 The FA Cup

Continuing the series of features on Manchester City in the early 1900s! Today it’s a 9400 (yes that’s right!) word article telling the story of 1903-04 when Manchester won its first major trophy. If you’re a subscriber you’ll need to get a brew before reading this celebration of that season. If you’re not a subscriber then why not?

Ever wondered how Manchester found its first major trophy success or what the scandal that rocked City was all about? Then subscribe and read this series of articles.

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Managerless City in 15 Goal Thriller

Today (20 February) in 1926 Manchester City recorded an amazing victory. It was a fifth round FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace to Maine Road. The Blues, without a manager since November, were being managed by committee with director Albert Alexander senior making the final decisions. It’s an incredible thought that a director without ever being known as a player, could make these decisions but Alexander was a knowledgeable football man and had been with the club since formation in 1894.

By half-time the score was 7-0 to the Blues, but Palace would not give up and quickly pulled back four goals.  City were knocked out of their period of complacency and soon found their goalscoring touch again.  By the end it was 11-4 and, according to a number of spectators present on the day, Manchester fans rushed on at the final whistle and carried off the Palace ‘keeper shoulder high.  Apparently he had played extremely well and, somehow, managed to keep the score down, although one cannot help wondering if he’d have been given such a reception had the scores been reversed.

Frank Roberts was the City star for this particular game, scoring a remarkable five, while Tommy Browell also earned a few plaudits with his hat-trick. With no management and such a miserable time in the League, no one could believe how City had been able to deliver such strong cup performances.  Here’s film of the game:

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/crystal-palace-overwhelmed