Hodges Set For 200 Games

Plymouth Argyle utility player Lee Hodges is set to make his 200th appearance for the Pilgrims in Saturday’s Championship game against Blackpool.

Hodges made his first league start of the season in the 1-0 win against Crystal Palace on Tuesday, slotting in at left-back to play his 199th game for Argyle.
The likeable ‘Hodgy’ is expected to play against Blackpool and reach the milestone of 200 games for the Home Park club.

Has there ever been a better free signing for Plymouth Argyle than Lee Hodges?

The long serving Pilgrim is proof that big transfer fees are sometimes no guarantee of quality or success.

Hodges recently agreed a new 1-year contract with Argyle and by the end of that deal the utility player would have been at Home Park for seven years.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker has been a model of consistency during his stint with the Pilgrims. Reliable, steady, brave, dependable and a winner are just some of the words that spring to mind when describing his Argyle career.

Hodges has never won many man-of-the-match awards for Argyle but equally he has never let the team down, a consistent seven-out-of-ten type of player, the unsung hero who just gets on with his job with no fuss or bother.
Name the last time that Hodges had a bad game for Argyle? You can’t!

While you’re at it name another Argyle player who has, in recent years, played at left-back, centre midfield, left midfield, striker, right-back and named as substitute goalkeeper. There is only one player that fits the bill, Mr Versatile himself, Lee Hodges!

Hodges first joined Argyle as a striker in February 1993 on-loan from Spurs, scoring two goals from six starts and one substitute appearance.
Following another loan spell, this time at Wycombe Wanderers, Spurs allowed the young striker to leave White Hart Lane and sign for Barnet on a free transfer. Over a 3-year period at Underhill, Hodges notched up 30 goals from 121 appearances, before signing for Reading in a £250,000 transfer in 1997.

In August 2001 Hodges was re-united with Argyle once again when former manager Paul Sturrock snapped up the Epping-born midfielder on a free transfer from Reading.
‘Hodgy’ would play a crucial role for the Pilgrims on the left side of midfield as Argyle stormed to the Division Three championship in 2002 and then again in 2004 when Argyle won the Division Two title.

As Argyle settled into life in the Championship Hodges again proved himself a team player providing cover for several different positions under three different managers. Injury has restricted his appearances in recent seasons, particularly a long-term back problem but the 34-year old is now just one game away from a double century of appearances for Argyle.

Every team needs a ‘Lee Hodges’ fortunately he already plays for Plymouth Argyle.