Eddie Hopkinson
Goalkeeper Eddie Hopkinson appeared in a club record 519 League games for Bolton Wanderers. Born at Wheatley Hill, Durham, on 29 October 1935, Hopkinson became a "naturalised" Lancastrian when his family moved to Royton. He signed as an amateur for Oldham Athletic and was only 16 when he played in three Third Division North games in 1951-2. He joined Bolton in August 1952 and signed professional forms in the following November. At the beginning of 1956-7 regular keeper Ken Grieves could not be released by Lancashire CCC. Hopkinson made his debut at Blackpool and was ever present that season. At 5ft 9in his was one of the smallest goalkeepers in Division One, but in 1957 he won the first of Six England under-23 caps and in October that year made his full international debut. Altogether he won 14 full caps and a FA Cup winners' medal in 1958. Hopkinson remained first choice until injury forced his retirement in November 1969. He became assistant trainer at Burnden, coaching the Youth and Reserve sides, and left in July 1974 to join Stockport County as assistant manager. Hopkinson was awarded at testimonial in May 1971; a game in which Portuguese World Cup stars Simones and Eusebio appeared. In 1979 he returned to Burnden as a goalkeeping coach but eventually left the game to become a representative for a chemical company. His son, Paul, kept goal for Stockport County.
|
|
LEAGUE |
FA CUP |
FL CUP |
TOTAL |
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
1955-56
1956-57
1957-58
1958-59
1959-60
1960-61
1961-62
1962-63
|
App
25
33
42
39
40
42
37
37
42
39
32
11
419
|
Gls
4
2
1
1
4
4
3
2
4
3
11
1
40 |
App
1
8
6
2
2
1
7
6
3
3
1
0
40 |
Gls
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
3 |
App
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
0
0
4 |
Gls
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
0
0
1 |
App
26
41
48
41
42
43
44
43
45
46
33
11
463 |
Gls
4
4
1
1
4
4
3
3
4
4
11
1
44 |
|