The Thank You Article: Exeter City

No Thank You: Gordon Hobson

Hobson is an all-time favourite of my Dad, probably of your Dad and anyone else who watched the Imps in the eighties. He arrived from non-league and made 272 appearances in his first spell. As we died away in the mid eighties he left us, bound for Grimsby of all places for a fee of £35,000 or around £104,000 allowing for inflation.

We had to sell, June 1985 was a tough time to be an Imp as I’ve started outlining in my review of the 1985/86 season. In November 1986 Hobson went to First Division Southampton, before finally arriving back at Sincil Bank in 1988, this time costing us £60,000.

In his second spell, he caught my youthful eye, bagging 23 goals in 61 outings. He thoroughly impressed me with his exciting wing play and keen eye for goal. He lasted two seasons before leaving after a 5-1 defeat against Champions Exeter.

That’s where the Grecians came in, making him a summer signing. It was the second time Hobson had left the club at the same time as Colin Murphy and it broke my heart a little bit. He played 38 times for Exeter, scoring seven before a short move to Walsall.

I’d love to meet Hobson one day, he’s the only ex-player I’ve never got to meet who is still alive and well somewhere.