Lee Hodges has achieved the dream of every football fan.
For four years, the midfielder was surrounded by his heroes, and was a part of Harry Redknapp’s high flying Hammers’ squad.
Born in Plaistow, Hodges played for a number of Academies before eventually joining his boyhood Club. His work in the Academy led to six appearances in the first team.
“I actually started out at Tottenham,” Hodges laughed. “But I really kicked on and at that time Arsenal was the place to be if you were really excelling, so I moved across North London after about a year with Spurs.
“I had two or three good years with Arsenal before I moved to Charlton, so I moved around a fair bit! West Ham came in for me just as I was about to sign my YTS forms with Charlton, and as they say, the rest is history.
“It was an easy decision for me. I am a massive West Ham fan and I always have been. They offered me a good contract but I didn’t really need persuading. My family and I were ecstatic.
“It was incredible to sign the paperwork to make me a West Ham player. In the years building up to that moment I was in the North Bank at Upton Park cheering the team on. All of a sudden, there was a realisation that I was going to be playing with some of my heroes.”
LIFE AT CHADWELL HEATH
Walking into Chadwell Heath for the first time, surrounded by history, is a special feeling for any young player. But to do it for the first time as a West Ham fan was extra special for Hodges.
“The first few days were incredible. Just to walk in and to be surrounded by the club I’ve supported my whole life; it was so special. I was surrounded by players that I had cheered on at Upton Park and the next thing you know there they were taking the mickey out of me at the training ground.
“It was so surreal. One of my most vivid memories is when Mark Robson started giving me lifts into training. He lived just around the corner from me, and he offered to drive me to the training ground. It was a crazy moment for me and I think that’s when the reality hit. I had gone from a West Ham fan to a West Ham player, and it was incredible.
“I had a lot of success at youth level. Our team was extremely strong. We had the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Keith and Lee Boylan It was such a good group of lads both on and off the pitch.
“We won so many matches, we managed to win the league and we also made it to the final of the FA Youth Cup where we unfortunately lost. But to get to the final of that competition is a real achievement.
“The spirit of the team was unbelievable, we always had fun, we always had a good laugh. It was probably one of my most enjoyable times in football. We all got on really well, we had a great time and we were winning. It was perfect.”
UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES
Hodges faced tough competition for places during his time at West Ham, and the midfielder had to patiently wait for his opportunity to come, as he watched fellow Academy players stake their claim in the first team.
“A few of the lads started to get first team opportunities, and I just kept my head down and continued to push myself. I was very determined to create an opportunity for myself. West Ham always was, and still is, a team that will give Academy players a chance if they’re good enough. I just had to prove that I was indeed good enough.
“I was in a difficult situation because there were some really good players who played in my position. Eyal Berkovic was at the club at that time and he was one of our best players. We also had Trevor Sinclair, so there were two established first teamers that played in my position. That made it extremely difficult to break through.”
Hodges’ patience was finally rewarded in January 1998 as Redknapp handed the young midfielder his Premier League debut, against Tottenham Hotspur.
It was a full circle moment for Hodges, making his debut for his boyhood club at the home of the first Academy he played for.
“I am so glad that I did get my opportunity to make my debut for this Club. It was an away game against Tottenham and it is something that nobody can take away from me now. As much as it is a little gutting that I never had a few more opportunities, I still achieved everything that every football fan dreams of in playing for my boyhood club.
“The game and my debut itself is all still a bit of a blur to me. I was so overcome with emotion and the moment meant so much to me. Walking onto that pitch in front of tens of thousands of fans and being surrounded by top players was just unbelievable.
“I remember warming up along the touchline and all the West Ham fans clapping in the corner as I ran towards them. I actually started to look around to try and work out who they were clapping but I was warming up alone. That was a superb feeling and a real confidence boost as well.”
By the time Hodges turned 20 in March, he had made four appearances for the Hammers, but it was his fifth appearance for the club that was perhaps the standout memory for boyhood West Ham fan.
Redknapp’s West Ham faced Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final replay at a packed out Boleyn Ground. Hodges was introduced to the match in the 77th minute with the Gunners 1-0 ahead.
“Another moment aside from my debut that stands out is when John Hartson scored against Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. I remember jumping on his back as he ran alongside the Chicken Run and all I could smell was booze! The fans were going crazy though, it was a moment of pure delight.
“It was a late equaliser in the replay and the goal sent us to extra time. I was brought on as a late substitute to try to help us back into the match and all of a sudden, I found myself on the pitch for extra time in a massive match for the club. I remember standing in the middle of the pitch just before extra time and the fans started to sing ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’.
“We almost won in extra time but lost on penalties, but even now, thinking about that rendition of ‘Bubbles’, it makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. It was just echoing around the stadium; it was so loud. When you’re a fan in the stand it sounds good, but when you are on that football pitch it is another level of noise and as a West Ham fan, that is a moment that will live with me forever.”
MOVING ON & RETIREMENT
After four years with his boyhood club, and five loan spells, it became apparent to Hodges that chances would continue to be rare. Eventually, he decided that he had no other option but to pursue a new chapter.
“I spoke to the gaffer several times and Harry sent me out on loan a few times, but he always told me that he wanted me to stay at the club. As nice as that was to hear, I never really felt like I was part of his plans. It got to a point where I didn’t want to just keep going out on loan, because I had done that a few times.
“I went to speak to the gaffer and I asked him whether I had any chance of really being involved for the first team and he couldn’t promise me that. I still don’t know if leaving the club was the best decision for me, but at that time I didn’t really see another option.
“I decided to try something new. My approach was to take a step back and to drop down a level to then enable myself to work my way back to the top. I wanted to feel like I was a part of something and I made the decision to go and join Scunthorpe where I spent three thoroughly enjoyable years.
“Even my time at Scunthorpe is a bit of a blur; there were some great moments and of course some bad moments for me. I remember having some good scoring runs but I also missed a penalty in an important game for the club. It was much better for me than another loan though, it allowed me to settle and build a life for myself.
“Unfortunately, that’s really where it all ended for me. I had a bad injury and retired at the age of 26.
“I work in construction now - I never really had much interest in getting into coaching. I’ve got four daughters and I am very happy with my life. Some people are surprised that I’m not gutted and disappointed that certain things didn’t work out in my football career, but I look at it in another way. I achieved the dream of every football fan and I can always say that I have played for West Ham. That’s good enough for me!”
