Oh for an Ian Gibson.
Well-Known Member
They can have it, after all they did sell us Bill Glazier (even though it was a world record fee for a goalkeeper at the time.)
George Hudson passed away (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter clint van damme
- Start date
Covcraig@bury
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This is very sad , I had the privilege of meeting George on many occasions, I remember moving to Bury late 87 and becoming a close friend to his son Alan . I was was sat there in George’s house just talking away when Alan said ..I was born in Coventry and my dad played for them .. well I really did think he was taking the piss . Next thing George brings out this book/bible as large as you like . Every pink/telegraph cutting about him , well I was in shock/heaven , I could not believe I was in the same room as the great man himself. The years have gone by and I got to know him and his family. I remember one Friday night going for a pint at the Bay Horse on Parr Lane which is George’s local and all hell broke out . He was hard as nails and never shy of a punch up .
Alan , Chris ,Lynn and Dean . My thoughts are with you . We have all lost a great man . R.I.P George one of the best xx
Alan , Chris ,Lynn and Dean . My thoughts are with you . We have all lost a great man . R.I.P George one of the best xx
Oh for an Ian Gibson.
Well-Known Member
That is a truly brilliant story, my condolences to Georges family.
oscillatewildly
Well-Known Member
Thank god for your recollections, rattles - and those of others. You certainly won't read about this in any book!
I only ever met George Hudson once - In the foyer of the Ricoh after a former players gathering. I've become a bit of a 'train spotter' in my elder years and like to get autographs. When I realised who he was I genuinely felt in awe as I asked for his.
Like many others have said - he was before my time, but there can't be many City fans who are not aware of his name and the status he was held in by supporters.
RIP George.
no_loyalty
Well-Known Member
RIP George, Sky Blues legend.
bringbackrattles
Well-Known Member
I wrote an article for Late Tackle on players I've met by chance etc a couple of months ago, and it was published. The editor loved it as I wrote about bumping into Jimmy Greaves at the Central Studios,as he is a Spurs fan and Greavsie is a legend at his club. I'll write about the HUD coming out of his house to us kids, and watching him train at Shilton,and us kids stood there in awe !
capel & collindridge
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My family moved to Cardiff at Christmas in 1958 and though we got to a fair number of City games between us for the next ten brilliant years, I missed quite a few George Hudson games. But I never saw us lose when the Hud was playing. You just knew that whatever the state of the game, he would conjure a winning or equalising goal out of the hat somehow. He always did. As a Coventry fan for many years - in fact up until the last two or three years - the luxury of knowing that you were always likely to get something out of almost every game was just not part of the experience of being a City supporter. The combination of the two Georges offering such solid assurance in the centre of the pitch in both attack and defence was inspirational to supporters and provided a firm framework for flair players like Ernie Machin and Ronnie Rees to create great opportunities for the Hud to bury in the net!
Covcraig@bury
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Another one at the time . Alan was a great footballer , centre forward like his dad . Got into a conversation with George.. Alan was given the chance to go Villa , George told Alan , you can’t go Villa you was born in cov . Alan joined the Royal Navy instead . Loved that story (30) years ago or more .
play_in_skyblue_stripes
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Nice post Craig. I heard he was a legend round Whitefield.
bringbackrattles
Well-Known Member
Jimmy Hill replaced Terry Bly with Hudson which was met with shock and anger. But it turned out to be spot on as the HUD was prolific. Then Jimmy decided it was time for Hudson to go and that was a surprise too. But Hill knew what he was doing, even though at the time fans thought he was barmy !
capel & collindridge
Well-Known Member
Northampton were promoted to the First Division during the time George Hudson was with us but somehow managed to go from the Fourth Division to the First and back again right down to the Fourth within a decade I think. They reached the top flight before us but didn't stay quite so long! I seem to remember the suddenness of George's departure from Coventry was quite a shock at the time and wasn't it believed to be do with something going on behind the scenes involving a director maybe?
NortonSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
It may seem a strange move but Northampton were a year more advanced in their ascendancy than we were. Hill was proven right as Gould did well and we were promoted as the Cobblers went down, all the way down.
Never has an away player been given the reception The HUD got on his return with Tranmere in the cup in 68.
Cov kid 55
Well-Known Member
Yep, Jimmy Hill used to regularly remind the players that they could set the mood in the car factories for the following week , by the way we played on the Saturday. I remember coming back into Cov station on Sky Blue Specials, and there were big signs saying ‘Welcome to Coventry, City of Skills and Opportunities’. Went pear shaped in the 80’s of course.
As for selling him to Northampton, BBR is dead right, it was greeted with shock and anger by all fans (Taxi for Hill
). But Hill knew what he was doing, and despite the Huds superb goalscoring ability (62 goals in 113 games), memory tells me that we became a stronger team, and we of course progressed to win the second division title.
As for selling him to Northampton, BBR is dead right, it was greeted with shock and anger by all fans (Taxi for Hill
). But Hill knew what he was doing, and despite the Huds superb goalscoring ability (62 goals in 113 games), memory tells me that we became a stronger team, and we of course progressed to win the second division title.
bringbackrattles
Well-Known Member
Jimmy Hill could be ruthless and didnt care what anybody thought. But he had the knack at seeing talent in a player, and he was spot on almost all the time. He brought in George Kirby who got a hat trick on his debut,but was only bought as a short term striker. He also seemed to know when a player was replaceable while us fans thought he'd lost the plot. Jimmy Hill knew a lot more than we did !Yep, Jimmy Hill used to regularly remind the players that they could set the mood in the car factories for the following week , by the way we played on the Saturday. I remember coming back into Cov station on Sky Blue Specials, and there were big signs saying ‘Welcome to Coventry, City of Skills and Opportunities’. Went pear shaped in the 80’s of course.
As for selling him to Northampton, BBR is dead right, it was greeted with shock and anger by all fans (Taxi for Hill
Hudson was sold to Northampton who were in the first division at the time for £29000 a good fee in those days George was about 30 would be seen as on top of the hill in those days about at his peak and we had young Bobby Gould and John Tudor and looking back was probably good business, in the next closed season Hill doubled that fee and bought Ian Gibson architect of our promotion to the top flight.
If we could only recreate another George Hudson this transfer window .
Calista
Well-Known Member
Some great recollections on this thread. I know that I must have seen George play quite a few times, but sadly I was too young to appreciate it properly, and there are no clear memories other than the day we won the Third Division. But my Dad spoke his name with the kind of reverence that left me in no doubt about his hero status.
RIP George, a genuine legend.
RIP George, a genuine legend.
Johhny Blue
Well-Known Member
I still have my Ray Pointer star badge somewhere
Houchens Head
Fairly well known member from Malvern
Many names are bandied about as "legends", but to me, George Hudson truly was a City legend. RIP George and may your God, whoever he may be, go with you. 
bringbackrattles
Well-Known Member
I recall George getting sent off away from home after decking a player who niggled him. Think he did some boxing before becoming a footballer ? He definitely could handle himself. Proper old style player, no messing about just get on with his job,which he was very good at. As we can see with all the stories and tributes, he was a legend and will never be forgotten.
Johhny Blue
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What was hiss middle name? G. B. H. would be fitting initials
bringbackrattles
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A lot of centre forwards were tough and hardy back then, because the centre halves were usually like George Curtis, so they had to give it back. I couldn't see them wearing gloves or rolling about as if they'd been shot !
Johhny Blue
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I had a lot of conversations with George Curtis over the years and he once told me that it wasn’t his job to pass to anyone. His job was to keep the ball as far away from our penalty area without actually killing anyone
bringbackrattles
Well-Known Member
George ran the Chip Butty after retiring and strangely they never had much trouble in there,I wonder why ?
Johhny Blue
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He battered more than cod when he needed toGeorge ran the Chip Butty after retiring and strangely they never had much trouble in there,I wonder why ?
I was at that game Huddersfield away, the player he knocked surname was Davidson, same player who was famously dropped on the eve or Prestons cup-final team to allow a young 17 year old Howard Kendall to play. It happened right in front of us I just remember Hudson laying him out.
I think aswell as football he was an aba champion as a youngster.
skyblue025
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My dad's favourite player of all time. RIP George.
cov donkey kick
Well-Known Member
A true legend George Hudson RIP
TewkesburySkyBlue
Well-Known Member
No definitely not Northampton were in the 1st division at the time so
It was a step up for George.
Pete in Portugal
Well-Known Member
Yes I remember that drawn cup match against Tranmere. I went to the replay at Tranmere, in an old stand with wooden benches, and saw a rather corpulent George score a screamer into the roof of our goal from outside the penalty area. He was a nightmare for defenders - and for referees.
bringbackrattles
Well-Known Member
I've done some research and it was John Coddington who the HUD floored in that match. He was the Huddersfield centre half and was marking George. By all accounts it was a boxers punch !
capel & collindridge
Well-Known Member
Referencing JB's comment earlier, it seems that unlike George Curtis, the Hud only battered Cod.