Rodgerson: Ralph

1921-1923 (Player Details)

Inside Forward

Born: Sunderland: 30-12-1892

Debut v Nottingham Forest (h): 23-04-1921

5’9” 12st 0lb (1921)

Rodgerson’s experience served Leeds well in their early days. He began with Pallion Institute, a local Sunderland side. He joined Burnley in the 1912-13 season but did not feature in their first team before moving to Huddersfield Town in March 1913 and made his debut for the Terriers the following season, but it was his only game before war interrupted. In the 1916-17 season he made one appearance for Dundee while on loan as a guest during the First World War and he also made three War-time League and two Wartime friendly appearances in 1919 for Hartlepool United. He played for Huddersfield Town after the war making a further twenty-five appearances for them, making eleven appearances for them in 1919-20, when they gained promotion to the First Division, and the had made 14 appearances at the elite level in the 1920-21 season before he moved to Leeds in March 1921 and managed three appearances in United’s final three games of the season in place of Jimmy Frew. He started as first choice left-back the following season but Jimmy Frew fought back to reclaim his spot for the last dozen games of the season and Rodgerson never displaced him. In October 1922 he returned to the North-East for a spell in the Wearside League, With Sunderland West End, although Leeds retained his registration and in January 1923 he joined Dundee. He made five appearances for them in the 1922-23 season. He later went into Non-League football with Spennymoor United and Carlisle United. His son Ralph was on the books of Sunderland from 1935 to 1938 and made five appearances in the top flight. He was also related to Ted Rodgerson who played with Huddersfield Town, Southend United, Bury, Brighton & Hove Albion and Clapton Orient.