Steve Hodge is a British football speaker and former player who played for a number of English clubs during his high profile career. Beginning his senior career in 1980 Hodge played for almost twenty years at a range of clubs including two stints at Nottingham Forest. With a total of eight years spent at Nottingham Forest, Steve Hodge remains one of the clubs most well respected players, though he now works as a development coach and caretaker manager for the team’s local rivals Notts County. Alongside his work as a coach, Hodge has also cultivated a prolific career as a sports speaker, appearing at specialist sporting events, corporate functions and as an after dinner speaker at both Nottingham Forest and Notts County.
Known as a left footed goal scorer on the pitch and as a charismatic football speaker off of it, Steve Hodge was popular with Nottingham Forest fans and had played for the team as a child. It came as a surprise to many when Forest accepted a transfer bid of £450,000 for Hodge from Aston Villa in 1985. Less than three years later however Hodge would return to Forest and his former glory. Above all else, however, Hodge is remembered by most football fans for his part in the fateful 1984 World Cup game against Argentina when Diego Maradona and fellow British East Midlands'er and football speaker, Peter Shilton challenged for the ball culminating in an allowed hand ball goal from Maradona which knocked England out of the competition. As an after dinner speaker. Steve Hodge continues to speak of the incident and how he overcame the set back.
Recognised as a national sporting star, Hodge has been awarded for his great success on the field. His time at Nottingham Forest resulted in him winning the Player of the Year award for the 1982-1983 season as well as being selected as the Football League First Division PFS Team of the Year in 1990. Having amassed a number of League Cup and FA Cup titles throughout his career, Hodge is a football legend in his own right. As an after dinner speaker, Steve Hodge is charming, entertaining and most importantly engaging for all audiences watching. Sharing his stories from the pitch, the highs, and lows of his career and what drove him to the top, Hodge is a great addition to any event.
Champions Director, Jack Hayes, sat down with Steve to discuss his career highlights, Maradonna's left foot, and his work with football legend Brian Clough, in our exclusive interview.
How to hire Steve Hodge
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Steve Hodge for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
"All was good and everybody enjoyed the evening. There was some very interesting stories about his Forest and England career. Please pass on our thanks to Steve from everyone also many thanks to yourself for the professional manner that you have dealt with Gareth and myself throughout." - Paul, NFFC Supporters Club
"The night was a great success, Steve was excellent , he really engaged with the crowd and gave some great advice to the kids he told some great stories from his playing days, he was really patient and a pleasure to have." - Concord Rangers Football Club
