Date of Birth
23 Sep 1895
Birthplace
Dewsbury, Yorkshire
Nationality
English
Signed for LFC
1921
LFC Debut
27 Aug 1921
LFC Appearances
360
LFC Goals
12
Born in the North-East of England, Hopkin was signed by Liverpool from Manchester United in 1921.
He had made 74 appearances and scored eight goals in two post-war seasons at United, where his career began in earnest. Hopkin was an 'ever-present' during Liverpool's 1921-22 championship season, the club's third First Division title.
The fourth followed just a year later in an extraordinarily 'settled' team with no fewer than 10 players making at least 37 out of the maximum number of 42 league appearances. Hopkin missed just two matches and scored his first goal for the club against Bolton Wanderers early in March 1923. The goal was followed by a fire in the Anfield road stand. The joke was that Hopkin was to blame as people were so shocked he had actually scored in his 78th appearance for the club. The smoke clouded the field of play, but after the arrival of the fire brigade, the game could go on and finished with a 3-0 win for Liverpool.
Hopkin was not renowned as a goalscorer, just 12 in 10 seasons, but was certainly a provider from his position on the wing for the likes of Harry Chambers and Dick Forshaw during the two championship years and also later in the decade for Gordon Hodgson.
Remarkably free from injury during his decade at Anfield, Hopkin clocked up first-team appearances rapidly and by the time he played his final game for the club towards the end of the 1930-31 season, he had played 360 league and cup games.
Other clubs:
Darlington; Tottenham (wartime guest); Man Utd, Darlington (2)