Cyril Hodges was born in Hackney, London, in 1919. After playing with Eton Manor, Cyril joined Arsenal in 1944 and turned professional in April 1945. He made two appearances for Arsenal in the Football League, before joining Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made a further nine League appearances.
After a spell as a player-coach with Haywards Heath, Cyril spent eleven years as trainer and then coach at Brighton & Hove Albion.