Jeff Hughes (footballer) explained

Jeff Hughes
Fullname:Jeffrey Edward Hughes[1]
Birth Date:29 May 1985[2]
Birth Place:Larne, Northern Ireland
Currentclub:Larne (head of youth development phase)
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2001–2002
Youthclubs1:Ballymena United
Youthyears2:2002–2003
Youthclubs2:Larne
Years1:2003–2005
Clubs1:Larne
Caps1:47
Goals1:1
Years2:2005–2007
Clubs2:Lincoln City
Caps2:63
Goals2:8
Years3:2007–2008
Clubs3:Crystal Palace
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:2007–2008
Clubs4:Peterborough United (loan)
Caps4:7
Goals4:1
Years5:2008
Clubs5:Bristol Rovers (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2008–2011
Clubs6:Bristol Rovers
Caps6:129
Goals6:28
Years7:2011–2013
Clubs7:Notts County
Caps7:89
Goals7:20
Years8:2013–2015
Clubs8:Fleetwood Town
Caps8:47
Goals8:4
Years9:2015–2016
Clubs9:Cambridge United
Caps9:9
Goals9:0
Years10:2016
Clubs10:Tranmere Rovers (loan)
Caps10:18
Goals10:1
Years11:2016–2018
Clubs11:Tranmere Rovers
Caps11:76
Goals11:4
Years12:2018–2023
Clubs12:Larne
Caps12:90
Goals12:10
Totalcaps:585
Totalgoals:77
Nationalyears1:2006
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U21[3]
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalyears2:2006
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland[4]
Nationalcaps2:2
Club-Update:12:49 (UTC) 8 February 2023
Nationalgoals2:0
Ntupdate:12:49, 8 February 2023 (UTC)

Jeffrey Edward Hughes (born 29 May 1985) is a retired Northern Irish footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He has also played internationally for Northern Ireland, making his debut during their 2006 summer tour of the United States. He is currently Head of Youth Development Phase at Larne.

Career

Hughes played for the Ballymena United academy, before transferring to the academy at hometown club Larne. He went on to make his Irish League debut for The Harbour Rats, before moving to The Football League in England to join Lincoln City in League Two.

He was originally deployed in the left-back position for Larne, however under John Schofield at Lincoln, he has proven that he is equally adept at playing a more attacking role as a wing-back and a winger on the left side.

Despite Hughes' three goals over two legs against Bristol Rovers,[5] [6] Lincoln experienced their fourth-successive play-off defeat in 2007, and Hughes moved to Crystal Palace of The Championship, reaching his highest level yet. However, he struggled at Selhurst Park. He went on a two-month loan to Peterborough United in November 2007, scoring once against Bradford City.[7] In the January transfer window, Peterborough tried to agree terms with Hughes to sign him, but failed to do so, and thus he returned to Palace.

At the end of March, Bristol Rovers signed Hughes on a loan deal until the end of the season, but he was injured on his reserve team debut, after giving Rovers the lead. He returned to Palace for treatment, before signing permanently for Rovers in the summer.

On 30 April 2010 he was called to the Northern Ireland B national football team for a friendly against Scotland national football B team on 6 May 2010.

On 18 September 2010 Hughes scored his first professional hat-trick away to Dagenham and Redbridge, a game which Rovers won 3–0.

He was one of seventeen players released by the team in May 2011.[8]

On 28 June 2011, Hughes signed for League One side Notts County on a two-year deal.[9] He scored on his league debut against Carlisle United on 6 August 2011.

On 22 May 2013, Hughes signed for Fleetwood Town.[10]

On 14 July 2015, Hughes signed a two-year contract with Cambridge United.[11]

In January 2016, Hughes moved to Tranmere Rovers, on loan for the rest of the season,[12] before signing a two-year deal with them in July of that year.[13]

On 11 April 2018, Hughes rejoined his hometown club Larne on a 3-year deal. During his second spell at the club, Hughes lead the Inver men to the Championship title in 2019 and promotion back into the Irish Premiership, for the first time since 2005. Success followed, as Larne would go onto win the County Antrim Shield three times, qualify for Europe on two occasions, including a magnificent campaign in 2021, winning through against Bala Town and Aarhus GF. Domestically, Hughes guided Larne to another Irish Cup final, losing to Linfield, but ultimately winning their first Irish League title in the clubs 134-year history in 2022–23 season.

On 8 February 2023, Hughes announced his retirement following a serious injury,[14] remaining at Larne in the role of Head of Youth Development Phase.[15]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lincoln City2005–06League Two242000000242
2006–0741600102[16] 3449
Lincoln total6580010236811
Crystal Palace2007–08Championship100000000100
Peterborough United (loan)2007–08League Two7120000091
Bristol Rovers2008–09League One43610101[17] 0466
2009–1044121120104813
2010–1142101010214611
Bristol Rovers total1292831404114030
Notts County2011–12League One45134410005017
2012–13447301010497
Notts County total89207420109924
Fleetwood Town2013–14League Two253311031325
2014–15League One221100000231
Fleetwood total474411031556
Cambridge United2015–16League Two90110010111
Tranmere Rovers (loan)2015–16National League18100colspan=2---00181
Tranmere Rovers2016–17National League40200colspan=2---3[18] 0432
Career total414641778014545376

Honours

Tranmere Rovers

2017–18

Larne

2018–19

(3) 2020–21,[19] 2021–22,[20] 2022-23[21] Individual

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hugman . Barry J. . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09 . Mainstream Publishing . 2008 . 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 . 2009 . Mainstream Publishing . Edinburgh . 978-1-84596-474-0.
  3. Book: Glenda. Rollin. Jack. Rollin. Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013. 2012. Headline. London. 978-0-7553-6356-8. 974. 43rd.
  4. News: Jeff Hughes. NIFG. 5 January 2007. 4 November 2013.
  5. Web site: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Lincoln City . BBC. 12 May 2007 . 14 September 2015.
  6. Web site: Lincoln City 3-5 Bristol Rovers . BBC. 17 May 2007 . 14 September 2015.
  7. Web site: Peterborough 2–1 Bradford. BBC. 22 December 2007 . 14 February 2010.
  8. News: Midfielder Jeff Hughes heads Bristol Rovers exodus . BBC Sport. 23 May 2011 . 23 May 2011.
  9. Web site: Hughes Agrees Deal . https://web.archive.org/web/20120401140035/http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10426~2382868%2C00.html . 1 April 2012 . Notts County F.C. . 28 June 2011 . 18 October 2013 . dead .
  10. Web site: Hughes opts for Highbury . Fleetwood Town FC . 22 May 2013.
  11. Web site: Jeff Hughes joins U's . Cambridge United . 14 July 2015.
  12. News: Tranmere Rovers: Jeff Hughes joins from Cambridge on loan . BBC Sport . 2 January 2016 . 10 July 2017.
  13. News: Jeff Hughes: Tranmere Rovers re-sign Cambridge United midfielder . BBC Sport . 8 July 2016 . 10 July 2017.
  14. Web site: Jeff Hughes announces retirement. larnefc.com. 8 February 2023. 8 February 2023.
  15. Web site: Jeff Hughes appointed as Head of Youth Development Phase. larnefc.com. 8 February 2023. 8 February 2023.
  16. Appearances in the League Two play-offs
  17. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  18. Appearances in the National League play-offs
  19. News: County Antrim Shield final: Larne defeat Glens in Seaview shootout. 2 December 2020. BBC Sport. 19 December 2020.
  20. News: Co Antrim Shield: Impressive Larne see off Linfield in gripping final to retain trophy. 11 January 2022. BBC Sport. 31 January 2022.
  21. News: County Antrim Shield final: Larne complete hat-trick with shootout win after lengthy injury delay. 17 January 2023. BBC Sport. 19 January 2023.