Tommy Hughes (footballer, born 1947) explained

Tommy Hughes
Fullname:Thomas Alexander Hughes
Birth Date:11 July 1947
Birth Place:Dalmuir, Scotland
Position:Goalkeeper
Clubs1:Clydebank
Years2:1966–1971
Caps2:11
Goals2:0
Years3:1971–1973
Caps3:16
Goals3:0
Years4:1973
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Clubs4:→ Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
Years5:1973–1982
Caps5:240
Goals5:0
Clubs5:Hereford United
Years6:1982
Clubs6:Trowbridge Town
Totalcaps:270
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1969–1970
Nationalteam1:Scotland under-23
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:1982–1983
Managerclubs1:Hereford United

Thomas Alexander Hughes[1] (born 11 July 1947)[2] is a Scottish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Hughes started out with semi-professional side Clydebank before joining Chelsea in 1966. However, he was always understudy to Peter Bonetti whilst with the west London side, meaning he made just 11 appearances in four years. Hughes won two Scottish under-23 caps while at Chelsea.[3] [4]

Hughes was transferred to Aston Villa for £12,500 in May 1971.[3] Hughes played sixteen times for Aston Villa in 1971–72, when Villa just pipped Brighton & Hove Albion for the Third Division championship. Hughes then lost his place at Aston Villa to Jim Cumbes. He went on loan to Brighton for a month in February 1973 when Brighton were struggling at the bottom of the Second Division. Hughes played three games for Brighton, whose manager Pat Saward was keen to sign him as permanently.

Brighton could not match the asking price, and Hughes was transferred to Hereford United in August 1973 for £15,000.[1] He spent nine seasons with Hereford United, and was a part of the side which won the Third Division championship in 1975–76. He was later caretaker manager of the club during the 1982–83 season.

Notes and References

  1. Albion A-Z, Who's Who of Brighton and Hove Albion FC p119
  2. The PFA Premier Football League Records 1946-2005, ed. Barry J Hugman
  3. Chelsea Football Club The Full Statistical Story 1905-1986 by Scott Cheshire and Ron Hockings
  4. Web site: Tommy Hughes . fitbastats.com . 8 September 2015 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071422/http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu23/player.php?playerid=143 . live .