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.
 Hughes playing for Fleetwood Town in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jeffrey Edward Hughes[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 May 1985[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Larne, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Larne (head of youth development phase) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Ballymena United | ||
| 2002–2003 | Larne | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2005 | Larne | 47 | (1) |
| 2005–2007 | Lincoln City | 63 | (8) |
| 2007–2008 | Crystal Palace | 10 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2008 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2011 | Bristol Rovers | 129 | (28) |
| 2011–2013 | Notts County | 89 | (20) |
| 2013–2015 | Fleetwood Town | 47 | (4) |
| 2015–2016 | Cambridge United | 9 | (0) |
| 2016 | → Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2016–2018 | Tranmere Rovers | 76 | (4) |
| 2018–2023 | Larne | 90 | (10) |
| Total | 585 | (77) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006 | Northern Ireland U21[3] | 7 | (3) |
| 2006 | Northern Ireland[4] | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:49 (UTC) 8 February 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:49, 8 February 2023 (UTC) | |||
Career edit
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 B national football 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 edit
- As of 10 July 2017
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lincoln City | 2005–06[16] | League Two | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| 2006–07[17] | 41 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 3 | 44 | 9 | ||
| Lincoln total | 65 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 68 | 11 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 2007–08[18] | Championship | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Peterborough United (loan) | 2007–08[18] | League Two | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2008–09[19] | League One | 43 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 46 | 6 |
| 2009–10[20] | 44 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 48 | 13 | ||
| 2010–11[21] | 42 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 1 | 46 | 11 | ||
| Bristol Rovers total | 129 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 140 | 30 | ||
| Notts County | 2011–12[22] | League One | 45 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 17 |
| 2012–13[23] | 44 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 49 | 7 | ||
| Notts County total | 89 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 99 | 24 | ||
| Fleetwood Town | 2013–14[24] | League Two | 25 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | 32 | 5 |
| 2014–15[25] | League One | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| Fleetwood total | 47 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 55 | 6 | ||
| Cambridge United | 2015–16[26] | League Two | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 2015–16[26] | National League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Tranmere Rovers | 2016–17[27] | National League | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | --- | 3[c] | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| Career total | 414 | 64 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 453 | 76 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the League Two play-offs
- ^ a b c d e f Appearances in the Football League Trophy
- ^ Appearances in the National League play-offs
Honours edit
Tranmere Rovers
Larne
- NIFL Championship: 2018–19
- County Antrim Shield: (3) 2020–21,[28] 2021–22,[29] 2022-23[30]
Individual
- NIFL Championship Team of the Year 2018-19
References edit
- ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
- ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
- ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 974. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
- ^ "Jeff Hughes". NIFG. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Bristol Rovers 2-1 Lincoln City". BBC. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Lincoln City 3-5 Bristol Rovers". BBC. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Peterborough 2–1 Bradford". BBC. 22 December 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
- ^ "Midfielder Jeff Hughes heads Bristol Rovers exodus". BBC Sport. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
- ^ "Hughes Agrees Deal". Notts County F.C. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Hughes opts for Highbury". Fleetwood Town FC. 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Jeff Hughes joins U's". Cambridge United. 14 July 2015.
- ^ "Tranmere Rovers: Jeff Hughes joins from Cambridge on loan". BBC Sport. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Jeff Hughes: Tranmere Rovers re-sign Cambridge United midfielder". BBC Sport. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Jeff Hughes announces retirement". larnefc.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Jeff Hughes appointed as Head of Youth Development Phase". larnefc.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Jeff Hughes in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "County Antrim Shield final: Larne defeat Glens in Seaview shootout". BBC Sport. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Co Antrim Shield: Impressive Larne see off Linfield in gripping final to retain trophy". BBC Sport. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "County Antrim Shield final: Larne complete hat-trick with shootout win after lengthy injury delay". BBC Sport. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
External links edit
- Jeff Hughes at Soccerbase
