Lee Hughes

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Lee Hughes
Lee Hughes 1.png
Hughes playing for Kidderminster Harriers in a friendly match against Stourport Swifts on 14 July 2009.[1]
Personal information
Full name Lee Hughes[2]
Date of birth 22 May 1976 (1976-05-22) (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Smethwick, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Notts County
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1995–1997 Kidderminster Harriers 108 (51)
1997–2001 West Bromwich Albion 157 (80)
2001–2002 Coventry City 42 (15)
2002–2004 West Bromwich Albion 55 (11)
2007–2009 Oldham Athletic 55 (25)
2009 → Blackpool (loan) 3 (1)
2009– Notts County 98 (53)
National team‡
1996 England Semi-Pro 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:54, 16 February 2012 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 March 2010

Lee Hughes (born 22 May 1976) is an English Footballer who plays for Notts County as a striker. Hughes started his career with Kidderminster Harriers, and would go on to play for Coventry City and have two spells at West Bromwich Albion before being imprisoned for causing death by dangerous driving. Following his release Hughes restarted his football career at Oldham Athletic, spending time on loan at Blackpool before joining Notts County.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Non-League and West Bromwich Albion

On leaving Bristnall Hall High School, Oldbury in 1992 Hughes started playing semi-professionally in non-League football with Kidderminster Harriers in the Football Conference, as well as holding down a part-time job as a roofer. Although Hughes scored 35 goals in the 1996–97 season, Kidderminster failed to gain promotion to the Football League, losing out to Macclesfield Town. During his non-League playing days, Hughes had a trial at West Bromwich Albion, who were managed by Alan Buckley. Buckley thought that Hughes' best position was at right back and not as a striker but he failed to impress and was let go after a brief stay with the club.

At this point in his career Hughes was regarded as one of England's finest semi-professionals and was called up to the England C national football team.[4] In total, Hughes scored 70 goals in 139 games for Kidderminster in all competitions,[5] before he was sold to West Bromwich Albion for an initial £200,000, a record fee for a non-League player. He described it as a dream come true, being a lifelong supporter of the club.[citation needed] He made his debut as a substitute against Tranmere Rovers on the opening day of the 1997–98 season.[6]

Hughes was a key player in the Albion side of the late 1990s and early 2000s, scoring 31 First Division goals in the 1998–99 season – more than any other player in the Football League or the FA Premier League.

[edit] Coventry City

Albion were unsuccessful in their bid for promotion to the Premier League and in the summer of 2001 Hughes was sold to Coventry City for a club record transfer fee of £5 million.[7][8] He had a clause in his contract allowing him to talk to clubs offering Albion more than £5 m and Coventry offered £5,000,001. Coventry had just been relegated from the Premier league after 34 years of top flight football and Hughes was seen as the player to help fire the club back into the Premier League. However, they just missed out on the play-offs, while Albion were promoted in second place.[9][10]

[edit] Return to West Bromwich Albion

Hughes returned to Albion for £2.5 million – half the fee Albion had received for him a year earlier.[11] Despite being a regular in the first team, Hughes failed to score a single Premier League goal in the 2002–03 season and Albion were relegated in 19th place with just six wins and 26 points from 38 matches. The following season he was charged and convicted of causing death by dangerous driving - see below. He was imprisoned, and his contract with West Brom was terminated.

[edit] Oldham Athletic

In June 2007 before the date of his proposed release from prison, media reports surfaced that Hughes had entered into discussions over a move to join League One club Oldham Athletic. He signed a two-year contract at the club,[12] and after his release from prison on 20 August, was free to join Oldham Athletic.[13] His reported salary of £1,800-a-week at Boundary Park was less than a 10th of what he earned at the peak of his career with West Bromwich Albion.[14]

Hughes made his debut for Oldham in a 4–1 defeat at Hartlepool United on 1 September 2007.[15] He registered his first goals for Oldham in a 3–0 away win against Bournemouth on 25 November, scoring twice,[16] a performance which earned him a place in the "League One Team of the Week".[17] He scored his first hat-trick for the club against Millwall in a 3–2 victory at the New Den on 15 December 2007, again making the "League One Team of the Week".[18]

By the end of the season Hughes had scored eight goals, making him the club's second highest goalscorer. However, Oldham finished eighth and missed out on a play-off place. In the 2008–09 season, he scored 18 goals from 36 league starts and one goal in the Football League Trophy.

In March 2009 it was widely reported that Hughes had been involved in a drunken brawl with his manager John Sheridan where Hughes it was reported had him "in a headlock".[19][20] Sheridan later downplayed the incident as "jovial", saying "people have made things up".[21]

[edit] Loan move to Blackpool

On 26 March 2009 Hughes joined Championship club Blackpool on loan until the end of the season.[22] He made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle at Bloomfield Road on 4 April. His first goal for the club came on 18 April against Charlton Athletic at the Valley, when after coming on as an 89th minute substitute, and with Blackpool 2–1 down, he scored four minutes later to make the score 2–2.[23]

[edit] Notts County

In 2009, Hughes joined up with former club Kidderminster Harriers in an attempt to gain match fitness, playing in a 4–1 friendly win over Stourport Swifts on 14 July.[1] He later signed for League Two team Notts County on a two-year contract on 22 July 2009, on the same day that Sven-Göran Eriksson‎ arrived at the club as director of football.[24] On his debut he scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 victory over Bradford City. He then got his second hat-trick against Northampton Town. In December, during a 4–1 win over Burton Albion, Hughes scored another hat-trick, adding to his impressive goal tally.[25] On 17 April 2010, Hughes scored two goals in a 4–1 victory over Morecambe as County won promotion to League One. On 1 May, Hughes added another two goals in County's final home game of the season making him the first Notts player to score 30 league goals since Tommy Lawton in the 1949–50 season.

On 1 July 2010, Hughes signed a one-year extension to his contract that would see him at County until the summer of 2012. In an interview on the club's official website, Hughes said that he loved the city, the club, and the fans. Hughes also declared that he would "love" to end his career there.

On 8 September 2011, the day of the inauguration of the new stadium of Juventus FC, in the friendly match against the team of bianconeri, Hughes scored the goal of the definitive 1-1 draw. He signed a new 18-month contract to stay at the club, on 4 October 2011.

[edit] Career statistics

Correct as of match played 18 April 2010.
Seasons Club League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1995–97 Kidderminster Harriers 108 51 0 0 0 0 105 51
1997–2001 West Bromwich Albion 155 79 6 2 13 4 174 85
2001–02 Coventry City 42 15 0 0 2 0 44 15
2002–04 West Bromwich Albion 55 11 0 0 5 2 60 13
2007–2009 Oldham Athletic 53 25 3 1 2 0 60 26
2009 Blackpool (loan) 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
2009– Notts County 42 31 5 3 1 0 48 34
Total 453 213 14 6 23 6 495 225

[edit] Personal life

Hughes is married to Croatian Anna Kuzmanic and the couple, who lived in a £750,000 mock-Tudor mansion in Meriden, West Midlands before his conviction, have two daughters, Mia and Alana.[26]

During the 2003–04 season, Hughes was involved in a car crash in which his Mercedes CL500 collided with a Renault Scénic near the Warwickshire village of Meriden, West Midlands. A passenger in the Renault, Douglas Graham, was killed in the incident amid reports that he was not wearing a seatbelt, whilst his wife Maureen and the driver Albert Frisby were severely injured.[27] Hughes and his passenger left the scene, with some newspapers stating that this was due to Lee Hughes drinking or taking drugs prior to the accident. These claims have never been proven, nor an apology made. Lee Hughes and his passenger turned themselves in to the police the following day. Hughes was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and released on police bail.

On 9 August 2004, Hughes was found guilty of causing the death by dangerous driving of Douglas Graham, and of leaving the scene of an accident. The judge criticised Hughes for having a "callous disregard" for the four occupants of the Renault and he was sentenced to six years imprisonment and was banned from driving for ten years. His contract with West Bromwich Albion was terminated.[28] In January 2005, his appeal for his sentence to be reduced was refused.[29] He was held at HMP Featherstone in Staffordshire. While in prison it was reported that he had converted to Islam.[30][31] He played in the Staffordshire County Senior League for Featherstone F.C., the prison football team.

Upon his release Hughes made a public apology and confirmed that during his time in prison he met the daughter of Douglas Graham. Hughes stated, "In going some way to facing my responsibilities, I have met with a relative of the man who died and what was said will always remain a private and personal matter. For different reasons I think we were both pleased that the meeting occurred. I made mistakes and decisions that will live with me for the rest of my life. It also greatly affected my immediate family, including my wife and children."

Hughes also insisted he was determined to carry out community work to help others avoid the mistakes he made saying "Whilst it is not part of my contract it has always been my intention to do community work centred on the mistakes I have made, in the hope that it can go some way to preventing another tragedy occurring."[32]

On the 6th December 2011, Hughes was arrested and bailed for alleged sexual assault. He was then charged with the offence on 30 January 2012.[33] This alleged offence is currently subjudice.

[edit] Charitable work

While in prison Hughes helped to organise a charity football match which raised £5,000 for a children's hospice. A fellow prisoner told a newspaper that Hughes had set up the match to give something back to the community saying, "He's trying desperately hard to redeem himself. He is heartbroken."[34]

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b http://www.flickr.com/photos/harriers-online/3721996242/
  2. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 307. ISBN 1852916656. 
  3. ^ "Lee Hughes' profile at Notts County FC". Notts County F.C.. http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10426~8454,00.html. Retrieved 6 December 2011. 
  4. ^ "England's finest semi-professionals". The Football Association. 16 May 2002. http://www.thefa.com/England/NationalGameXI/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/05/11630.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-02. [dead link]
  5. ^ http://www.kidderminsterharriers.com/harriers/player.php?Player=239
  6. ^ Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion. Breedon Books. p. 119. ISBN 1-85983-474-4. 
  7. ^ "Coventry seal Hughes deal". BBC Sport. 8 August 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/1478115.stm. Retrieved 26 April 2007. 
  8. ^ "Albion's timeline". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 19 July 2007. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10366~1018329,00.html. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
  9. ^ "Coventry sack Nilsson and Smith". BBC Sport. 16 April 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/1933074.stm. Retrieved 26 March 2009. 
  10. ^ "Baggies back in big time". BBC Sport. 21 April 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1935828.stm. Retrieved 26 March 2009. 
  11. ^ "Baggies clinch Hughes deal". BBC Sport. 29 August 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/2212007.stm. Retrieved 2007-04-26. 
  12. ^ "Imprisoned Hughes set for Oldham". BBC Sport. 30 May 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/6703663.stm. Retrieved 2007-05-30. 
  13. ^ "Ex-Albion star's jail release date". Express & Star. 27 July 2007. http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2007/07/27/ex-albion-stars-jail-release-date/. Retrieved 2007-07-27. 
  14. ^ Kay, Oliver (29 August 2007). "Striker who killed driver pleads for the chance to 'just get on with my life'". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2343738.ece. Retrieved 2008-09-02. 
  15. ^ "Hartlepool 4–1 Oldham". BBC Sport. 1 September 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6963611.stm. Retrieved 2007-09-02. 
  16. ^ "Bournemouth 0–3 Oldham". BBC Sport. 24 November 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7099976.stm. Retrieved 2007-11-24. 
  17. ^ "Coca-Cola League 1 Team Of The Week. (25/11/2007)" (PDF). The Football League. 25 November 2007. http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/3/bc/0,,10794~113667,00.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-29. 
  18. ^ "Coca-Cola League 1 Team Of The Week. (17/12/2007)" (PDF). The Football League. 17 December 2007. http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/5a/c8/0,,10794~116826,00.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-08. 
  19. ^ Russell, Andy (9 March 2009). "Killer striker puts boss in a headlock (09/03/2009)". The Sun (London). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2306534.ece. 
  20. ^ Butler, Jeremy (9 March 2009). "Oldham Striker Bust Up with Gaffer (09/03/2009)". London: The Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1160506/Oldham-striker-Hughes-bust-gaffer-Sheridan-boozy-night-out.html. 
  21. ^ "John Sheridan Interview (18/03/2009)". The PFA. 18 March 2009. http://www.givemefootball.com/league-one/john-sheridan-ex-oldham. 
  22. ^ "Hughes Swaps Oldham For Blackpool". Blackpool F.C.. 26 March 2009. http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1603965,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  23. ^ "Charlton 2–2 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 10 April 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7990049.stm. Retrieved 3 March 2010. 
  24. ^ "Hughes signs for Sven's Magpies". BBC Sport. 22 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8136197.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  25. ^ "Burton Albion 1–4 Notts County". BBC News. 28 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8419286.stm. Retrieved 7 May 2010. 
  26. ^ "Latics set for Hughes deal". Manchester Evening News. 30 May 2007. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/oldham_athletic/s/1008/1008010_latics_set_for_hughes_deal.html. Retrieved 2008-09-02. 
  27. ^ "Footballer jailed for death crash". BBC News. 9 August 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/3548840.stm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  28. ^ "Hughes contract cancelled". BBC Sport. 2004-08-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/3549540.stm. Retrieved 2007-05-04. 
  29. ^ "Hughes fails in appeal move". icCoventry.co.uk. 2005-01-24. http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=15110193&method=full&siteid=50003&headline=hughes-fails-in-appeal-move-name_page.html. Retrieved 2007-04-26. 
  30. ^ Spencer, Nicholas (2007-12-14). "Lee Hughes continues to make up for lost time". Telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2329317/Lee-Hughes-continues-to-make-up-for-lost-time.html. Retrieved 2008-09-02. 
  31. ^ "Praise as Lee swaps lads' mags for Koran". 2007-05-07. http://archive.thisisworcestershire.co.uk/2005/5/7/14091.html. Retrieved 2008-09-02. 
  32. ^ "Lee Hughes makes public apology". Birmingham Post. 28 August 2007. http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/tm_headline=lee-hughes-makes-public-apology&method=full&objectid=19699556&siteid=50002-name_page.html. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  33. ^ "Notts County striker Lee Hughes charged with sex assault". BBC News. 30 January 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-16786117. 
  34. ^ "Jailed Hughes raises £5,000 for charity". Coventry Telegraph. 5 September 2005. http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-city-fc-news/tm_objectid=15933961&method=full&siteid=50003&headline=jailed-hughes-raises--5-000-for-charity-name_page.html. Retrieved 2008-09-02. 

[edit] External links

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Notts County F.C. – current squad
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