Darren Hughes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Darren John Hughes is a former English
footballer. He was a left-back
noted for his pace. He played 333 games for six clubs over a fourteen year career in the Football League. His most significant spell was at Port Vale
, where he spent half of his professional career.
Starting his senior career at Everton
in 1983, he was unable to make the grade and so was allowed to leave for Shrewsbury Town
in 1985. After one season with the Shrews he signed with Brighton & Hove Albion
. In 1987 he signed with Port Vale
, where he spent seven years and made 184 league appearances. He then spent two years with Northampton Town
, before transferring to Exeter City
in 1996. After a season in Exeter he moved on to Morecambe
.
, Shrewsbury Town
and Brighton & Hove Albion
before joining Port Vale
on loan in September 1987, before signing permanently for £5,000 later that month. Teammate and club legend Phil Sproson
named him as the club's best left-back of the 1980s. He was a firm fixture in the first 11 until 1990–91
when he suffered a hernia
injury and underwent two operations to fix it. He returned by April 1991, but ruptured a thigh
muscle in July 1992 and again battled through two surgical procedures to correct it. To his dismay, he was released by the club in February 1994. He took the club to an industrial tribunal citing unfair dismissal, the result of which was a six week trial in August 1994 to prove his 'fitness and ability'. He quit the club in November 1994 after being dissatisfied there and moved on to Northampton Town
and later Exeter City
and Morecambe
.
was named after him in recognition of his playing career with the club.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer. He was a left-back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
noted for his pace. He played 333 games for six clubs over a fourteen year career in the Football League. His most significant spell was at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, where he spent half of his professional career.
Starting his senior career at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 1983, he was unable to make the grade and so was allowed to leave for Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
in 1985. After one season with the Shrews he signed with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. In 1987 he signed with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, where he spent seven years and made 184 league appearances. He then spent two years with Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, before transferring to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in 1996. After a season in Exeter he moved on to Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
.
Playing career
Hughes played foe EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
before joining Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
on loan in September 1987, before signing permanently for £5,000 later that month. Teammate and club legend Phil Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...
named him as the club's best left-back of the 1980s. He was a firm fixture in the first 11 until 1990–91
1990–91 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1990–91 season was Port Vale's seventy-ninth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Second Division. For the first time since 1926–27 they played in a league above rivals Stoke City...
when he suffered a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
injury and underwent two operations to fix it. He returned by April 1991, but ruptured a thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
muscle in July 1992 and again battled through two surgical procedures to correct it. To his dismay, he was released by the club in February 1994. He took the club to an industrial tribunal citing unfair dismissal, the result of which was a six week trial in August 1994 to prove his 'fitness and ability'. He quit the club in November 1994 after being dissatisfied there and moved on to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
and later Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
and Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
.
Legacy
Hughes returned to Port Vale on his 40th birthday in 2005 where he was honoured by Port Vale fans and a suite at Vale ParkVale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
was named after him in recognition of his playing career with the club.
Honours
with Everton- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
winner: 1984FA Youth Cup Finals of the 1980s-1988/89: Watford v. Manchester City :-1987/88: Arsenal v. Doncaster Rovers :-1986/87: Coventry v. Charlton :... - FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
runner-up: 1983FA Youth Cup Finals of the 1980s-1988/89: Watford v. Manchester City :-1987/88: Arsenal v. Doncaster Rovers :-1986/87: Coventry v. Charlton :...