David Hughes (footballer born 1978)
Encyclopedia
Robert David Hughes is a Welsh
former footballer who played as a defender.
, Hughes began his career at Aston Villa
, where he played seven times during the 1996–97 season as a replacement for the injured Steve Staunton
. He suffered with minor injuries over the next few years and made just one professional appearance in the following two years, playing in a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth
on 28 March 1998 while on loan to League One
side Carlisle United
.
Finding his chances at Villa Park limited on his return he joined Shrewsbury Town
on a free transfer, making his debut in a 4-1 defeat to Exeter City
. He spent two years as a regular first-team choice and, in February 2001, he signed for Cardiff City
for a fee of £450,000, £225,000 of which was given to Aston Villa due to a sell on clause, and went straight into the Bluebirds side but injuries struck again and after failing to regain his place in the side he was released in 2003 and subsequently retired.
in 2003. After a short spell in charge he moved into an assistant manager role alongside Colin Addison
who took over as manager in February 2004. However Addison left the club after just six months in charge and Hughes was re-instated as manager for a short time before he resigned in December 2004, along with the majority of the first-team squad, due to ongoing financial problems at the club.
In 2005, Hughes took a coaching role at Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town
. He later made one appearance as a substitute for the side during the 2005–06 season.
Hughes now works with English League Two club Shrewsbury Town
as their head of youth development. He has also been touted as a possible successor to manager Graham Turner
along with coach Michael Jackson
when Turner retires.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former footballer who played as a defender.
Playing career
Born in WrexhamWrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, Hughes began his career at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, where he played seven times during the 1996–97 season as a replacement for the injured Steve Staunton
Steve Staunton
Stephen "Steve" Staunton is an Irish association football manager and former professional footballer, who was most recently manager of Darlington...
. He suffered with minor injuries over the next few years and made just one professional appearance in the following two years, playing in a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on 28 March 1998 while on loan to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
.
Finding his chances at Villa Park limited on his return he joined 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...
on a free transfer, making his debut in a 4-1 defeat 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...
. He spent two years as a regular first-team choice and, in February 2001, he signed for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
for a fee of £450,000, £225,000 of which was given to Aston Villa due to a sell on clause, and went straight into the Bluebirds side but injuries struck again and after failing to regain his place in the side he was released in 2003 and subsequently retired.
Coaching career
He was appointed the manager of Barry TownBarry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
in 2003. After a short spell in charge he moved into an assistant manager role alongside Colin Addison
Colin Addison
Colin Addison is an English former professional footballer and manager.Addison has managed a wide variety of clubs in the UK, as well as in countries such as Spain, South Africa, Kuwait and Qatar. Notably he was the player-manager of Hereford United during their famous 1971-72 FA Cup run, which...
who took over as manager in February 2004. However Addison left the club after just six months in charge and Hughes was re-instated as manager for a short time before he resigned in December 2004, along with the majority of the first-team squad, due to ongoing financial problems at the club.
In 2005, Hughes took a coaching role at Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town
Port Talbot Town F.C.
Port Talbot Town F.C. is a football club from Port Talbot in Wales and was founded in 1901, making Port Talbot Athletic as they were then one of the first association football clubs to be founded in Wales...
. He later made one appearance as a substitute for the side during the 2005–06 season.
Hughes now works with English League Two club 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...
as their head of youth development. He has also been touted as a possible successor to manager Graham Turner
Graham Turner
Graham John Turner is an English former footballer who became a manager. He is currently manager of League Two club Shrewsbury Town. His son Mark was also a professional footballer....
along with coach Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson (footballer)
Michael James Jackson is a retired English professional football defender.-Career:Jackson started his career as a trainee at Crewe Alexandra in 1992. During his development at Crewe, Jackson went on to play for his home town club Runcorn FC, during a loan spell and played several key games for...
when Turner retires.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
1996-97 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997-98 1997-98 in English football The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1998-99 1998-99 in English football -Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... (loan) |
1997-98 1997-98 in English football The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 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... |
1999-00 1999-2000 in English football -Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World... |
22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| 2000-01 2000-01 in English football The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons... |
24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| Subtotal | 46 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 3 | |
| Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
2000-01 2000-01 in English football The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons... |
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001-02 2001-02 in English football The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2002-03 2002-03 in English football The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Port Talbot Town Port Talbot Town F.C. Port Talbot Town F.C. is a football club from Port Talbot in Wales and was founded in 1901, making Port Talbot Athletic as they were then one of the first association football clubs to be founded in Wales... |
2005-06 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 67 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 81 | 3 | |