Jeff Hughes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Hughes is a Northern Irish
footballer who plays as a left sided midfielder. He has also played internationally for Northern Ireland
, making his debut during their summer tour of the United States of America. Hughes currently plays for Notts County
.
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 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.
After Lincoln's second-successive play-off defeat in 2007, 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. In the January transfer window Posh 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 unfortunately for all parties he was injured on his reserve team debut, after giving The Pirates 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 the 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.
On 28 June 2011, Hughes signed for League One
side Notts County on a two year deal. He scored on his league debut against Carlisle United on 6 August 2011.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
footballer who plays as a left sided midfielder. He has also played internationally for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
, making his debut during their summer tour of the United States of America. Hughes currently plays for Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
.
Playing career
Hughes played for the Ballymena UnitedBallymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
academy, before transferring to the academy at hometown club Larne
Larne F.C.
Larne F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Larne and plays its home matches at Inver Park. Club colours are red and white...
. He went on to make his Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
debut for The Harbour Rats, before moving to the The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in England to join Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
.
He was originally deployed in the left-back position for Larne, however under John Schofield
John Schofield (football coach)
John David Schofield is an English football manager and former player. He was manager of Lincoln City between May 2006 and October 2007 and was assistant manager of Walsall before leaving, following a brief stint as caretaker manager...
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.
After Lincoln's second-successive play-off defeat in 2007, Hughes moved to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
of The Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, reaching his highest level yet. However he struggled at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
. He went on a two month loan to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in November 2007, scoring once against Bradford City. In the January transfer window Posh 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
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
signed Hughes on a loan deal until the end of the season, but unfortunately for all parties he was injured on his reserve team debut, after giving The Pirates 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
Northern Ireland B national football team
Northern Ireland B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the Northern Ireland national football team. Primarily seen as a stepping-stone between the Under-21 and Full international teams, the matches are also used to give a run-out for fringe players and to honour Irish...
for a friendly against Scotland B national football team
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
on 6 May 2010.
On the 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.
On 28 June 2011, Hughes signed for 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 Notts County on a two year deal. He scored on his league debut against Carlisle United on 6 August 2011.
External links
- Jeff Hughes player profile at bristolrovers.co.uk
- Jeff Hughes player profile at cpfc.co.uk
- Jeff Hughes player profile at theposh.com
- Unofficial Jeff Hughes Profile at The Forgotten Imp