Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ck in town... ouldn’t resist ds revolution
odds ride to the Windsor Park showdown for the top flight’s minnows, but a journey which came to a chastening end when Ronnie Mcfall’s men romped to a 5-1 win.
Little did he know at the time, but it would be Hughes’ last involvement in Northern Ireland’s domestic league for more than a decade.
That summer he was a man in demand. He held talks with the Belfast Big Two, and also considered extending his stay with Jimmy Mcgeough and co, before an invitation to trial at Lincoln paved the way for a long and successful career across the water, and even a call-up to the Northern Ireland international squad.
“My last season for Larne was fantastic,” recalled Hughes.
“But at the same time, it went from being a great achievement to make the Irish Cup final to getting tanked 5-1 by Portadown. It was a brilliant memory, but at the end it was for nothing, we got beat.
“After that, I started pre-season as normal and was talking to Linfield, Glentoran and Larne as well. Then I got a trial in England and got offered a contract.
“So I left but got homesick and came back. But I thought, ‘What am I doing’, went back across the water and thankfully it worked out for me.
“I got a couple of promotions over there, a promotion with Fleetwood and one with Tranmere as well, we went to Wembley and it was brilliant.
“Playing at Wembley a few times was a big thing.
“But obviously getting into the Northern Ireland team, even though it was only fleeting, is something I am very proud of.”
Now, Hughes is back on familiar territory and with some unfinished business. Armed with the experience that comes with playing professionally at a host of clubs including Crystal Palace, Bristol Rovers and Notts County, he’s media-savvy and chooses his answers wisely.
So he won’t be heaping any unnecessary pressure onto his new club in terms of their targets this season, save to confirm the obvious and say ultimately everyone is in the game to win things.
“Yes, it would be great,” he smiled. “But like I say, we know we are a Championship side at the minute.
“We know we are not the finished article but within the next few years we want to be pushing for promotion and silverware is something that everyone would want.
“We are eager to get up but we know it’s not just a case of turning up.
“We’ve already learnt that lesson.”