Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STILL VERY SPARKY
From Barcelona to Bradford, the Prem to League 2, the fire is still burning inside Hughes
YOU have just lost in the 11th minute of added time and are being harangued by the opposition goal scorer, but Mark Hughes is loving life in League Two.
Having always managed in the Premier League and at international level with Wales, the former striker surprised many after agreeing to take the Bradford City reins in February last year.
“I knew within a week of coming back that it was still for me, nights like this one in Crewe even though we’ve just lost and being involved at 3pm on a Saturday,” he said.
“I’m coming up to 60 and I’m still completely hooked.”
As a combative player, the Wales star never shirked a challenge and little has changed as he and Crewe’s match-winner Chris Long tussled on the pitch after the final whistle and had to be separated by Gresty Road boss Lee Bell.
Hughes said: “He came over to me at the end – I think because I had been calling him a s***e player.
“He came back because he wanted to rub my face in it.
“He wanted to continue it on the pitch. He’s a very brave lad!
“What’s he, around 25?
And I’m a near 60-year-old. opposition. You have to face But it is what it is!” up to this and deal with it.
The big smile on his face Sometimes it’s hard and you told you he would not have it can get damaged by it.” any other way. With another former Wales
He might have been in player Glyn Hodges – also a charge at Manchester City at member of the Wimbledon the beginning of the Sheikh ‘Crazy Gang’ – at his side, Mansour era, handled the big any thoughts of retirement stars of Wales and managed can wait. five other Premier League “When I was out of work, I clubs, but Bradford’s missed all this and why promotion push ‘I’m coming up to would I want to is satisfying his 60 and I’m still go to a garden lust for the game. completely centre on a
The last-gasp hooked’ Saturday defeat in afternoon, for Cheshire means the Bantams example? Although I do like still need a point at home to gardening,” he said. champions Leyton Orient “We’re football people, tomorrow to ensure a place myself and Glyn. We enjoy in the play-offs. what we do and the challenge
He added: “I’ve always of turning a group of players experienced emotion in into a winning group and, for football, I think that’s what most of the season, that’s I’m all about. what they have been.”
“It’s why I’m still doing it, And, with average crowds why I’m involved now with of nearly 18,000 and with Bradford City. 14,600 season tickets for next
“These days test you and season already snapped up, this certainly was a testing Hughes and Hodges face an night at Crewe, but in League important few weeks.
Two football it’s typical and in Hughes admitted: “We’ve many ways it’s still enjoyable. got to bounce back and we
“I’ve been pleasantly will do. We’ve got a huge surprised at the quality in game and we will be ready. fairness of the players. “We have still got everything
“But, at times, you have to to play for and I’m compromise because maybe pleased the last game of the because the state of the pitch, season still has huge significance.” the approach of the
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