Andrew Hughes (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Andrew Hughes


fullname = Andrew John Hughes
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|1|2|df=yes
cityofbirth = Stockport
countryofbirth = England
height = 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
position = Midfielder
currentclub = Leeds United
clubnumber = 22
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1996–1998
1998
1998–2001
2001–2005
2005–2007
2007–
clubs = Oldham Athletic
→ Notts County (loan)
Notts County
Reading
Norwich City
Leeds United
caps(goals) = 034 0(1)
008 0(1)
103 (16)
166 (18)
072 0(2)
046 0(1)
pcupdate = 15:01, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Andrew John Hughes (born 2 January 1978 in Stockport, Greater Manchester) is an English footballer, currently playing for Leeds United.

Football career

Hughes began his career at Oldham Athletic making 44 appearances scoring once before joining Notts County, where he made 130 appearances scoring 18 times.

He joined Reading on 5 July 2001 on a three year deal, but Notts County and Reading failed to agree a transfer fee. [cite news | date=2001-07-05 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/1424561.stm | title=Reading's double deal | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-13] The fee was later set at around £250,000 by a tribunal. [cite news | date=2005-07-07 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~681838,00.html | title=Norwich City's interest in Royals midfielder Hughes is rejected | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-12-13] Hughes went on to make 183 appearances, scoring 19 times. Towards the end of his time with the club, Hughes suffered from his versatility as he was often played out of position under Steve Coppell. His earlier seasons at Reading had seen him play in his preferred midfield role and he flourished, netting a particularly spectacular goal away to Wolves. [cite news | date=2002-09-21 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2257875.stm | title=Wolves 0-1 Reading | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-13]

Hughes joined Norwich from Reading on 21 July 2005 for a fee believed to be around £500,000. [cite news | date=2005-07-21 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/4699073.stm | title=Norwich complete Hughes signing | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-12-13] He endured a tough start to his Norwich career, as his own form and that of the team was poor for much of the 2005–06 season. In 2006–07 season, new manager Peter Grant used him more as a utility player, covering on either wing or full back position. Hughes played 41 games that season.

Hughes moved to Leeds United on a two year deal on 9 August 2007 for an undisclosed fee. [cite news | date=2007-08-09 | url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1088418,00.html | title=Canary jets in | work=leedsunited.com | accessdate=2007-12-13] In an interview, Hughes explained his reasons for leaving Norwich: "Dennis Wise told me the challenge and the position the club was in. He wants fighters and I felt the challenge of playing for Leeds United and Dennis Wise was too good to turn down ... The manager at Norwich told me he didn't want me to leave, but I didn't want to stay and be a squad player."

Hughes is somewhat of a cult hero as Elland Road and scored his first goal for Leeds on April 19 against Millwall, tapping in from close range to finish a flowing move that Hughes had himself started on the edge of Millwall's box. [cite news | date=2007-08-13 | url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1090512,00.html | title=Breathtaking! | work=leedsunited.com | accessdate=2007-12-13] . He then celebrated with a robotic style dance in front of the Leeds supporters - This is because at half-time when Hughes and the other substitutes were warming up on the pitch there we're some dancers performing on the pitch, at which point Leeds fans were singing "Hughesy, Give Us A Dance".

References

External links

* [http://www.leedsunited.com/page/PlayerProfilesDetail/0,,10273~8769,00.html Andrew Hughes profile] at leedsunited.com
*soccerbase|8920|Andrew Hughes

Persondata
NAME=Hughes, Andrew John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=2 January 1978
PLACE OF BIRTH=Stockport, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=