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David Hughes

David Hughes

budgierustler

budgierustler

Joined
Apr 27, 2006
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Lurking in the shadows
Yesterday I had the huge pleasure of chatting to ex-player, David Hughes. We had a great chat for 35 minutes or so talking about the old days of Alan Ball, the current North End side, salaries, his apprentice days at Blackpool with Emlyn Hughes and Alan Ball Jnr and a host of other things in a great insight to life back then. David was a right winger and a very good one at that. Of course he had Dave Wilson in front of him for that position so his career at Deepdale was more a squad player than a first team regular. Never the less he was an exciting player to watch and I remember him having an absolute blinder at Deepdale against Bristol Rovers in August 1970 as we began the climb back to Division two under Bally. The North End side that day was Kelly Ross McNab Spark Hawkins Heppolette Hughes Gemmil Ingram Irvine and Clark. What a side that was!
David left North End in 1972 and went to Southport and latterly Bury and although he now lives in North Berwick he is still a keen follower of North End and never forgot his time at Deepdale

David it was an absolute pleasure talking to you and bringing back those fabulous memories from almost 50 years ago. I hope we talk again soon, Sir.
d9ccec61a5e254111c1c24bb2ff80230.jpg
 
budgierustler said:
Yesterday I had the huge pleasure of chatting to ex-player, David Hughes. We had a great chat for 35 minutes or so talking about the old days of Alan Ball, the current North End side, salaries, his apprentice days at Blackpool with Emlyn Hughes and Alan Ball Jnr and a host of other things in a great insight to life back then. David was a right winger and a very good one at that. Of course he had Dave Wilson in front of him for that position so his career at Deepdale was more a squad player than a first team regular. Never the less he was an exciting player to watch and I remember him having an absolute blinder at Deepdale against Bristol Rovers in August 1970 as we began the climb back to Division two under Bally. The North End side that day was Kelly Ross McNab Spark Hawkins Heppolette Hughes Gemmil Ingram Irvine and Clark. What a side that was!
David left North End in 1972 and went to Southport and latterly Bury and although he now lives in North Berwick he is still a keen follower of North End and never forgot his time at Deepdale

David it was an absolute pleasure talking to you and bringing back those fabulous memories from almost 50 years ago. I hope we talk again soon, Sir.
d9ccec61a5e254111c1c24bb2ff80230.jpg
Click to expand...
If I remember correctly that Bristol Rovers game was our first home game and our first win of the season. 3-2.
 
budgierustler said:
Yesterday I had the huge pleasure of chatting to ex-player, David Hughes. We had a great chat for 35 minutes or so talking about the old days of Alan Ball, the current North End side, salaries, his apprentice days at Blackpool with Emlyn Hughes and Alan Ball Jnr and a host of other things in a great insight to life back then. David was a right winger and a very good one at that. Of course he had Dave Wilson in front of him for that position so his career at Deepdale was more a squad player than a first team regular. Never the less he was an exciting player to watch and I remember him having an absolute blinder at Deepdale against Bristol Rovers in August 1970 as we began the climb back to Division two under Bally. The North End side that day was Kelly Ross McNab Spark Hawkins Heppolette Hughes Gemmil Ingram Irvine and Clark. What a side that was!
David left North End in 1972 and went to Southport and latterly Bury and although he now lives in North Berwick he is still a keen follower of North End and never forgot his time at Deepdale

David it was an absolute pleasure talking to you and bringing back those fabulous memories from almost 50 years ago. I hope we talk again soon, Sir.
d9ccec61a5e254111c1c24bb2ff80230.jpg
Click to expand...
Enjoyed reading that John, thanks for sharing. Hope you and your family are all keeping safe and well
 
budgierustler said:
Yesterday I had the huge pleasure of chatting to ex-player, David Hughes. We had a great chat for 35 minutes or so talking about the old days of Alan Ball, the current North End side, salaries, his apprentice days at Blackpool with Emlyn Hughes and Alan Ball Jnr and a host of other things in a great insight to life back then. David was a right winger and a very good one at that. Of course he had Dave Wilson in front of him for that position so his career at Deepdale was more a squad player than a first team regular. Never the less he was an exciting player to watch and I remember him having an absolute blinder at Deepdale against Bristol Rovers in August 1970 as we began the climb back to Division two under Bally. The North End side that day was Kelly Ross McNab Spark Hawkins Heppolette Hughes Gemmil Ingram Irvine and Clark. What a side that was!
David left North End in 1972 and went to Southport and latterly Bury and although he now lives in North Berwick he is still a keen follower of North End and never forgot his time at Deepdale

David it was an absolute pleasure talking to you and bringing back those fabulous memories from almost 50 years ago. I hope we talk again soon, Sir.
d9ccec61a5e254111c1c24bb2ff80230.jpg
Click to expand...
Good post John, I think he had left North End just before my Dad took me on my first game, great to see you posting again,take care stay safe.👍😀
 
Ricky Hepolette: I remember our promotion day well. I used to play cricket for Brinscall Second 11 in the Chorley and District League so could not be at the game. Fortunately I was out for a duck (not unusual) so could dash to my car to listen to the radio to hear him score. How many truly Indian players have played in English football?
 
pisaac said:
Ricky Hepolette: I remember our promotion day well. I used to play cricket for Brinscall Second 11 in the Chorley and District League so could not be at the game. Fortunately I was out for a duck (not unusual) so could dash to my car to listen to the radio to hear him score. How many truly Indian players have played in English football?
Click to expand...
Baichung Bhutia for Bury?
 
Chopra was eligible for India I believe.

Rehman did indeed represent Pakistan.

I was thinking of the surrounding countries (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India) when I posted.
 
Nice post Budgie.
I might be wrong but I think Alan Ball tried playing him as a sweeper or maybe overlapping full back - although that might have been in reserve games.
I quite liked him as a Player he was pacey and direct and was a little disappointed that he didn't quite make a proper breakthrough at North End. I also Remember him for his pancho moustache.
Met his Son on the Furness Line a couple of Years ago when going between Carnforth & Cark, he saw my North End Jacket and said my Dad used to play for PNE he was made up when I said I remembered him, i told him he went to Southport after us (so he knew I genuinely did remember him). He said he was living in Scotland.
Not sure if he wasn't a member of the Championship side that won the 4th Division title. I think he played with an ex Everton, Rovers & Southport Player who comes in our Post Office (George Sharples).
 
budgierustler said:
Yesterday I had the huge pleasure of chatting to ex-player, David Hughes. We had a great chat for 35 minutes or so talking about the old days of Alan Ball, the current North End side, salaries, his apprentice days at Blackpool with Emlyn Hughes and Alan Ball Jnr and a host of other things in a great insight to life back then. David was a right winger and a very good one at that. Of course he had Dave Wilson in front of him for that position so his career at Deepdale was more a squad player than a first team regular. Never the less he was an exciting player to watch and I remember him having an absolute blinder at Deepdale against Bristol Rovers in August 1970 as we began the climb back to Division two under Bally. The North End side that day was Kelly Ross McNab Spark Hawkins Heppolette Hughes Gemmil Ingram Irvine and Clark. What a side that was!
David left North End in 1972 and went to Southport and latterly Bury and although he now lives in North Berwick he is still a keen follower of North End and never forgot his time at Deepdale

David it was an absolute pleasure talking to you and bringing back those fabulous memories from almost 50 years ago. I hope we talk again soon, Sir.
d9ccec61a5e254111c1c24bb2ff80230.jpg
Click to expand...

cracking side that team of 70-71. I saw it a few times home and away that season. Great year to be a young nobber.
 
deepdaledreamer said:
Nice post Budgie.
I might be wrong but I think Alan Ball tried playing him as a sweeper or maybe overlapping full back - although that might have been in reserve games.
I quite liked him as a Player he was pacey and direct and was a little disappointed that he didn't quite make a proper breakthrough at North End. I also Remember him for his pancho moustache.
Met his Son on the Furness Line a couple of Years ago when going between Carnforth & Cark, he saw my North End Jacket and said my Dad used to play for PNE he was made up when I said I remembered him, i told him he went to Southport after us (so he knew I genuinely did remember him). He said he was living in Scotland.
Not sure if he wasn't a member of the Championship side that won the 4th Division title. I think he played with an ex Everton, Rovers & Southport Player who comes in our Post Office (George Sharples).
Click to expand...
David's dad was also a keen nobber on the old pavillion paddock around that time.
 
budgierustler said:
Kelly Ross McNab Spark Hawkins Heppolette Hughes Gemmil Ingram Irvine and Clark.
Click to expand...

I would have been at that game. Of course the team that got us promoted was yet to be settled. Archie Gemmill was sold soon after - amazing when you remember that less than four years after playing in the third tier of English football he would score one of the greatest goals ever in the World Cup Finals - and Willie Irvine, who just because of the injuries he got from the filthy clogging defenders of those days was not the player he had been, left as well. Hughes, at his best a fast direct player, did not nail down a regular first team spot either and so the three players who were not in that line-up who came in were Alan Spavin who of course then dominated the division, George Lyall and the one signing Alan Ball Snr made Bobby Ham. But I am pleased to hear that David Hughes is well - he was an entirely decent and honourable servant of the club.
 
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