On this day in 1967, at the age of 18 in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool, Billy Hughes made his debut for Sunderland.
Hughes’ skills were discovered by Sunderland scout Tom Rutherford while playing for Coatbridge schools at the age of 16. The young star's move to England was close to being halted before it had even begun due to his parents’ wishing for him to play for Celtic, where his brother John was already playing.
However, Billy went against his parents’ wishes and stayed with Sunderland, where he remained for 11 years.
Hughes played a large role in Sunderland’s 1972-73 FA Cup run, scoring four goals on the way to the final. He scored one goal against Manchester City in the fifth-round tie at Maine Road, and then another two in the replay at Roker Park - a game which was voted the greatest ever game at Roker Park.
He also scored in the Semi-Final against Arsenal, making him the top scorer in the competition. Three days later he carried his fine form into the league, scoring a tremendous hat trick against Huddersfield. But even better, Billy took the corner that led to Ian Porterfield scoring the winner against Leeds United in the final, on the 5th of May 1973. A day still discussed by everyone young and old, to this day.
Hughes would go on to score Sunderland's first goal in European football against Vasas Budapest, in the European Cup Winners' Cup. Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty described him as "the most exciting forward in the country" whilst Don Revie of Leeds admitted to trying to sign the striker several times, describing him as "one of the most exciting players I've seen".
His Sunderland career ended in the September of 77, when Derby County paid £30,000 for his signature. In his time on Wearside, Hughes amassed 332 appearances, scoring 82 times.
His stay at Derby County lasted just two months before he joined Leicester City in '77. He had scored eight goals in 19 games for Derby.
North American Soccer League team, San Jose Earthquakes was Hughes’ last professional team, before a short stay at Non-League Corby Town led to his retirement. Following his retirement from football, Hughes worked as a licensee in Derby, before later returning to North-East England, as manager of Stress Holme Golf Club in Darlington.
It was on the 20th of December 2019, aged 70, that the cup legend passed away peacefully, after a long illness. Hughes went down in the SAFC history books as an amazing flair player, leading us to the victory we value most, the day the underdogs brought it home. If Vic Halom was the Bomber, then Dennis Tueart and Billy Hughes were the Spitfire and Hurricane of the cup-winning team of '73.
