Hughes: Andrew John (Andy)

2007-2011 (LeedsPlayer Details)(Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Stockport, Greater Manchester: 02-01-1978

Debut: Tranmere Rovers (a): 11-08-2007

5’11” 12st 1lb (2007)

Hughes began his career at Oldham Athletic, signing professional two days after his eighteenth birthday and in two years he made forty-four appearances, including twenty as substitute, and scoring once in the League, before joining Notts County on loan on 30th January 1998. There were eighteen starts and sixteen games from the bench in the League, three starts and one from the bench in the F.A. Cup and one start and one substitute appearance in the League Cup and two starts and two substitute appearances in other games. After eight appearances in the League, three as substitute, and scoring one goal he signed permanently for the Magpies on 23rd March 1998. He added another sixteen goals in the League, in eighty-one starts and twenty-two games from the bench to his League tally and also scored twice in ten starts in the F.A. Cup and once in six starts and one game from the bench in the League Cup. as well as making two starts in other games, in just over three years at Meadow Lane, where he picked up a Division Three Championship Medal in 1997-98. He joined Reading on 5th June 2001 on a three year deal, but the two clubs failed to agree a transfer fee and it was later set at around £250,000 by a tribunal. hughes joined a side that had fallen at the play-off stage to Walsall only months previously, when a return to to Division One looked on the cards. He was bought to replace the popular and influencial Darren Caskey and it was always going to be a hard task for him to replace the crowd favourite. Hughes made his debut for the Royals in a 2-0 win at Bloomfield Road against Blackpool on 11th August 2001 in the opening fixture of the new season, but dropped out of favour in September and early October. The Club's inconsistent form was reflected in their position in the table of fourteenth with seventeen points from twelve games after they were beaten by tenth club Swindon Town on 13th October 2001. Manager Alan Pardew was under pressure to perform the following Saturday as Hughes and Reading travelled to face his former club Notts County, who were sat just two points and two positions below them in the table. It did not help Hughes that he was booed on to the pitch by his disgruntled former fans, but both he and the Royals responded to their common crisis by running riot and achieving the imposing scoreline of 4-1 by half-time. Hughes opened his account, having scored the opener inside four minutes. The result was just another three points, but it saw a change in fortune for both player and team. The results improved over the course of the season, with Hughes became an important contributor, chipping in with vital goals against Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic among others. He became a regular starter, and started the last game of the season at Griffin Park against Brentford, in a game which could have seen either side promoted dependant on the outcome. In the end it was the Royals who celebrated, having earned a 1-1 draw. Hughes finished the season with six goals, and Hughes was a strong part of the side with his high work rate, professionalism and contribution to teamwork. His second season proved even more successful as the Royals took to the Championship and produced some magical football along the way, earning a fourth place finish. With Pardew’s 4-5-1 counter-attacking formation, Hughes flourished, and played just behind striker Nicky Forster. The formation brought the best out of both players, and Hughes enjoyed a fantastic season as the Royals narrowly missed out on promotion to the EPL, suffering Playoff heartache again, being beaten at home and away by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Semi-Finals. The 2003-04 season saw changes at the club, with Pardew departing in early September for West Ham United and Steve Coppell coming in as his replacement. Coppell had great respect for Hughes, who showed tremendous dedication when on the training pitch, and often used him in a variety of positions. Hughes never complained and it was that effort for the team that never went unnoticed. The club finished ninth, which while the third highest position in the club's history, seemed an underachievement. His fourth season at the Madejski Stadium was to be his last, and it was a season of two halves with the Royals leading Division One on Boxing Day, only to suffer an horrendous loss of form in the second half of the season, missing out on the playoffs on the final day of the season, when a win at Wigan Athletic instead of a 3-1 defeat would have assured a play-off place. Changes were needed during the summer, and even though Coppell said the club were looking to retain Hughes, an offer from Norwich City of £500,000 was too good to refuse. So on 21st July 2005, after four years and eighteen League goals from one hundred and sixty-six appearances, including nine as a substitute, one goal in seven starts in the League Cup, and seven games, including one as a substitute, in the F.A. Cup and three other games without scoring. Reading were to go on to win the Championship with a record one hundred and six points, while Norwich could do no better than ninth. 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. Hughes made his debut for Norwich City in the 1-1 draw with Coventry City, on 6th August 2005, the opening day of the 2005-06 season. Unfortunately his performances in midfield made him a target for the Carrow Road boo-boys but performances at Right Back at the end of the 2006-07 season saw him gain more approval. It was in the 2006-07 season, new Manager Peter Grant used him more as a utility player, covering on either wing or full back position. Hughes played seventy-nine games, including ten from the bench and scored twice in his two year stay at Carrow Road. There was two League goals in sixty-three starts in the League and nine games as a substitute, together with two starts and one substitute appearance in the F.A. Cup and four starts in the League Cup. In June 2007, more than one national newspaper linked Hughes with a switch to Leeds once they had come out of administation and were allowed to start purchasing players again. Manager Dennis Wise was understood to be genuinely interested in the former Reading man. Hughes moved to Leeds United on a two year deal on 9th August 2007 for an undisclosed fee. 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." Peter Grant told Norwich's official website: "Andy did exceptionally well for us last season but with John Otsemobor coming in it was always going to be tough for him this season. Leeds were able to offer him a longer deal which I didn't feel able to do. Andy is a fantastic person who we're sad to lose. His quality of character shone through last season and it was therefore not right to stand in his way." Hughes became an ever-present at Leeds and was given the Captaincy and became a cult hero with the fans. He played an important role in Leeds reaching the League One play-offs in two consecutive seasons. It was because of his versatility and willingness to play anywhere that he became a valued member of the squad. At the end of his second season he had scored once in sixty-seven League games. In 2009-10 he lost his place to Ben Parker, but came off the bench as his replacement when he was injured in the first game of the season and deputised for him in each game to the end of September. His ability to play several roles came to the fore as he plugged the gaps and problems created by injury and loss of form by other United players. The fans acknowleged his wilingness to give all to the cause of the club gaining promotion and the club also rewarded him by renewing his contract for another year on 26th May 2010. Leeds lost to Doncaster Rovers in the League One play-off final in Hughes' first season in Yorkshire, but two years later, Simon Grayson's men returned to the Championship at the third time of asking. Hughes played thirteen times for Leeds in their first season back in the second tier of English football, but he left Elland Road on 22nd January 2011 to join Scunthorpe, on a free transfer. Hughes' Leeds contract was going to expire at the end of the season, and he signed an eighteen-month deal with the option of a further year. He went on to feature in nineteen games, one as a substitute, for the Iron in their ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stave off relegation to League One. He joined Charlton Athletic on 1st August 2011 on a free transfer, signing a two year contract. By early 2012 he had started five League games and come on as a substitute in ten more and started one and come off the bench in one F.A. Cup tie, started two League Cup and one other game.