Aston Villa is saddened to hear of the passing of former player David Hughes, who has died at the age of 65.
The thoughts of everyone at the club are with David’s family and friends at this difficult time.
David made only four appearances for Villa’s first team but had the distinction of scoring on his debut.
Born in Birmingham on March 19 1958, he joined Villa as an apprentice in July 1974, graduating from the youth team to play his first game for the reserves against Derby County in December that year.
He turned professional in February 1976 and marked his first-team debut with a goal against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park just after Christmas that year, although his late effort wasn’t enough to salvage a point. Andy Gray had earlier cancelled out David Mills’ opener for the Teessiders but a Mills hat-trick condemned Villa to a 3-2 defeat.
Later that season he helped Villa beat Derby 4-0 and Norwich City 1-0 before playing what proved to be his final senior game for the club in a 3-0 defeat by Arsenal at Highbury.
Hughes was also a member of the youth squad, alongside future European Cup winners Nigel Spink, Gary Williams and Colin Gibson, who played in two tournaments in Holland at the end of the season. He then joined Lincoln City, where he made 62 league appearances over the following four years.
Having spent the 1981/82 campaign with Scunthorpe United, Hughes finished his career with three years of non-League football for Worcester City.
Rest in Peace, David.
