Superheroes Number 24 - Joe Hughes

Superheroes Number 24 - Joe Hughes

A prolific goalscorer in his time with Albion, Hughes had even converted from a full-back to a Striker. Originally with Third Lanark, Joe went junior with Arthurlie when the Cathkin Park Club folded. After only a few months he was signed up by Albion, who were in the old First Division at the time. His debut was not a happy one – losing 6-0 at Dunfermline – and that set the tone for the rest of the season. However, Hughes still managed to score seven goals, making him top scorer for the club. In 1968/69 he netted 19 league goals, and his 26 in the league in 1969/70 remains a club record. He scored a further three in the League Cup to take his tally for the season to 29. He had already scored another 10 goals by November 1970 when Albion accepted a fee of £2250 for his transfer to East Fife – what a bargain the Fifers got. He played for them, Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath before rejoining Albion in 1974. In his second spell he was used mainly as a substitute, adding just one more goal to his tally in a 5-0 win over Brechin.

Hughes was a centre forward in the mould you seldom see now. He would have been described as a “bustling” forward, but not by opposing goalkeepers who might have used the term bulldozer. Joe was not aversed to putting ball, goalkeeper and defender if necessary into the net at once.

A real Albion hero, we understand that he now lives in Newcastle where he runs his own engineering business.