Liam Michael Hughes (born 10 August 1992) is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or striker for Cleethorpes Town. He previously played for Cambridge United in the Football League and for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premiership, as well as for several non-league teams.
Club career Born in Rotherham, Hughes joined Cambridge United's youth setup from Scunthorpe United in 2007, aged 15. Initially a defender, he was converted to a more attacking role during his time at the Academy, and made his first-team debut on 9 November 2010, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Grimsby Town.
On 4 April 2011 Hughes signed a two-year professional deal with Cambridge United, but struggled to appear regularly as a starter. On 21 November 2012 he was loaned to Corby Town for a month, and after scoring six goals in five matches he returned to Cambridge.
Hughes signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with the club on 30 January 2014. He was a member of the starting eleven for the 2014 FA Trophy Final as Cambridge beat Gosport Borough 4–0, and his headed goal opened the scoring in that season's play-off final in which Cambridge beat Gateshead 2–1 to gain promotion to the Football League. He played his first Football League match on 16 August, starting in a 2–1 loss away to Portsmouth. His contract with Cambridge United was cancelled by mutual consent on 30 January 2016, and Hughes signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle of the Scottish Premiership two days later.
In June 2016 he joined Barrow. He moved on to Guiseley in November 2017, before signing for Billericay Town in February 2018.
On 16 May 2018 he joined Darlington. He left by mutual consent on 7 March 2019 and signed for Gainsborough Trinity the same day.
Hughes left Gainsborough in July 2019 and signed for Stratford Town, once again linking up with Darlington manager Tommy Wright. He left Stratford in October and signed for Bradford Park Avenue; he made his debut on 12 October in a 3–2 defeat at home to Hereford. In February 2020, he joined Frickley Athletic on dual registration.
Hughes signed for Matlock Town ahead of the 2020–21 season, and spent two years with the club, less a month on loan at Kettering Town while the Northern Premier League was under lockdown in early 2021.
He then moved on to Worksop Town for the 2022-23 season. In Hughes' first season at the club he finished as top scorer with 42 goals in 45 appearances, helping Worksop win the NPL East Division title. He was named in both the East Division and Media-voted Teams of the Season and won the East Division Player of the Season and the Supporters' Player of the Season.
Personal life In an interview with BBC Sport, Hughes revealed his struggles with drug addictions, self-harm and an attempted suicide during his career. Hughes was attacked and robbed of £350 on 25 December 2018, the day before he played for Darlington and scored in a 5–1 win over York City. Hughes is a father to three daughters from a previous relationship, and will marry his new partner in July 2024.
Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCambridge United2010–11Conference Premier18200—001822011–12Conference Premier21210—402622012–13Conference Premier36400—003642013–14Conference Premier40240—1115532014–15League Two3035010103732015–16League Two160100010180Total161131101017119014Corby Town (loan)2012–13Conference North3300—3265Inverness Caledonian Thistle2015–16Scottish Premiership90200000110Barrow2016–17National League38540—304552017–18National League9000—0090Total47540—30545Guiseley2017–18National League5010—0060Billericay Town2017–18Isthmian League Premier Division1310021—152Darlington2018–19National League North22110—10241Gainsborough Trinity2018–19Northern Premier League (NPL)Premier Division40———40Stratford Town2019–20Southern League (SFL)Premier Division Central501110—71Bradford Park Avenue2019–20National League North172——20192Frickley Athletic2019–20NPL Division One South East40———40Matlock Town2020–21NPL Premier Division5331—00842021–22NPL Premier Division331010—423812Total381341—424616Kettering Town (loan)2020–21National League North10——1020Worksop Town2022–23NPL East Division353354—5545422023–24NPL Premier Division251067—2335222024–25NPL Premier Division281431—533618Total88571412—121411682Career total417953814414316487118
Honours Cambridge United FA Trophy: 2013–14
Worksop Town Northern Premier League East Division: 2022-23
References
External links Profile at the Cambridge United F.C. website