Can journeyman Hughes settle at Shels?
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Philly Hughes is probably sick of hearing them at this stage, but ‘journeyman’ and ‘nomadic’ are words that seem to follow him around.
They may be clichéd, but they’re hardly unwarranted. The striker has had twelve clubs to date in an eleven-year career in senior Irish football, beginning with Tolka Rovers in 1999. After starting out at the Glasnevin junior club, Hughes has been at St. Pats, Kilkenny City, Kildare County (three times), Dublin City, UCD, Mongahan United (twice), Dundalk and Shels (twice).
“I’m always on the move” says Hughes, though the striker is adamant he wouldn’t change his experience in football. “It just sort of happened that way. I’ve met a lot of great people along the way though. I’ve wanted to settle down and stay at one club, but for one reason or another it’s just never happened that way.”
He has had a dozen clubs, but which one is closest to Philly Hughes’ heart? His first break into the League of Ireland came with St. Pats, and Hughes confesses that he still holds a candle for Shels’ crosstown rivals. “I started at Pats, so I’ve always liked them,” he admits. “But my first time at Shels [under Dermot Keely in 2008] was a special time, they’re a special club.”
One club that will hold a special place in its history for Hughes is Kildare County. Philly had three stints at the now-defunct Thoroughbreds, including one in 2009 in what turned out to be the club’s last season in football.
The club’s last-ever game- against Shels at Station Road on the final day of the 2009 season- was held in turbulent circumstances. The Board of Management, along with manager Joey Summerville, stepped down before the match. Hughes came in at the last minute and acted as player-manager for the 5-1 defeat- with Trevor Bowers scoring the club’s final goal. After the match, County were wound up, with Hughes and his teammates left clubless.
“It was a sad time” he adds. “We hadn’t been paid in a while and the manager had kind of let us down a bit.” County ran out in an unfamiliar strip for the match, after the management team had taken their home kit, explains Hughes. “We ended up wearing the Newbridge Town under 15s kit, but we were always going to play the match, we really didn’t want to let the league down.”
Since then, Hughes hasn’t looked back. Mick Cooke signed him for Monaghan United last season, and Hughes played a big part in the Magic Mons’ season that saw them narrowly miss out on promotion to the Premier Division. “I scored 14 league goals, so that wasn’t a bad return for me. Fitness has always been a problem for me, so it was just good to be playing regularly at that level again.”
Towards the end of what was a landmark season for Monaghan, Hughes reached a milestone: his hundredth goal in senior competitive football. But it’s not quite clear when the milestone was reached, with the official tally currently standing at 105. But the striker, Romario-style, thinks the true tally might stand at a few goals more. “My Da was watching the Sligo match [Monaghan’s 2010 EA Sports Cup final meeting with the Bit O’Red] and they said on the telly that I was on 99 goals, I’ve scored a few since then plus the five this season. It’s a nice feeling to be past 100 goals though” says Hughes.
One thing that stands out when looking at his record at Mons last season is his partnership up front with current Shels teammate Karl Bermingham. Hughes and Bermingham, along with Barry Clancy, made the switch to Shels in the close season and Hughes says that having Bermingham and Clancy around again has helped him settle down. “I know a lot of lads around the league, but yeah it’s been good having Barry and Karl around. I’ve really settled in well. But I don’t think we’ve really hit the heights we’re capable of yet” he admits.
Does he think that Shels could be the club that he finally settles at? He is certainly optimistic about his future with the Reds. “Hopefully the club can go up and be back up in the Premier Division where it belongs. Not only back up there, but challenging for titles as well.”
They may be clichéd, but they’re hardly unwarranted. The striker has had twelve clubs to date in an eleven-year career in senior Irish football, beginning with Tolka Rovers in 1999. After starting out at the Glasnevin junior club, Hughes has been at St. Pats, Kilkenny City, Kildare County (three times), Dublin City, UCD, Mongahan United (twice), Dundalk and Shels (twice).
“I’m always on the move” says Hughes, though the striker is adamant he wouldn’t change his experience in football. “It just sort of happened that way. I’ve met a lot of great people along the way though. I’ve wanted to settle down and stay at one club, but for one reason or another it’s just never happened that way.”
He has had a dozen clubs, but which one is closest to Philly Hughes’ heart? His first break into the League of Ireland came with St. Pats, and Hughes confesses that he still holds a candle for Shels’ crosstown rivals. “I started at Pats, so I’ve always liked them,” he admits. “But my first time at Shels [under Dermot Keely in 2008] was a special time, they’re a special club.”
One club that will hold a special place in its history for Hughes is Kildare County. Philly had three stints at the now-defunct Thoroughbreds, including one in 2009 in what turned out to be the club’s last season in football.
The club’s last-ever game- against Shels at Station Road on the final day of the 2009 season- was held in turbulent circumstances. The Board of Management, along with manager Joey Summerville, stepped down before the match. Hughes came in at the last minute and acted as player-manager for the 5-1 defeat- with Trevor Bowers scoring the club’s final goal. After the match, County were wound up, with Hughes and his teammates left clubless.
“It was a sad time” he adds. “We hadn’t been paid in a while and the manager had kind of let us down a bit.” County ran out in an unfamiliar strip for the match, after the management team had taken their home kit, explains Hughes. “We ended up wearing the Newbridge Town under 15s kit, but we were always going to play the match, we really didn’t want to let the league down.”
Since then, Hughes hasn’t looked back. Mick Cooke signed him for Monaghan United last season, and Hughes played a big part in the Magic Mons’ season that saw them narrowly miss out on promotion to the Premier Division. “I scored 14 league goals, so that wasn’t a bad return for me. Fitness has always been a problem for me, so it was just good to be playing regularly at that level again.”
Towards the end of what was a landmark season for Monaghan, Hughes reached a milestone: his hundredth goal in senior competitive football. But it’s not quite clear when the milestone was reached, with the official tally currently standing at 105. But the striker, Romario-style, thinks the true tally might stand at a few goals more. “My Da was watching the Sligo match [Monaghan’s 2010 EA Sports Cup final meeting with the Bit O’Red] and they said on the telly that I was on 99 goals, I’ve scored a few since then plus the five this season. It’s a nice feeling to be past 100 goals though” says Hughes.
One thing that stands out when looking at his record at Mons last season is his partnership up front with current Shels teammate Karl Bermingham. Hughes and Bermingham, along with Barry Clancy, made the switch to Shels in the close season and Hughes says that having Bermingham and Clancy around again has helped him settle down. “I know a lot of lads around the league, but yeah it’s been good having Barry and Karl around. I’ve really settled in well. But I don’t think we’ve really hit the heights we’re capable of yet” he admits.
Does he think that Shels could be the club that he finally settles at? He is certainly optimistic about his future with the Reds. “Hopefully the club can go up and be back up in the Premier Division where it belongs. Not only back up there, but challenging for titles as well.”
About Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell is our correspondent at Tolka Park, covering the goings-on at Shelbourne. You can visit Niall's website for further information and contact details- niallf.net. View Full Profile