Charles J. Hughes (footballer)

Charles J. Hughes
Personal information
Full name Charles James Hughes
Date of birth 16 August 1853(1853-08-16)
Place of birth Northwich, Cheshire, England
Date of death 31 July 1916(1916-07-31) (aged 62)
Place of death Northwich, Cheshire, England
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1874-1877 Northwich Victoria
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Charles James Hughes, J.P. (16 August 1853 - 31 July 1916)[1] was an English footballer and referee who was a pioneer of the early English game, being included in the publication 'Association Football and the Men who made it'.[2]

Early Life

Hughes was born at 7 Applemarket Street in Northwich, Cheshire to James Charles Hughes, a plasterer and roof tiler, and Hannah Hughes, a milliner.[1]. He was educated at Witton Grammar School (now Sir John Deane's College) and became an auctioneers' clerk aged 15, later founding his own business as Charles J. Hughes and Son. Soon after this he rose to prominence in his home town as a member of the Northwich and District Urban Council and honourable auditor for several local infirmaries.[3] He was also a governor for Witton Grammar School.[1]

Influential years

Hughes played a huge role in the development of association football, both in his home town, county and in England. As well as being the co-founder of Northwich Victoria Football Club, he was their honourable secretary, treasurer and a player.[4], He appeared in Northwich Victoria's first ever recorded Association Football game in 1874 against Stedman College in the village of Comberbach, Cheshire. This was also the first Association Football match to be played in Cheshire.[5] His playing career unfortunately ended when his ankle was broken by an opposition player on 15 November 1877, during a football match at the Drill Field, Northwich, against Hanley Rangers .[6]

In addition to Northwich Victoria, his influence in the early game included refereeing the 1891[7], 1893[8] and 1894[9] FA Cup finals. He was a joint-founder of the Cheshire Football Association, and from its foundation in 1878 till 1908, he served as their honourable secretary. He also served as vice-president of the English Football Association in 1901. Aside from football, he was a figurehead in several other sport clubs in Northwich; cricket, rowing and athletics.[3]

Testament to his influence, the former secretary of Northwich Victoria, the late Ken Edwards, who wrote the club's history in the book 'A Team for All Seasons', said that "few men have done more for the association game than Mr. C.J. Hughes."[10]

Following his death on 31st July 1916, he was buried at St. Wilfrid's Church in the nearby village of Davenham.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Is there an Old Wittonian Society?". http://internalarchive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2003/5/7/173195.html. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  2. ^ "Association Football and the Men who made it vol 3". http://www.its-your-history.com/aviation.html?page=shop.product_details&product_id=66&flypage=flypage.tpl&pop=0&vmcchk=1. Retrieved 9 December 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "CHARLES JAMES HUGHES, born at Northwich, August ,18th, 1853". http://newsarch.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CHESHIRE/2006-05/1148914783. Retrieved 16 August 2011. 
  4. ^ "Northwich: Northwich Victoria football team". http://www.picturecheshire.org.uk/frontend.php?action=zoom&keywords=Ref_No_increment;MATCHES;%28^. Retrieved 9 December 2010. 
  5. ^ "The early days of Vics". http://internalarchive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2002/6/19/193812.html. Retrieved 18 September 2011. 
  6. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://web.archive.org/web/20050207184310/http://www.vicsfan.uklinux.net/. Retrieved 14 October 2011. 
  7. ^ "FA Cup Final 1891". http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1891.html. Retrieved 9 December 2010. 
  8. ^ "FA Cup Final 1893". http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1893.html. Retrieved 9 December 2010. 
  9. ^ "FA Cup Final 1894". http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1894.html. Retrieved 9 December 2010. 
  10. ^ Edwards, Ken. "Pen Picture of some early Vics' celebrities". A Team for All Seasons. Cheshire County Publishing. p. 119. ISBN 0949001082. 
Preceded by
Francis Marindin		 FA Cup Final
1891		 Succeeded by
Charles Clegg
Preceded by
Charles Clegg		 FA Cup Final
1893		 Succeeded by
Charles James Hughes
Preceded by
Charles James Hughes		 FA Cup Final
1894		 Succeeded by
Charles Clegg