IF a story summed up quite how much Anthony Hughes loved his football, it came from those strange postCovid days.
Self-isolating because of his cancer treatment, the proud Merthyr Town supporter would take his position on a grass bank that gave the perfect view into the Martyrs’ Penydarren Park.
It was a club he had been involved with nearly his whole life, both as an official and, firstly, as a fan.
“At the age of three or four, I would be kicking a ball around at the side of the pitch at Merthyr Tydfil with my dad who was ever-present at the club,” he said in a 2021 interview with the Southern League Goals Show. “It meant that I became entrenched in the Southern League; from the late 1960s until I was into my late 30s my team was part of it and I would watch them week in, week out without fail.”
His football life took him from programme editor to secretary and director, as well as a member of FA Council and, his dream role, Southern League chairman.
Hughes passed away this week. He is survived by wife Debbie and children Victoria and Shaun.
The outpouring of love and support shows the respect he commanded across the game.
“Anthony was relatively unique,” Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris told The NLP. “A Welshmen, representing an English league in an English competition, but aligned to a club in Wales.
Denne historien er fra January 28, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 28, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
STOURBRIDGE snatched a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to seal a share of the points following a pulsating contest with promotion rivals Telford.
CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.
