Here is the ninth in of a weekly series profiling players across the region. Each week, a different player will reveal the best (and worst) moments from their football career. This week it is the turn of injured Yorkshire Amateur striker Joel Hughes.
Yorkshire Amateur striker Joel Hughes
Name: Joel Hughes
Age: 32
Position: Striker
Current Club: Yorkshire Amateur
Previous Clubs: Ossett Town, East Thurrock, Guildford City, East Grinstead, Fisher Athletic, Holmesdale, Lingfield, Erith Town,
Day Job: Financial Advisor
Best mate in football: Joel Greaves (most prolific partnership I’ve had)
Description of Career Highlight: Beating Tonbridge Angels and setting up the winner in an FA Cup first qualifying round tie for Guildford City. Scroll to 9.07 minutes.
Lowest Moment in Football: Being bullied by a referee in a game.
Description of Most Memorable Match: Playing for East Grinstead vs Crawley Downs (the first time I’ve played in a match where the ball did not leave the floor, even for the goals)
First semi-professional manager: Tony Beckenham very angry manager who would fight you, but then buy you a pint.
Description of First Red Card (at semi-professional level): I got sent off at Shirebrook for a second yellow. My one and only sending off. I closed Paul Sykes down and he fell to the ground when he kicked the ball.
Description of First Goal (at semi-professional level): It was a three-yard tap in at the back post for Ten Em Bee FC and I celebrated like I had won the World Cup.
Description of favourite goal (at semi-professional level): I’ve scored a lot of different goals, a lot of dribbles and shots from outside the box. But my favourite goal would probably be my left foot volley for Guildford against Cove, it was similar to Van Persie’s goal against Charlton. An absolute fluke, but I played it like I meant it.
What do you want to achieve in football in the future: I want to gain at least three more promotions in my career be it player or coach.
Favourite Non League Ground to play at (barring your own club): Obviously my favourite ground would be my home ground bracken edge. Asides from that it would be Tooting and Mitcham’s ground, I always score on that ground.
Final thoughts?: I would also like to say a big thank you to you James, you take this passion that we all love and put it in words to keep us going between matches. It’s a big help to all the managers, players and teams you feature and we all appreciate it.