Billy Hughes hailed from Coatbridge in Scotland, a town steeped in footballing tradition and fervour, where the passion for the game ran deep through the veins of its people. He was spotted by Sunderland scout Tom Rutherford while playing for a schools’ side, an opportunity that would change his life.

PART ONE

Billy was an avid supporter of Celtic and he had an offer from the Glasgow giants too, but his brother John was already a star for the Hoops, meaning that any move there would have led to constant comparisons, something he was keen to avoid. Thus, seeking to carve his own path and escape the shadow of his sibling, he settled on Sunderland, a club with an illustrious history but at the time very much in transition.

Hughes´ youth team coach upon arrival was none other than Brian Clough, a man whose managerial acumen would later become the stuff of legend, yet for reasons that remain shrouded in mystery to this very day, the Sunderland board of directors released Clough from his contract. Nevertheless, Billy was part of a youth side brimming with promise, and they reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in the 1965-66 season before clinching the title the following campaign, laying the foundation for what was to come.

Meanwhile, he had also been handed his first-team debut in a 2-2 draw against Bill Shanly´s Liverpool at Roker Park on 4th February 1967, a baptism of fire against one of the dominant forces of English football. However, opportunities were initially limited, and he managed just six appearances by the season’s end, while in the 1967-68 campaign, he struggled to break into the starting XI. Yet persistence and talent are often rewarded, and the 1968-69 season marked the beginning of his establishment as a first-team regular.

His first senior goal for Sunderland arrived in a tight 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 14th September 1968, a strike that signalled his arrival as a player of genuine potential. Under new Roker Park manager Alan Brown, a disciplinarian keen to rejuvenate the squad by phasing out some of the more established senior pros in favour of younger talent, Hughes found himself increasingly in favour.

However, Sunderland were battling to retain their top-flight status, a testing environment for any developing player, and when Brown made the controversial decision to sell leading scorer Colin Suggett in the summer of 1969, the team struggled severely. Consequently, relegation for only the second time in the club’s history followed at the end of the 1969-70 campaign, plunging the club into the Second Division.

The following seasons in the second tier were largely unremarkable in terms of Sunderland’s fortunes, yet Hughes had now firmly cemented his place in the side and was contributing regularly with goals. He was predominantly a pacey winger who could shoot with either foot, though he was equally adept at playing as a striker when needed. Moreover, he possessed a flamboyant, audacious skillset, yet this natural exuberance was somewhat curtailed under the rigid, authoritarian management style of Alan Brown.

It would take Brown’s departure and the arrival of experienced manager Bob Stokoe at the tail end of 1972 to truly ignite both Sunderland’s fortunes and Hughes’s own performances. The Scot himself admitted that he had never heard of Stokoe before his appointment, but there was an instant feeling that things were about to change. Stokoe had a unique ability to instil belief in his players, making them feel that they were capable of greatness, and for a mercurial talent like Hughes, this newfound freedom proved invaluable.

Adding further intrigue to the story, Stokoe moved swiftly to sign Billy’s brother John to lead the Sunderland attack. However, in a cruel twist of fate, John suffered a devastating knee injury just minutes into his debut match against Millwall, attempting to play on before eventually succumbing to the pain. The damage was severe, and tragically, he never played professional football again. Consequently, Stokoe had to return to the transfer market, and he found his answer in Vic Halom, a signing that would prove crucial.

What followed was one of the most remarkable cup runs in FA Cup history. Sunderland, a struggling Second Division side, defied all expectations to reach the final in 1973, eliminating top-flight opposition along the way. Hughes himself played a pivotal role, netting four goals during the run, including two against Manchester City in a thrilling fifth-round replay in front of a crowd of over 50,000 people at Roker Park on 27th February. What´s more, his performances, full of verve and invention, embodied the fearless spirit of Stokoe’s side.

PART TWO

Off the pitch, Billy Hughes was a larger-than-life character, known for his mischievous sense of humour and penchant for practical jokes. One such moment of levity came in the build-up to the final against FA Cup holders Leeds United, when, during a live television interview with Dave Watson, Hughes activated a hidden laughing box, letting it play out for over a minute. The act of irreverence underlined the relaxed nature of the Sunderland squad, a stark contrast to the tension emanating from their heavily favoured opponents.

The final itself was, of course, the stuff of legend. Ian Porterfield’s goal secured a stunning 1-0 victory over the mighty Leeds, and goalkeeper Jim Montgomery produced heroics between the sticks. Sunderland had defied the odds, and Hughes, at the heart of their attack, had written his name into the club’s folklore.

Buoyed by their triumph, Sunderland set their sights on a return to the top flight, and Hughes continued to flourish under Stokoe’s management. From the 1972-73 season through to 1974-75, he hit double figures in goals each year, a testament to his growing influence. On 7th September 1974, he recorded his first and only hat-trick for the club in a 5-1 win over Bristol Rovers at Roker Park, a display of his ruthless finishing ability.

However, despite a promising campaign, Sunderland narrowly missed out on promotion, fading in the final weeks. The following season saw further frustration as they once again failed to secure a return to the First Division, and with the club’s fortunes stagnating, change was inevitable. Hughes, now approaching 30, moved on in the summer of 1977, bringing an end to a decade-long association with Sunderland.

Billy Hughes subsequently had comparatively brief spells with Derby County and Leicester City before winding down his playing Football League career with Carlisle United. While his later years lacked the glamour of his time at Sunderland, his legacy as one of the club’s great entertainers was secure.