Arthur Hughes (October 1, 1930 – March 4, 2019) was a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
soccer player. He was a two-time national champion with Canadian clubs Vancouver Hale-Co FC (1956) and
Vancouver Firefighters FC (1965). He was also Canada's starting
centre-forward
Forwards (also known as attackers) are outfield positions in an association football team who play the furthest up the pitch and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals as well as assisting them. As with any attacking player, the role ...
during the
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1957.
[957-06FIFA World Cup Qualifiers">] In the
Pacific Coast League, Hughes won seven championships with three different teams from 1954–55 to 1965–66. He won five titles with Firefighters (1954–55, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66), one with Hale-Co FC (1958), and one with
Westminster Royals FC (1959). He was a British Columbia or Mainland All-Star in 11 seasons from 1951 to 1965. Along with winning two
Dominion titles, he won three runner-up medals with Vancouver St. Andrews (1951), Westminster (1959), and Firefighters (1961). He was an honored member of the
Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.
Early life
Hughes was born on 1 October 1930 in
Camrose,
Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
. His family moved to
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
.
Club career
After playing youth soccer for Marpoles, he joined New Westminster Royals FC and scored two goals in his
Pacific Coast League debut as a teenager on September 17, 1950.
He split that rookie season between the Royals and Vancouver St. Andrews FC, leading the league with 15 goals scored.
Along with 1950–51, Hughes also led the league in goalscoring in 1956, 1957, and 1959.
He was the first-ever winner of the Austin Delany Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 1959.
Hughes also played in the Mainland Soccer League and won the 1960–61 championship with Firefighters FC. He retired at the end of the season at age 30,
but was convinced to return to Firefighters late in the 1961–62 season who were by then back in the Pacific Coast League and en route to winning another championship.
He remained active through to the 1966–67 season and retired as the Pacific Coast League's all-time scoring leader with 158 goals (two more than
Fred Whittaker).
Hughes played and scored in three editions of the Pacific Coast International Championship, twice with the
Vancouver Firefighters FC (1962, 1965) and once with the Pacific Coast League all-stars (1964). Hughes and the Firefighters won the 1962 J.F. Kennedy Trophy.
Upon retiring Hughes became the assistant chief in the
Vancouver Fire Department.
International career
After missing a chance to play for Canada in 1956 through injury, Hughes was selected to play for Canada in 1957 for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He scored two goals in Canada's first competitive match on 22 June 1957.
[957-06FIFA World Cup Qualifiers" /> After representing Canada in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1957, he captained Canada's side during a 1960 tour of the Soviet Union and Britain.]
Managerial career
After his playing career, Hughes served as Firefighters FC manager for one season, helping the club finish third in the 1968-69 Pacific Coast League standings.
Personal life and death
Hughes was married to his wife Marlene Hughes with whom he raised two daughters. He died in Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
on 4 March 2019 at the age of 88.
Honours
Club
Vancouver Firefighters FC
* Canada Soccer Championship for The Challenge Trophy
The Challenge Trophy (french: Trophée Challenge) is a national amateur soccer cup in Canada contested by the champions of individual provincial soccer competitions. It is one of the oldest soccer competitions in Canada, being held since 1913. ...
: 1965The Challenge Trophy
The Challenge Trophy (french: Trophée Challenge) is a national amateur soccer cup in Canada contested by the champions of individual provincial soccer competitions. It is one of the oldest soccer competitions in Canada, being held since 1913. ...
(Carling's Red Cap Trophy): 1956
Individual
* Austin Delany Memorial Trophy (PCSL Most Valuable Player): 1959
References
External links
* / Canada Soccer Hall of Fame
Canada Soccer Hall of FameCanada Soccer Records & Results
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Art
1930 births
2019 deaths
Canada men's international soccer players
Canada Soccer Hall of Fame inductees
Canadian soccer players
Association football forwards
People from Camrose, Alberta
Soccer people from Alberta
Soccer players from Vancouver
Vancouver Firefighters (soccer) players
Vancouver Halecos players
Vancouver Royals players
Vancouver St. Andrews players
Westminster Royals (soccer) players