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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| May 28 2008, 1:31 PM EDT (current) | TheHumanTorpedo | 3 words added, 2 words deleted |
| May 28 2008, 1:30 PM EDT | TheHumanTorpedo | 2 words added, 1 word deleted |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
John 'Yogi' Hughes (not to be confused with John Hughes, the current Falkirk boss) was born in Coatbridge in on 3rd April 1943.
Hughes was signed from Shotts Bon Accord in 1959. He formed part of the Celtic side who reached the final of the European Cup in 1967 although he did not appear in the final itself. However, he was awarded a winners medal having played in the requisite number of matches (along with Joe McBride and Charlie Gallacher). He scored against Leeds in the semi-final of the European Cup in 1970 and played in the final v Feyenoord but missed a great chance which would have won the cup. Following that, his career with Celtic was effectively over. By the middle of the following season (70-71), he couldn't get a game with the reserves.
Nicknamed 'Yogi', he scored 189 goals in 416 appearances for Celtic, and earned eight full international caps for the Scotland national team. So named because of his size and strength, and without ever having much speed, he had the ability to shake off defenders through sheer physical power, while keeping his head down and the ball always under close control.He was a fans' favourite and would be greeted with cries of 'feed the bear!' during games.
He won 6 League Championship medals, was in 1 Scottish Cup winning team (1965), 4 League Cup winning teams plus 4 Glasgow Cups and 1 Charity Cup.
Yogi moved to Crystal Palace in 1971 (along with WilleWillie Wallace)Wallace) then to Sunderland where he ended his career.
He returned to Shotts Bon Accord as manager for a period.
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
On Missing Out in Lisbon
''Any player would tell you that you don't feel a part of it. You actually feel out of it, a terrible feeling. Although everyone tries to bring you into it you feel as if you are there but in reality somewhere else.
''In your mind you are thinking: 'God, I am missing this'. I can tell you it is a dreadful sensation. Even after it at the celebration dinners you feel just empty although you try to appear as happy as you can and you are happy for the others. But in truth it was absolutely devastating.
''Thirty six years on it still stabs me in the heart when I think about it. In football terms it was the worst thing that ever happened to me.''
''I had to fight to get a place on the plane because the doctor was worried that an ankle injury I had would swell up on the flight. But I was desperate to go - who wouldn't be? - and the disappointment of not playing was still hard to take, even if it was tempered by the fact that I knew deep down that I wouldn't have been able to play.''
On the 1970 Final
'I honestly feel Big Jock underestimated Feyenoord, who turned out to be a really good side. He also dropped George Connelly from the team that knocked out Leeds and I am convinced that was a major factor in our defeat. I believe that Jock thought the trophy was won when we beat Leeds. Mind you, I didn't help in the final because I missed a bloody sitter.
''It was so disappointing. At the time there was talk of us being upset at bonuses but I don 't think that was the case. We never knew what our bonus would be at any time. I think there was a feeling in the dressing room that the final was already won. Before the game, when there would normally have been nerves and tension, everybody seemed very relaxed. The atmosphere was so different. It was strangely flat.
''The Leeds game was a really big one but I think the worst thing that happened was playing them in the semi-final. It was very depressing afterwards because I knew I would not get another chance at winning a European final. To reach two finals, knowing the way football was developing, it didn't seem likely we would get there again.''
On Leaving Celtic
''Personally, I have to admit that I do resent the fact that I had to leave Celtic when I did not want to leave. I still get angry when I think of those days. I think it all stemmed from Jock's fears that his side would end up like the Inter Milan one we beat. He felt they were ageing. I was only 27 when he persuaded me to go to Crystal Palace, and I heard later two other first division clubs were in for me. A year later, after a knee injury, I was finished, out of the game. It was unnecessary. They say you hit your prime between 28 and 32 but I didn't even get started.''
'We thought they were on something!'
John Hughes, in 2003, talking about meeting an extremely energetic Ajax side in 1971. They went on to win the European Cup that year.
''Any player would tell you that you don't feel a part of it. You actually feel out of it, a terrible feeling. Although everyone tries to bring you into it you feel as if you are there but in reality somewhere else.
''In your mind you are thinking: 'God, I am missing this'. I can tell you it is a dreadful sensation. Even after it at the celebration dinners you feel just empty although you try to appear as happy as you can and you are happy for the others. But in truth it was absolutely devastating.
''Thirty six years on it still stabs me in the heart when I think about it. In football terms it was the worst thing that ever happened to me.''
''I had to fight to get a place on the plane because the doctor was worried that an ankle injury I had would swell up on the flight. But I was desperate to go - who wouldn't be? - and the disappointment of not playing was still hard to take, even if it was tempered by the fact that I knew deep down that I wouldn't have been able to play.''
On the 1970 Final
'I honestly feel Big Jock underestimated Feyenoord, who turned out to be a really good side. He also dropped George Connelly from the team that knocked out Leeds and I am convinced that was a major factor in our defeat. I believe that Jock thought the trophy was won when we beat Leeds. Mind you, I didn't help in the final because I missed a bloody sitter.
''It was so disappointing. At the time there was talk of us being upset at bonuses but I don 't think that was the case. We never knew what our bonus would be at any time. I think there was a feeling in the dressing room that the final was already won. Before the game, when there would normally have been nerves and tension, everybody seemed very relaxed. The atmosphere was so different. It was strangely flat.
''The Leeds game was a really big one but I think the worst thing that happened was playing them in the semi-final. It was very depressing afterwards because I knew I would not get another chance at winning a European final. To reach two finals, knowing the way football was developing, it didn't seem likely we would get there again.''
On Leaving Celtic
''Personally, I have to admit that I do resent the fact that I had to leave Celtic when I did not want to leave. I still get angry when I think of those days. I think it all stemmed from Jock's fears that his side would end up like the Inter Milan one we beat. He felt they were ageing. I was only 27 when he persuaded me to go to Crystal Palace, and I heard later two other first division clubs were in for me. A year later, after a knee injury, I was finished, out of the game. It was unnecessary. They say you hit your prime between 28 and 32 but I didn't even get started.''
'We thought they were on something!'
John Hughes, in 2003, talking about meeting an extremely energetic Ajax side in 1971. They went on to win the European Cup that year.
