Date of Birth
01 Oct 1867
Birthplace
Harthill, Lanarkshire
Nationality
Scottish
Signed for LFC
1892
LFC Debut
29 Oct 1892
LFC Appearances
63
LFC Goals
18
Hugh arrived from Leith Athletic, along with his brother, Matt, who played in all positions, including goal, in Liverpool's team and later managed the club.
Hugh was a winger whose greatest assets were his speed and pinpoint crosses. He was one of the eleven men given the honour of representing Liverpool Football Club in its first-ever Football League match in September 1893. He only missed one second division match as the club remained unbeaten throughout its inaugural season in the League. However Liverpool struggled to cope with life in the First Division and Hugh left Anfield for Derby County after the club's relegation back to the Second Division in the 1894-95 season. Hugh nearly lost his life while on Liverpool's books when he dived off a springboard at Southport baths where the team were training. He was hauled out of the water, admitting later that he could not swim!
Derby had just escaped relegation from 1st division, but greatly improved during Hugh's six seasons at the club, finishing League runners-up in 1895-96 and third in 1896-97. Derby were also a great cup team, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals twice in 1896 and 1897 and losing in the final two years in succession in 1898 and 1899.
Hugh played 168 games and scored 22 goals from 1895-1901 at Derby County. In 1905 he joined Norwich as an assistant trainer and played one game for the Canaries due to player shortage. On February 6, 1909, Hugh returned to Anfield to a standing ovation as Norwich's trainer when they faced Liverpool in the FA Cup. The Canaries managed a famous 3-2 victory. Hugh retired from the game in 1910 and became a newsagent and tobacconist in Magdalen Street in Norwich.
Other Clubs:
Leith Athletic, Derby County, QPR, Gainsborough Trinity; Fulham, Kilmarnock, Hibernian, Norwich City