Non-League Paper Programme: Liam Hughes on finding purpose beyond the pitch

By Matt Badcock

Liam Hughes has always been one of those players who is a pleasure to interview.

Part of Cambridge United’s double winners in 2014 – they beat Gosport in the FA Trophy and Hughes scored in the promotion final victory over Gateshead – it feels like he’s been around for ages.

Since then, he’s had spells at north of the border with Inverness as well as a few more Non-League stops including Barrow, Guiseley and Matlock, among others.

Last week, he moved to Cleethorpes Town after a hugely successful period helping Worksop Town rise from Step 4 to the National League North with 95 goals in 145 games.

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Mental health

He even copped the NLP’s Step 3/4 player of the year at our National Game Awards in 2023.

Over the years, he’s become a huge outspoken advocate for mental health and trying to help younger players navigate the pitfalls of a football career.

And it’s that bigger impact he highlighted when chatting to us about moving onto Cleethorpes and looking back on his time at Worksop.

“The stats speak for themselves and you don’t get that from an unhappy player but I like to look at the wider picture,” Hughes, who won a promotion-FA Trophy double with Cambridge United in 2014, said.

“The whole community feel, the relationship I had with fans, supporting people with issues on the mental health side that I am a big advocate for.

“I always say this, there is a bigger picture than just a game of football. It’s how you integrate with people, how to communicate with fans and make the whole place feel like you’re all in it together.

“That’s something I want to try and achieve at Cleethorpes as well. I don’t just see myself as a cog in a machine on a football pitch; there is more to what I hope to bring to a football team than just knocking in a goal every now and then.

“It’s bringing people together, sharing success together. Having that impact off the pitch is something I am really excited to try and bring to Cleethorpes.”

Belief

And Hughes is steadfast in his belief of the power of Non-League football and the people involved.

“For me, it’s why you make sacrifices, travel up and down the county,” Hughes said. “Non-League football is the epitome of togetherness.

“It’s the backbone of English football. Die-hard fans who play their hard-earned money to support you.

“When you’re trying to achieve things, it’s sometimes easy to forget why you do it. Non-League is why we love the game. It brings people together.

“Someone could be going through some of the hardest things in your life and that togetherness on a Saturday or Tuesday night, whatever it may be, is enough sometimes to break the back of some really difficult times.

“It certainly saved my life – having a goal to achieve and work towards with my friends and family supporting me.

“It’s something I am really passionate about. Non-League football is bigger than just a game.

“It’s people’s lives, volunteers sacrificing their time to make a football club what it is. If we can repay that a little bit on the football pitch, I am absolutely here for it.

“The reason I play the game is for my friends, my family and all the fans who dedicate their lives to the club.

“That’s not just the Cleethorpes Towns and the Worksops, it’s every Non-League supporter across the country. My hat goes off to you! It’s amazing.”

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