Laurie Hughes
Centre Half (1943-1958')
Date of Birth: 2-3-1924
Birthplace: Waterloo, Liverpool
Debut : 5th January 1946 v Chester City (A) FA Cup: Won 2-0
1st team games: 326
1st team goals: 1
Other clubs: Tranmere Rovers
National Team: England (1950) 3 caps/0 goals
A commanding centre half who could also play at wing half Laurie Hughes holds the distinction of being the first Liverpool player to play in the World Cup finals.
Strong an ox and an astute reader of the game he was a regular member of Liverpool's defence in the decade immediately following the end of the Second World War.
A former Tranmere trainee who joined the Reds in 1943, he made 30 appearances as the club won the first post-war championship and played in the 1950 FA Cup Final defeat by Arsenal.
Hughes won his three England caps during the 1950 World Cup in Brazil and played in the embarrassing defeat by USA. The following year his only goal for the club salvaged a draw two minutes from the end of the home fixture with Stoke.
The club's fortunes dwindled rapidly during the early fifties and after narrowly avoiding relegation in 1952-53, Liverpool did go down in bottom place a year later.
Hughes continued to play regularly and his last full season was a good one as he only missed one League match in 1956-57. Approaching his mid-30's by then, his last appearance for Liverpool came at Charlton on September 28 1957, although he didn't retire until May 1960 aged 36.
Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946/47
Laurie Hughes