Tributes paid to Sunderland AFC legend and 1973 FA Cup winner Billy Hughes

The forward, who played a key role in the famous 1973 FA Cup final victory Leeds United, has passed away at the age of 70 following a long illness.

Sunderland club historian Rob Mason has paid tribute to one of the club’s greats, top scorer in the cup-winning season with 19 goals.

“It is with terrible sadness that we report the death of Billy Hughes,” said Mr Mason.

“Billy passed away after a long illness on 20 December ten days before he was due to turn 71. Without Billy Sunderland may well not have won the FA Cup in 1973.

“In the fifth-round replay with Manchester City - that was voted the greatest game ever played at Roker Park - ‘Hughesy’ scored twice as Sunderland triumphed 3-1.

“It wasn’t just winning the match but outplaying them, that’s what gives you the confidence” Billy once told me, adding, “We thought ‘hold on a minute here we’ve got something special’”.

Mr Mason added: “Billy Hughes was a special player in that very special side. He’d also scored in the original tie at City. Billy went on to score the winner in the semi-final and it was Bill that took the corner in the final from which his fellow Scot Ian Porterfield scored the only goal of the game at Wembley.

“Billy had an extreme talent. I never saw anyone to compare with him.” says his cup winning colleague and room-mate Vic Halom who explains, “Billy had this focus that wasn’t always visible to people but he was totally focussed on playing for Sunderland.

“In training if I nut-megged someone I’d celebrate it as if I’d scored but Billy would tell me off and insist I concentrated because he was very serious about his football on the pitch, although he would love a laugh off it.”

Hughes played for Sunderland between September 1964 and September 1977 making 307+28 appearances for the club and scoring 81 goals.

“We were both originally centre-forwards but when Vic came it released us to play wide and we had an inbuilt understanding,” Dennis Tueart recalls of his relationship with Billy on the club website.

“The beauty of it was had a natural connection. So often when either of us scored, pictures show we were the first to celebrate with each other – we were a band of brothers.”

Just two weeks ago, it was announced that Billy Hughes is to be inducted into the SAFC Hall of Fame in March.

Hughes, who one a cap for Scotland, also played for Derby County, Leicester City, Carlisle, San Jose Earthquakes.

Sunderland AFC chairman Stewart Donald: “We are devastated by this morning’s news of Billy’s passing.

“He was such a significant figure in the history of Sunderland AFC, and remembered so fondly for his contribution to the famous 1973 Cup Final victory.

“Our thoughts today are with Billy’s family and friends and we send our love and support to all of the members of our 1973 team, who will feel the loss of their former team-mate so deeply.”