We are saddened to learn that our former director of coaching Charles Hughes has passed away at the age of 91.
Hughes had a profound impact on football in England for more than 30 years before his retirement in 1997. He worked with several Three Lions managers, including notably being appointed assistant national coach to Sir Bobby Robson in 1982.
As well as significant work in advancing youth development, he's also credited with involvement in the formation of what would become the Premier League. He was also a member of the respected UEFA Jira Panel that advised the European governing body on coach education from 1995 to 1998.
Hughes was one of the first coaches and coach educators in England to promote match analysis which led him to advocate a high tempo, high pressing, direct football philosophy which was controversially received in many quarters.
Nevertheless, in his autobiography Sir Bobby wrote of Charles: “He was terrific. There were few better coaches in England. Don Howe would back me up on this. Charles' organisational skills were outstanding.”
FA technical director John McDermott said: “I worked with Charles for two years towards the end of his FA career. He was meticulous, demanding of high standards and generous with his time. The words from Sir Bobby, who worked closely with Charles, are high praise indeed.”
Hughes first joined the FA in 1964, in a role which was both assistant director of coaching and team manager of the England amateur international team and British Olympic team.
By 1990 until his departure from the FA, he held the role of director of coaching. During his time at the FA, the initiatives with which he would be most associated included the following:
• The creation of 'FA centres of excellence' in 1983, which for the first time allowed professional clubs to train schoolboy players under 14 years of age.
• The creation of the FA National School at Lilleshall from 1984-1999 which was the template for the development of academies.
• The creation of the FA Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Lilleshall.
• Together with the PFA, the Footballers’ Further Education and Vocational Training Scheme, the Sports Council and the Football League, the introduction of more than 100 ‘Football in the Community’ programmes at Football League clubs and local authorities from 1989.
In 1991, Hughes was project manager for the 'Blueprint for the Future of Football' published by the FA, which among other recommendations led to the formation of what was then ‘The FA Premier League'. He led all the research and consultation, collated and authored the report before shepherding the recommendations through the FA Council.
Hughes, who produced, authored and edited more than 30 books and videos, also had an impact in women's and girls’ football. In 1989, he obtained the funding for three full-time female development officers and the appointment of the FA’s first women’s football coordinator.
In his later years, Hughes lived in north Wales with his wife Elizabeth, before she passed away in August 2019.
