On this day - 2 August

Anniversary

Name: Michael Hughes
Born: Larne, Northern Ireland, 2 August 1971
Clubs: Carrick Rangers, Manchester City, Strasbourg, West Ham United, Wimbledon, Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, Coventry City, St Neots Town
International: Northern Ireland - 71 caps, 5 goals

Former Northern Ireland international midfielder Michael Hughes was born on this day 44 years ago.

A youngster with Carrick Rangers in his homeland, he moved to England with Manchester City as a trainee and moved on to French club Strasbourg in 1992.

He joined the Hammers on loan two years later, and would remain at the Boleyn Ground under that arrangement for two seasons before signing permanently on a Bosman free.

Hughes' goal against Manchester United on the final day of the 1994/95 season helped hand the title to Blackburn Rovers, with the Red Devils drawing 1-1 at the Boleyn Ground when they needed all three points.

He played 84 league games for the Hammers before joining Wimbledon for a £1.6m fee and he would go on to play for Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Coventry before ending his career at a player-coach at non-league St Neots Town.

Hughes his currently majority shareholder at his first club, Carrick Rangers, in the second tier of the Northern Irish league.