Art Hughes

Arthur Hughes (October 1, 1930 – March 4, 2019) was a Canadian soccer player. He was a two-time national champion with Canadian clubs Vancouver Hale-Co FC and Vancouver Firefighters FC (1965). He was also Canada's starting centre-forward during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1957. In the Pacific Coast League, Hughes won seven championships with three different teams from 1954–55 to 1965–66. He won five titles with Firefighters (1954–55, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66), one with Hale-Co FC (1958), and one with Westminster Royals FC (1959). He was a British Columbia or Mainland All-Star in 11 seasons from 1951 to 1965. Along with winning two Dominion titles, he won three runner-up medals with Vancouver St. Andrews (1951), Westminster (1959), and Firefighters (1961). He was an honored member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.

Early life Hughes was born on 1 October 1930 in Camrose, Alberta. His family moved to Vancouver. He split that rookie season between the Royals and Vancouver St. Andrews FC, leading the league with 15 goals scored.

Along with 1950–51, Hughes also led the league in goalscoring in 1956, 1957, and 1959. He was the first-ever winner of the Austin Delany Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 1959.

Hughes also played in the Mainland Soccer League and won the 1960–61 championship with Firefighters FC. He retired at the end of the season at age 30, but was convinced to return to Firefighters late in the 1961–62 season who were by then back in the Pacific Coast League and en route to winning another championship. He remained active through to the 1966–67 season and retired as the Pacific Coast League's all-time scoring leader with 158 goals (two more than Fred Whittaker).

Upon retiring Hughes became the assistant chief in the Vancouver Fire Department.

Honours Club Vancouver Firefighters FC Canada Soccer Championship for The Challenge Trophy: 1965 Pacific Coast League: 1954–55, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66 Pacific Coast International Championship for the J.F. Kennedy Trophy: 1962

Vancouver Hale-Co FC (Vancouver City) Canada Soccer Championship for The Challenge Trophy (Carling's Red Cap Trophy): 1956 Pacific Coast League: 1958

Westminster Royals FC Pacific Coast League: 1959

Individual Austin Delany Memorial Trophy (PCSL Most Valuable Player): 1959 Top Scorer of the Pacific Coast Soccer League (4): 1950–51, 1956, 1957, 1959 Top Scorer of the Canada Soccer Championship for the Challenge Trophy: 1965