Emlyn Hughes - Final Years

Final Years

In later years, Hughes lived a quiet retirement, occasionally carrying out duties as an after-dinner or motivational speaker.

In 1992 he appeared on an episode of Gamesmaster (a TV based computer games magazine) promoting the football video game which carried his name Emlyn Hughes International Soccer.

He became chief patron to the Sheffield based charity F.A.B.L.E. (For A Better Life with Epilepsy) in 1995.

From March 2002, he became a presenter and pundit on the nightly football phone-in on Real Radio Yorkshire. He remained in this role even when he became ill.

In 2003, it was announced that he was suffering from a brain tumour, for which he underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Hughes continued to battle against the disease until his death at his home in Dore, Sheffield, at the age of 57.

A minute's silence was held the following evening at Anfield before Liverpool's game against Middlesbrough in the League Cup and was impeccably observed. His funeral service took place at Sheffield Cathedral.

Hughes was married to Barbara and had a son and daughter, both named after him (Emlyn Jr. and Emma Lynn). His last public appearance had been at his daughter's wedding, nine months before his death.

Emlyn is a much loved character amongst the Anfield Faithful and was voted in the top 10 at No.10 on the official Liverpool Football Club web site poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.

A statue of Hughes was unveiled in his birthplace of Barrow-in-Furness in 2008, it is placed in front of a new office building on Abbey Road which was also named after Hughes.

A Cancer support charity in Hughes' name is run by the Freemasons of Tapton Masonic Hall in Sheffield, of which Hughes was a devoted member.