Billy Hughes dead at 70: Sunderland legend and 1973 FA Cup winner passes away after long battle with illness
SUNDERLAND legend Billy Hughes has passed away aged 70 following a long illness.
The former striker helped the Black Cats to their famous 1973 FA Cup Final victory over the then mighty Leeds United at Wembley.
He scored 74 times in 287 league appearances for the North East club before moving on to play for Derby County, Leicester City, Carlisle and finishing his career in America with San Jose Earthquakes.
The one-cap Scotland international also enjoyed a loan spell in Canada with Vancouver Royal Canadians in 1967.
Hughes was top scorer in the cup-winning season with 19 goals and he went on to bag Sunderland's first-ever goal in European competition the following campaign against Vasas Budapest in the Cup Winners' Cup.
His death to the unknown illness comes just days after Sunderland confirmed Hughes was set to be added into their official hall of fame.
He, Ted Doig, David Halliday and Kevin Phillips were all announced earlier this month as the latest inductees.
While England international Jill Scott will become the first woman to be added into the hall of fame.
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Speaking previously to SAFC.com, Hughes' former Sunderland colleague and room-mate Vic Halom said: “Billy had an extreme talent. I never saw anyone to compare with him.
“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.”