Football and Morality - The Lee Hughes Conundrum

[LeftPeg_Pie]

A time honoured footballing discussion is afoot given our latest recruit. So let’s have it here…

Every time the topic comes up, especially being a Notts fan, two words scream into focus.

Lee Hughes.

[MagpieNate]

It never sat right with me when Hughes was here. Not necessarily because he had a prior conviction but because of the stigma it brought to the club. I celebrated his goals, as they were Notts goals but was relieved when he left the club. The new lad on loan isn’t as high profile so can’t imagine will bring as much hate as Hughes did. My issue with Brown though is that he’s a 29 yr old striker with an awful scoring record. Really really hope I’m proven wrong and he makes a telling contribution to our season but at this point I’d rather we hadn’t signed a striker at all.

[queenslandpie]

Hughes did some very bad stuff served his time and has consequently proved that he can be of good character. That statement is without doubt accurate. This new chap had too much to drink and under the influence of alcohol acted out of character and did some bad stuff. he now needs to prove he can be of good character. We will see who is chanting his name if he gets a hat trick on his debut like Lee Hughes. I hope that he can get on with his life and if he is half as successful at Notts as Lee was and moves on with his life then great. Brown unlike Hughes is not really an exciting signing. Let's see what he can do.

[NottsNotCounty]

In fairly recent times we have had two players in Hughes and Richard Liburd that had served a custodial sentence before arriving at Meadow Lane, clearly their offences were more severe than BrownÂ’s but for both of those players you couldnÂ’t fault them for their efforts whilst in a Notts shirt on the pitch so hopefully that will be the case with Brown. (IÂ’m not saying Liburd was at the same level as Hughes but for a player that was left back one week and right wing the next he gave it his all for his level of ability).

[upthemaggies]

In fairly recent times we have had two players in Hughes and Richard Liburd that had served a custodial sentence before arriving at Meadow Lane,

Two club legends also spring to mind that have been in trouble since leaving Notts - including probably my all-time favourite player - who was sent to prison. The other - before my time - for a similar offence to this new arrival.
It doesn't bother me personally, I view being a footballer as very low down the list of jobs in which you need to be be of sound character, though I get it if people have been affected by similar offences. I suppose it's a bit like people going to see an edgy comedian, it's funny until a joke touches a raw nerve, then it's very uncomfortable and they want to walk out. I'd have found it very difficult supporting Lee Hughes, or indeed Notts at that time, if I'd lost a family member to a drunk driver.

[Chicken Balti Pie]

My take on it is that the justice system is there to rehabilitate offenders. The crime Hughes committed was horrible and extremely serious, but he served his sentence and therefore should be allowed to live his life. Same as this new player, it doesn't mean we have to like the person but if we don't let people carry on in life once the sentence is complete, then there is no point in wanting to change for the better. I believe in Hughes case he does a lot of community work and it seems Brown has changed his ways and stopped drinking alcohol. I'm not saying we should worship them as deities, but they've served their sentence and changed their ways, let's give them a chance

[Notsohumblepie]

A time honoured footballing discussion is afoot given our latest recruit. So let’s have it here…

Every time the topic comes up, especially being a Notts fan, two words scream into focus.

Lee Hughes.

Are the two words Stan Collymore?

After a history of " dogging", and physically abusing Ulrika Jonsson ( not necessarily in that order) he ls almost treated as some kind of " elder statesmen "

He is currently senior football strategist at Southend United, so I suppose there must be some form of divine justice in the world

[Woodypie]

I met Hughes a couple of times and can say there was little remorse. He isn't a nice man. The new signing is completely the wrong guy to sign. Slapping a woman counts more than his lack of ability in my books.

[queenslandpie]

I met Hughes a couple of times and can say there was little remorse. He isn't a nice man. The new signing is completely the wrong guy to sign. Slapping a woman counts more than his lack of ability in my books.

I am interested about how you formed a view on Hughes? The media article here suggests he did a fairly reasonable amount of "remorseful" stuff. https://www.theguardian.com/football...wsstory.oldham

[ForeignLegion]

I met Hughes a couple of times and can say there was little remorse. He isn't a nice man. The new signing is completely the wrong guy to sign. Slapping a woman counts more than his lack of ability in my books.

Did you specifically ask him if he was remorseful...surely that would be the only way to ascertain whether he was or not?