It’s probably not unreasonable to say that Hull City’s season didn’t pan out how anybody would have wanted, given the fact that the Tigers stayed up on the final day and only on goal difference.
There haven’t been too many highlights all told, given City won just 11 times in 46 games and were a Portsmouth goal away from being relegated to League One.
Despite that, there were some positives to take from a difficult campaign and one of those was the emergence of summer signing Charlie Hughes.
City paid £3.5m to Wigan Athletic to sign him back in August. Fans were robbed of seeing him more than the 27 times they did because of an appendix injury early in the campaign, followed by a hamstring problem around Christmas.
Hughes probably gave City fans their moment of the season when his bullet header cannoned into the top of the Leppings Lane net at Hillsborough to seal a 93rd-minute winner against Sheffield Wednesday. He has certainly caught the eye throughout the season.
For a slightly different post-season feature, we asked the 21-year-old to give his ups and downs in a quick-fire Q&A with Hull Live as he reflected on being crowned the club’s Young Player of the Season….
Highlight of the season
“The last-minute winner at Sheffield Wednesday.
“It’s unbeaten. People say if you could stick that memory or feeling in a jar and lock it away, then it’s one of those moments where you never want to let it go.”
What was your lowlight
“Probably Derby (losing 1-0 at home on April 26).”
Toughest moment
“My hamstring injury.”
The most enjoyable moment
“We’ve got to go on Saturday with the celebrations (at Portsmouth), that’s the most enjoyable. That can’t be beat, so yes, Saturday and celebrating with the fans.”
Favourite away game
“It’s going to have to be Sheffield Wednesday. Actually, I’ll go Sunderland away. For me personally, it was my first game back in the team. The fans were all singing my song, and it was just an emotional moment for me.”
Favourite overall game
“My favourite game watching was the Leeds game while I was injured. My favourite game playing – it’s an interesting answer – Bristol City away. From us scoring to going a man down and then still digging deep and hanging on, I think that was just pure character and showed what this team can do.”
What would be the pre-match music track that inspires you?
“I’ve got one song that I listened to before the game, that I’ve listened to since I’ve stepped foot in the Championship. I’ve listened to that song before every game, and that’s a song by Meek Mill. It’s called Dreams and Nightmares.”
Why does that mean so much?
“It’s just one of those songs. I listened to it on the bus before my first Championship football game, and I’ve listened to it since then before every single game.”
Best dressed
“I’ll go Alfie Jones.”
Worst dressed
“Liam Millar.”
Chef Karim’s food at the training ground is amazing. Out of 10, how are you ranking it?
“Ten. He’s unbelievable. He’s a man of many talents, but so are the other two, Freddie and Noah, as well, so the food is outstanding here.”
Funniest moment
“There are some characters in this group, so let me come back to you on that one….
“Just thinking about it is amusing. We were in Turkey (pre-season) playing golf. It was a four-ball, so it was me, Alfie Jones, Lewie Coyle and Regan Slater. The media team had the cameras out and Regan Slater put one in the water five yards off the tee-box! That was a highlight of the trip.”