Cian Hughton

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cian Hughton

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Cian James Hughton

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|01|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Enfield, England

| height =

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 2005–2008 | youthclubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur

| years1 = 2008–2009 | clubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2009–2011 | clubs2 = Lincoln City | caps2 = 63 | goals2 = 6

| years3 = 2012 | clubs3 = Birmingham City | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2007 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U18 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U19 | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2009–2010 | nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U21 | nationalcaps3 = 5 | nationalgoals3 = 0

}}

Cian James Hughton (born 25 January 1989) is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Lincoln City. A defender, he began his career with Tottenham Hotspur before joining Lincoln City, and was later on the books of Birmingham City. Born in England, he played international football for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.

Club career

=Tottenham Hotspur=

Hughton joined Tottenham Hotspur's academy in 2005, and went on to make 15 youth team appearances that season. Established, he played a further 27 games the following season, scoring once and stepping into the reserve set-up, where he appeared on a total of 21 occasions over two seasons.

=Lincoln City=

On 27 July 2009, Hughton signed a six-month contract with Football League Two club Lincoln City.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/8171320.stm |title=Lincoln agree deal with Hughton |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 July 2009 |accessdate=3 April 2012}} He made his first-team debut in the 1–0 victory over Barnet on 8 August.{{cite web |url=http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10440~49135,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812102550/http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10440~49135,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2009 |title=Lincoln City vs Barnet |publisher=Lincoln City F.C |date=8 August 2009 |accessdate=3 April 2012}}

He was given a new 18-month contract following the conclusion of his initial deal,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/8465495.stm |title=Cian Hughton signs new contract with Lincoln City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2010 |accessdate=3 April 2012}} but found first team opportunities hard to come by after Chris Sutton left the club and Steve Tilson took over.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} In May 2011 he was not offered a new contract after a mass clear out of players following the club's relegation from the Football League.{{cite news | title = Steve Tilson clears out Lincoln City squad | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/9483263.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 11 May 2011 | accessdate = 12 May 2011}}

In June 2011 he joined Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS for a ten-day trial but failed to earn a contract.{{cite news |url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Hassli+becomes+sensation+after+spectacular+strike/4948672/story.html |title=Hassli becomes web sensation after spectacular strike |work=Vancouver Sun |date=15 June 2011 |accessdate=30 June 2011}}
{{cite news |url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Good+time+Caps+seeing+Reds/5022204/story.html |title=Good time for Caps to be seeing Reds |work=Vancouver Sun |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=30 June 2011}} He also had trials at lower-league clubs including Bristol Rovers, where he appeared in a 5–1 pre-season win over local side Mangotsfield United,{{cite web |url=http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10328~2387813,00.html |title=Comfortable win |publisher=Bristol Rovers F.C |date=6 July 2011 |accessdate=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710015635/http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10328~2387813%2C00.html |archivedate=10 July 2011}} and Milton Keynes Dons, where he scored in a 6–0 friendly victory against Buckingham Town.{{cite web |title=Buckingham Town hit for six |url=http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2416382,00.html|date=11 August 2011|publisher=Milton Keynes Dons F.C|accessdate=29 February 2012}} During the summer off-season of 2011, Hughton travelled to Ireland and agreed a deal with Dundalk, only to be told that budget cuts at the club meant the deal could no longer materialise.{{cite web |url=https://www.dundalkfc.com/budget-cuts-foster-speaks-of-frustration/ |title=Audio: Budget cuts: Foster speaks of "frustration" |first=Keith |last=Wallace |publisher=Dundalk F.C. |date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815223019/https://www.dundalkfc.com/budget-cuts-foster-speaks-of-frustration/ |archive-date=15 August 2011}}

=Birmingham City=

Having spent several months training with Birmingham City, where his father became manager in June 2011, on 29 February 2012 Hughton signed for the club until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2628390,00.html |title=Peter pens deal |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |date=29 February 2012 |accessdate=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305060956/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~2628390%2C00.html |archivedate=5 March 2012}} He was an unused substitute for the visit to Brighton & Hove Albion, but made no first-team appearances, and was released when his contract expired.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2012/05/16/birmingham-city-secure-david-murphy-on-new-deal-97319-30979511/ |title=Birmingham City secure David Murphy on new deal |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |first=Colin |last=Tattum |date=16 May 2012 |accessdate=16 May 2012 |archive-date=19 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719070514/http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2012/05/16/birmingham-city-secure-david-murphy-on-new-deal-97319-30979511/ |url-status=dead }}

International career

Hughton had numerous calls into the Republic of Ireland under-18 and under-19 squads.{{cite web|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/players/reserves/cianhughton.html|title=Cian Hughton profile|accessdate=20 August 2009 |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C}} He made his under-21 debut as a substitute against Georgia under-21 at Tallaght Stadium on 9 October 2009,{{cite web|url=http://eircomsports.eircom.net/News/news/soccer/sprouting-up-cian-hughton.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221223339/http://eircomsports.eircom.net/News/news/soccer/sprouting-up-cian-hughton.aspx |url-status=dead |archivedate=21 February 2013 |title=Sprouting Up: Cian Hughton |work=eircom SportsHub |first=Sean |last=Nolan |date=3 December 2009 |accessdate=3 April 2012 }} and made his first start four days later against Switzerland under-21 at the Waterford Regional Sports Centre.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round=2000006/match=2000076/report=rp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102223606/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round=2000006/match=2000076/report=rp.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 November 2009 |title=Late Garvan leveller hampers Switzerland |publisher=UEFA |date=13 October 2009 |accessdate=3 April 2012}}

Personal life

Hughton is the son of former Tottenham Hotspur and Ireland international player, Chris Hughton. His uncle Henry Hughton was also a professional player. Hughton's paternal grandfather was Ghanaian, and his paternal grandmother was Irish.{{cite news |url=http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/soccer%20players%20051.pdf |title=My joy at Chris, by Mrs Hughton |first=Alan |last=English |newspaper=Limerick Leader |date=18 June 1988 |page=1 |accessdate=8 June 2012}}