WHICH son of a Wales legend scored his first goal for his new Welsh Premier club last weekend?
The answer, observant fans will have noticed, is Newi Cefn Druids midfielder Alex Hughes, the 19-year-old son of former national team boss Mark.
Hughes, who signed for Druids from Wrexham in December, scored the opening goal as Dixie McNeil’s side romped to a 3-0 win at home to struggling Cwmbran Town.
“He’s done okay,” said McNeil of Hughes, who was making his fifth appearance for Druids. “Alex is a footballing type of player so he’s got to learn to adapt a little bit, because playing in the Welsh Premier is definitely different to playing in the Pontins League at Wrexham – our league’s a lot more hustle and bustle and the pitches aren’t as good.
“But he’s a young lad and he’s still learning. He’s a smashing lad and we hope we can bring him on a bit.”
Hughes’ debut goal, said McNeil, wasn’t like the acrobatic volleys which became his dad’s trademark while at Manchester United.
“It was a header from about five yards – although his dad scored plenty of tap-ins in his time as well.
“To be honest we don’t expect him to score every week as he’s a midfielder. Of course Mark started off as a midfielder when he first went to United, but Alex is a different type of player. He’s taller than his dad, he’s about 6ft 1in, and his temperament is probably different to his dad’s!”
But Hughes isn’t the only player following in his father’s footsteps at Plas Kynaston.
Dixie’s son Richie last week signed for the Ancients, having previously played for his father at Caernarfon Town. The striker, 33, is regularly on the scoresheet for Cymru Alliance side Lex XI, where his younger brother Jamie also plays up front.
“Obviously neither Alex nor Richard get singled out for special treatment,” said McNeil. “Once they’re here at the club they’re just one of the lads. They probably take a bit of friendly ribbing from the lads, and everywhere they go people will say ‘Is he as good as his dad’, but that’s just something they bring with them wherever they go.”
Meanwhile, Druids’ victory on Saturday extended their upward surge as they climbed to 11th in the table, thanks to a run of nine games in which they have been beaten only twice – away at high-flyers Carmarthen and Welshpool.
“Next we’ve got Bangor at home on Tuesday, and we’ll be looking to get something from that,” McNeil added. “Then we’ve got Port Talbot, who beat Swansea a couple of weeks ago, so that shows they’re a very good side.
“The confidence in our squad has risen dramatically. “We’ve brought in Timmy Edwards and he’s really strengthened our back line.”
