William Hugh "Hughie" Russell (10 March 1921 – 10 December 1991) was an English professional footballer.

Hughie Russell
Personal information
Full name William Hugh Russell
Date of birth (1921-03-10)10 March 1921[1]
Place of birth Redcar, England
Date of death 10 December 1991(1991-12-10) (aged 70)[1]
Place of death Taunton, England
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
South Bank
Bishop Auckland
Royal Engineers (Barton Stacey)
1946–1952 Gillingham[1] 187 (106)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Shortly after World War II Russell joined Gillingham, then a non-league team. He scored 98 goals in just 126 games for the Kent side prior to their return to the Football League in 1950, including a haul of nine goals in a match against Gloucester City in the 1946–47 season, a club record for a single match which stands to this day. Contemporary newspaper reports state that he hit the post late on with a shot which could have given him double figures.[2]

Russell remained at the club after its re-election to the Football League, but could not repeat his non-league scoring feats, registering just 8 goals in over 60 matches. He was forced to retire through injury in 1952 and later served as the club's trainer before leaving football entirely to work as a hotelier. He died in Taunton in 1991.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 282. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
  2. ^ Triggs, Roger (1984). Gillingham Football Club: A Chronology 1893–1984. Kent County Libraries. p. 16.