THE football world has lost a great character with the passing of Emlyn 'Crazy Horse' Hughes on 9 November.

He had a glittering career with Liverpool, playing over 500 League and Cup games and winning numerous trophies. He also played 62 times for England, captaining the side on 23 occasions.

He moved to a variety of other clubs in his career but it must not be forgotten that he began his professional career with Blackpool.

Born in Barrow-in-Furness he joined Pool as an apprentice in 1963.

He was later to say: "I was spotted by a Blackpool scout and went to Bloomfield Road before I was 16, but the then manager Ron Suart, told me I was too small, and packed me off home with a body-building diet, and with the request that I should contact him again in a year's time."

He was signed as a part-time professional on 12 September 1964 and spent his time playing for the 'A' team while working as an apprentice mechanic in Barrow.

Becoming a full-time professional on 18 November 1964 he made two Central League appearances in the 1964/65 season but was a regular in the side the following season.

His performances in the reserve side earned him a League debut in the final game of the1965/66 season against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on 2 May 1966.

The story goes that Bill Shankly tried to sign him for Liverpool and put in a £20,000 offer right after the game (nine months later, Shankly got his man for £65,000) but the offer was rejected.

He earned a regular first team place early in the 1966/67 season and by February 1967 he had impressed with his never-say-die performances but he played his final game for Blackpool against Manchester United on 25 February 1967 when "an unlucky deflection by Hughes put the home side three up" and United eventually won 4-0.

Thereafter he went from strength to strength in the game that has now lost one of its brightest stars.

Emlyn Walter Hughes: 1947-2004