Hughes signed for Liverpool in 1943 from Tranmere where he was a trainee; however, it was not until 5 January 1946 that he made his debut in a 2–0 FA Cup 3rd round 1st leg victory at Sealand Road, Chester, his only goal did not come until 8 December 1951 in a league game at Anfield against Preston, Hughes' 88th-minute strike saving a point in the 2–2 draw.
During the first post-war season of 1946–47 Hughes made 30 appearances from 42 games helping the Reds win the First Division Championship, Liverpool's first title in 24 years.
1950 proved to be a rollercoaster of a season for Hughes, on a high due to reaching the FA Cup final at Wembley only to lose to Arsenal 2–0.
His debut came on 25 June 1950 in Rio de Janeiro, Chile were the opponents who were beaten 2–0 with the goals coming from Stan Mortensen and Wilf Mannion.
During the 1960s Hughes ran a grocery store and in 1964 was convicted of receiving stolen goods and was fined £20 after buying food that was the property of Woolworths.