Hughton fondly looks back on time at Newcastle

Seagulls boss Chris Hughton fondly recalled his time at Newcastle ahead of tonight's top-of-the-table clash between the two sides.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)Brighton manager Chris Hughton. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)
Brighton manager Chris Hughton. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)

Hughton was manager of Newcastle from 2009 to 2010, guiding the club to the Championship title in 2009-10 with 102 points. He was sacked the following season with the team 11th in the Premier League, before he was manager at Birmingham and Norwich and then took over as Brighton boss in December, 2014.

Reflecting on his time at St James's Park, Hughton, a popular figure on Tyneside, said: "I look back very fondly. I was there for just under three years, not all of that time as manager of the football club, but I enjoyed living in the area.

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"It was a very good period for me and one I shall not forget."

On taking Newcastle to the title, Hughton said: "In any player's career or manager's career, you look back on big moments and of course that was a very big moment, certainly for myself.

"It was my first managerial role and something that was very special for me but more importantly it was very special for the football club.

"If I look at my managerial career, it's the role that gave me an opportunity. I feel I've developed as a manager over that period of time.

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"Going through what we went through in that season and the season afterwards gives you a grasp of what management is about, the ups and downs, and I'd like to think I'm a better manager for it."

Looking ahead to tonight's game, Hughton said: "The major significance of this game is it's the next one.

"There's no doubt it's a big game because of where we are in the division and the two teams.

"It's a very significant fixture but there are a lot of fixtures to play afterwards and I will expect the majority of them to be very difficult games as well."

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