Teachers said Mark Hughes was a good role model for pupils

Wales football manager Mark Hughes turned back the clock when he returned to his old school in Wrexham on Thursday.

The former Manchester United and Wales striker, 39, met some of his former teachers as he opened a new sports hall at Ysgol Rhiwabon.

Hughes was a pupil there in 1979 when he began his international career as a schoolboy.

Hughes became full-time Wales boss in July 2002, after he had managed the team on a part-time basis for three years.

In his first managerial post, Hughes has guided the Welsh squad to the brink of its first major competition in nearly 50 years, with four wins out of four in the qualifying stages for the 2004 European Championships.

My old maths teacher's here and he's still speaking to me so that's OK Mark Hughes

Hughes said he enjoyed seeing a lot of old faces at the school.

"A lot of them haven't changed so I could spot most of them," he said.

"I do come back to the village because my mum and sister are still here, but I haven't been up to the school for a while," he added.

Hughes said the facilities that the children had access to had changed dramatically.

"We just had a couple of indoor halls which weren't really geared up," he said.

"It's good that schools have access to good facilities and my old school is fortunate," he added.

Mark Hughes was a hard-working pupil at school

Hughes said he had good memories of his schooldays.

"I was OK academically but, when Manchester United come calling at your door, it's an easy decision as to what you are going to do," he said.

"I'm not avoiding any old teachers - my old maths teacher's here and he's still speaking to me so that's OK," he added.

Role model

In fact, Hughes' former maths teacher John Hodgekiss even had some good words to say about the footballing hero, saying he remembered him as a hard-working pupil.

"His football was obviously very important and he was often missing playing for Wales, but he was always good at copying up what he'd missed," he said.

"He would play football with the others in the playground and played like any other lad - using his blazer as a goalpost.

"He shone - I remember refereeing a game when he was in the second year and he just shone right through the game.

"It's lovely to have him back - he's a great role model for the children here.

"We're pleased to celebrate any achievements of any of our pupils - famous or not," added Mr Hodgekiss.