Huddersfield Town F.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Full name | Huddersfield Town Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Terriers | ||
| Founded | 1908 | ||
| Ground | Galpharm Stadium Huddersfield (Capacity: 24,554) |
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| Chairman |  Dean Hoyle |
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| Manager | Lee Clark |
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| League | League One | ||
| 2008–09 | League One, 9th | ||
| All-time top scorer | George Brown (159) | ||
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 Current season |
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Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One. Their manager is Lee Clark, who signed a contract to be manager on 11 December 2008 and took charge on 15 December.
In 1926, they became the first English team to win three successive league titles – a feat which only three other clubs have been able to match. They also won the FA Cup in 1922 and have been runners-up on 4 other occasions. On 2 February 2005, the name of the club was changed from Huddersfield Town Association Football Club to Huddersfield Town Football Club.
Nicknamed The Terriers, their mascot is Terry the Terrier. The club traditionally plays in a blue and white vertically striped shirt with white shorts. Its main rivals are Leeds United and Bradford City, and lesser rivalries exist with Barnsley, Oldham Athletic, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday. The club has developed a reputation as having a strong academy, a notion backed up by the present squad which contains a number of academy products.
The side plays its home games at the Galpharm Stadium, a ground shared with rugby league side Huddersfield Giants. The ground was originally named The Alfred McAlpine Stadium (after the construction company involved in its creation) due to a 10-year sponsorship agreement.
Their chairman is local businessman Dean Hoyle, who took over from previous chairman Ken Davy on June 3, 2009.
[edit] Early days
In 1910, just three years after being founded, Huddersfield entered the Football League for the first time. In November 1919 a fund-raising campaign was needed to avoid a move to Leeds. Citizens of Huddersfield were asked to buy shares in the club for £1 each, and the club staved off the proposed merger. Remarkably, the team went on to reach the 1920 FA Cup Final and win promotion to Division One.
In 1926, they became the first English team to win three successive league titles – a feat which only three other clubs have been able to match. They also won the FA Cup in 1922 and have been runners-up on 4 other occasions. On 2 February 2005, the name of the club was changed from Huddersfield Town Association Football Club to Huddersfield Town Football Club.
[edit] Modern times
[edit] The Horton era
Huddersfield finished 8th in the 1995–96 season and the closed season saw the departure of the hugely successful strike partnership of Andy Booth and Ronnie Jepson, whose goals had been vital to Huddersfield's success in the previous two seasons. Booth left for Premiership Sheffield Wednesday in a club record £2.7m deal while Jepson left to 2nd Division Bury on a free transfer. Horton invested the money in the prolific Bristol Rovers striker Marcus Stewart (for a club record £1.2m), Barnsley's Andy Payton (£350,000) and Blackpool defender Andy Morrison (£500,000).
Following such an outlay, much was expected of the Terriers in the 1996–97 season but, despite a bright start from Stewart, Horton was unable to improve on the team's consistently poor away form that had ended the side's playoff bid the previous year. Long-term injuries to Stewart and Morrison did little to help things and, with the previously strong home form becoming increasingly patchy, the Terriers struggled at the wrong end of the table. It was perhaps the least celebrated summer signing Payton who notched an impressive tally of 20 goals and helped staved off the threat of relegation as the side scrambled to 20th.
[edit] 'The Great Escape'
After a closed season of little activity in the transfer market, Town started the 1997–98 season disastrously and, after some questionable signings and tactical decisions, Horton was sacked in October 1997 as the club lay at the foot of Division One.
36-year-old former Huddersfield, Bradford City and Newcastle United central defender Peter Jackson was drafted in as Horton's replacement and turned the club's fortunes around drastically. He immediately installed the experienced former Wales manager Terry Yorath as his assistant. Given a generous transfer budget by the Board, Jackson captured experienced pros such as former Welsh internationals Barry Horne and David Phillips in addition to powerful local-born striker Wayne Allison from Division 1 rivals Swindon Town. He also managed to rejuvenate players like Marcus Stewart and, particularly, the previously inconsistent Paul Dalton to the extent that the club finished a respectable 16th in the final table.
[edit] The Rubery takeover
Huddersfield did even better in the 1998–99 season. Jackson recruited winger Ben Thornley (a popular loan signing under Horton) from Manchester United and in September, they beat Tranmere Rovers to top the early Division 1 table, thanks chiefly to the goalscoring prowess of Stewart and Allison. The team attracted the attention of local businessman Barry Rubery and, after protracted takeover talks, he took over the running of the club promising significant investment as the club sought Premiership status. The takeover rumours had a negative effect on the side and they fell away from the promotion race despite Jackson investing in the likes of Craig Armstrong and Jamie Vincent and they never looked likely to reach the Play-Offs; finishing 10th in the final table. Jackson was hoping to mount a promotion challenge the following season, but he was suddenly sacked after the end of the season and replaced by former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce, whose first season in management with Sheffield United had brought little success. Peter Jackson declined the role of academy director.
[edit] The best Town side in 30 years
Rubery and managing director Ian Ayre talked up the side's chances of promotion the following year pointing to the acquisition of the high-profile Steve Bruce as a clear indication of their ambition. More serious investment brought the likes of Clyde Wijnhard, Chris Lucketti, Giorgos Donis, Scott Sellars, Kenny Irons, Ken Monkou and Dean Gorré to the club. The Terriers tore up the Division for the first few months playing attractive attacking football in the 7–1 annihilation of Crystal Palace, plus notable wins over rivals Ipswich Town, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. The side even scored a famous 1–0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup and were widely considered to be 'the best Town side in 30 years'.
At the turn of the year, with the side suffering a blip in form, manager Bruce accepted the BBC's offer to cover previous club Manchester United's involvement in the much-derided FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil. With Town's form suffering, his popularity with the club's supporters plummeted. In addition to this, promotion rivals Ipswich bid for leading scorer Marcus Stewart. To the astonishment of everyone, the club accepted and Stewart condemned his old side to defeat in their meeting at Portman Road a few weeks later. Stewart's replacement, the capable but injury-prone Martin Smith signed from Sheffield United and, though he proved a more-than-useful replacement, the malaise around the club had set in, his striker partner Wijnhard had become a profligate shadow of his early season self and the Terriers collapsed, missing the Play-Offs altogether after a final-day 0–3 hammering at Fulham. Despite missing out on automatic promotion, Ipswich gained promotion through the Play-Offs with Terriers old boy Stewart playing a critical role with his goals in the Play-Off games.
[edit] The rot sets in
The optimism that had surrounded the club just a year earlier had completely dissipated and manager Bruce's ability to turn the tide was seriously in doubt given the side's finish to the previous season. After some less than inspiring signings, among them Kevin Gallen and more feeble displays, Bruce was unsurprisingly sacked in November 2000 after a terrible start to the season had seen Huddersfield slip into the drop zone. Lou Macari, the former Stoke City, Birmingham City, West Ham United and Celtic manager, took the reins and made some shrewd signings on a limited budget. Particularly noteworthy was the loan signing of Zimbabwean striker Peter Ndlovu whose form initiated a revival that brought Macari the Manager of the Month award for December 2000 and helped push the Terriers out of the bottom three.
However, Town's old manager Warnock (now of Sheffield United) snapped Ndlovu up before a permanent deal could be agreed. Despite this major setback, Macari turned the side into a rugged, disciplined outfit and, aided by the best efforts of emerging talent Delroy Facey and the return of fan favourite Andy Booth after an injury-ravaged spell at Sheffield Wednesday, Town put themselves in with an excellent chance of survival with only two games of the season to play. However, a sudden and unexpected last week rally from both Crystal Palace and Portsmouth, and a return of just 1 point from the final two games against Wimbledon and Birmingham City, saw the Terriers relegated to Division 2.
[edit] Macari and Wadsworth
Macari remained in charge for the 2001–02 season. At the start of the season he sold Chris Lucketti to Preston North End in a £750,000 deal, after 76 appearances for Town. Macari promoted the then 18-year old Nathan Clarke to the first team, who would go on to be a mainstay at the heart of the Terriers defence. As the top six challenge faded, he made a canny loan signing, gifted young striker Leon Knight (from Chelsea). Knight's combination of pace, trickery and his eye for goal saw him bag 17 goals in only half a season and form an effective partnership with the returning crowd favourite Andy Booth. However, Knight received a red card during a league game with near neighbours Oldham Athletic and ended up missing the Play-Offs he had been largely responsible for getting the team to. Without him, Town battled well but lacked a cutting edge and ended up being defeated by Brentford at the semi-final stage.
Macari's contract was not renewed that summer. His successor was Mick Wadsworth, a manager whose last notable success was with Carlisle United some eight years earlier. The justification for the appointment was that Wadsworth was a more progressive manager than the defensive-minded Macari and was recommended by highly-respected Bobby Robson. Wadsworth attempted to play a neat passing game with a flexible 4–3–3 formation but his lone striker system failed to offer any real threat to opposition defences and, allied to a leaky defence and a lightweight midfield, Town were again in real trouble. With the club sinking into administration and unable to pay its players, Wadsworth was sacked in March as Huddersfield floundered near the foot of Division Two. Interim manager Mel Machin, despite the best efforts of Martin Smith (17 goals) and a slight improvement from one of the least memorable Huddersfield Town sides of recent years, was unable to save Huddersfield from the drop into Division Three so in 2003, the Club was relegated to the basement division for only the second time in their history and for the first time in more than 20 years.
[edit] The revival
Peter Jackson began his second spell as Huddersfield manager in the summer of 2003 as the Terriers came out of administration under the new ownership of Ken Davy. He again wasted no time in installing Yorath as his assistant. With only eight players turning up to his first training session, and star player Martin Smith defecting to Northampton Town, many supporters would have been happy to see the side consolidate and not slip any further down the league. But some shrewd signings (including Rob Edwards, Tony Carss, Efe Sodje, Steve Yates and goalkeeper Ian Gray), the emergence of a talented group of youngsters, and the prolific form of the previously ineffective Jon Stead made Town among the early pace-setters for the Division. As winter approached, Jackson's young side became more inconsistent and seemed to be fading but a change of formation tightened up the defence. Goalkeeper Paul Rachubka was brought in as the side found a new resilience and the ability to grind out narrow victories. Stead's form saw an offer from Sunderland, that was rejected, but he was snapped up by Premiership Blackburn Rovers for around £1.2m in January and was replaced by Polish U21 striker Paweł Abbott who had been unable to establish himself at Preston North End.
Though Abbott was initially not quite as prolific as Stead, the side kept their good run going and with one game left were on the verge of sealing the third automatic promotion spot. Needing to match Torquay United if they won their final game, Town went to Cheltenham Town, and after leading 1–0, disaster struck when Abbott received the ball just inside his own half and, inexplicably, ran back towards Town's goal and horrendously underhit a backpass that allowed the Robins to equalise with just 15 minutes of the game left. This, together with Torquay's win at Southend United, condemned the Terriers to a Play-Off spot, by virtue of an inferior goal difference.
The Play-off semi-final saw Town escape two bruising encounters with Lincoln City with goals from Danny Schofield and Rob Edwards staving off a spirited Lincoln fightback in the second leg. In the final Town rode their luck against a Mansfield Town side who had hit three in each league meeting of the sides. Just before the end of normal time the Stags netted but the linesman controversially ruled that the initiating cross had gone out over the by-line. A penalty shoot-out saw Town home and out of Division Three at the first attempt, securing their place in the newly-named League One.
[edit] The Young Guns start to shine
At the start of the 2004–05 season, the stadium was renamed the Galpharm Stadium, to reflect the sponsorship of this local healthcare company.[1] The 2004–05 season proved a rollercoaster for Jackson's young side with impressive early season victories away at eventual champions Luton Town and at home over runners-up Hull City but also included two derby defeats against Bradford City. However, a disastrous mid-season spell of form (including seven successive away league defeats and having Efe Sodje stripped of the captaincy after his red card against Blackpool in the LDV Vans Trophy) saw the side slump and in real danger of a relegation battle before the shrewd loan signing of striker Luke Beckett.
Beckett's goals halted the slide and injected Jackson's young side with the confidence that led them to a formidable late run of form (9 wins and 1 draw from 10 matches) that saw them miss out on the final Play-Off spot by a single point, despite Beckett departing to join local rivals Oldham Athletic before the transfer deadline. During the season, many graduates from Town's own academy started to cement first-team places, such as Andy Holdsworth, David Mirfin, Nathan Clarke, Tom Clarke, Adnan Ahmed and Michael Collins.
[edit] Further progress
Before the start of the season 2005–06, the club launched the controversial 'Young Guns' campaign. The players, manager Peter Jackson, assistant manager Terry Yorath, and coach Martyn Booty posed for the 2006 calendar in cowboy outfits.[2] Six of the younger players featured on the cover of the corporate hospitality brochure. Basing the cover around the 'Young Guns' theme was widely considered to be a mistake and caused the booklet to be adversely linked with the Brokeback Mountain film. Further controversy was caused when two unnamed players were found to be having a secret homosexual affair.
Despite losing to Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season, Huddersfield started the 2005–06 season brightly and were top of the table by mid-October. During the season they got the chance to show their pedigree by playing at Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup, which they lost 3–1.
Then they had a big money-spinning FA Cup match at Chelsea in January. They showed superb spirit to only lose 2–1, but many predicted it could be the turning point in Town's season, as they hadn't won a game since being drawn against them, a month earlier.
Gerry Murphy won the Football League's Contribution to Football award on 5 March 2006 selected by listeners of BBC Radio Five Live's Sport on Five.[3][4]
With the season heading towards its climax, Town had to prepare for the play-offs after a disappointing April, which saw them lose out on automatic promotion to the Championship. The goals of Paweł Abbott, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Andy Booth, Danny Schofield and Sheffield Wednesday loan signing David Graham helped Town to have the joint-second best scoring record in the division behind Swansea City.
Huddersfield beat Barnsley 1–0 at Barnsley in the play-off semi-final first leg but lost 1–3 (2–3 on aggregate) in the return.
[edit] A backward step
Following the narrow play-off defeat in May 2006 to neighbours Barnsley, the 2006–07 season started with high hopes that this would be the year that Huddersfield Town would make the step up to the Championship. Peter Jackson showed his confidence by extending his contract until May 2009. Notwithstanding the arrival of Luke Beckett departures, including Junior Mendes, exceeded arrivals.
The team made a sound start, with an encouraging home draw with much fancied Nottingham Forest, and they peaked at 5th on 21 October 2006. Some of the results in that period flattered the performances and the wheels came off in the next game with a 3–0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Despite an offer of cash from the Board, Peter Jackson declined to take any players on loan and the team spiralled downwards. Elimination, at home, in the first round of all three cup competitions did nothing to lift the gloom and on 5 January, in the televised encounter at Yeovil Town, the team played perhaps the worst 45 minutes of football in recent seasons to go 3–0 down at half-time (the game finished 3–1).
Around the January transfer window, Paweł Abbott and Danny Adams left, with Jackson indicating that Martin McIntosh and Mark Hudson would not play for the Club again, while Andy Taylor joined from Blackburn Rovers on loan until 5 April 2007, and Frank Sinclair joined from Burnley for the rest of the season. Also signed on a loan deal, on 23 February, was Barnsley striker Paul Hayes who played four games before his return.
A 5–1 thrashing at Nottingham Forest, on 3 March, led directly to the departure of Peter Jackson on 6 March 2007, according to a Board statement, "due to our form and the inability to attract key players".[5]
Academy Director Gerry Murphy was appointed caretaker manager, one of whose first acts was to bring Martin McIntosh and Mark Hudson back into the reckoning, and Huddersfield went unbeaten in the first five games with Murphy in charge until they lost 2–0 at home to Blackpool on 9 April 2007, his last game as manager.
On 4 April 2007, a press conference was scheduled to announce the appointment of Charlton Athletic's assistant manager Phil Parkinson as the new manager. However he telephoned the Club, just over an hour before the press conference was due to begin, to reveal that he was staying with Charlton Athletic.[6] Andy Ritchie was then appointed Huddersfield Town manager on 11 April 2007 on a two year contract.[7]
On 17 April, it was announced that Huddersfield Town's sponsors, Yorkshire Building Society and kit suppliers Admiral would be replaced. The new kit supplier was Huddersfield based Mitre and the new sponsors were Gibraltar based gambling outfit CasinoRed.com, who were given a contract for 12 months with an option to extend for a further two years.[8]
Also on 17 April, Gerry Murphy, was promoted to a new position as Director of Football Development where he would be in overall control of scouting as well as his existing duties as Academy Director.[8]
On 5 May, it was announced that six of Town's second-year scholars were offered professional contracts. They were Joe Skarz (who had already signed his), Luke Malcher, Simon Eastwood, James Berrett, Mitchell Bailey, and Lucas Akins, who had already been offered a new professional contract. Fellow youngster Alex Hallam was released.
Ritchie was in charge for the final four matches of the season with the team collecting seven points out of 12. The team finished the season in 15th position with 49 points, 16 points below the play-off places but 12 points above the relegation positions.
[edit] Another mixed season
The end of a disappointing season again saw the departure of more players than new arrivals. Senior players who left included Mark Hudson, Martin McIntosh, John McAliskey, Paul Rachubka, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Jamaican international defender Frank Sinclair was signed on a 12-month contract, after joining on loan last season, and other close-season signings were ex-Leicester City striker Danny Cadamarteri and midfielder Malvin Kamara, who was released by fellow League One side Port Vale, both on free transfers. Manager Andy Ritchie made ex-Barnsley defender Robbie Williams his fourth signing, on 24 August.
On 1 August 2007, Huddersfield won a prestigious pre-season friendly at home to Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, 2–1 with two Luke Beckett strikes. After a promising start which saw them lying 4th at the start of September, Huddersfield had slumped to 17th by 27 October with five consecutive away defeats, in which they failed to score.
It was around this time that Huddersfield Town fan Adam Pearson, former Hull City chairman, tabled a takeover bid for the club during October, worth more than £3 million, but it was rejected, much to the ire of the fans unhappy with Ken Davy's financial prudence.[9]
The team's form continued to be inconsistent, though they had eased up to 13th by the end of 2007, helped by the occasional excellent result notably the 1–0 win at Swansea City on 16 November. From then until the middle of April the team were stuck in the narrow range of 13th–15th. On 10 January 2008, after a successful loan period, Phil Jevons signed from Championship side Bristol City for an undisclosed fee, although it is believed to be in the region of £100,000. On 21 January, Welsh international Robert Page signed from Championship side Coventry City on a deal to the end of the season. The 2–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, on 18 March, was watched by just 6,004 spectators, the lowest ever league crowd at the Galpharm Stadium for a league match.[10]
Manager Ritchie departed on 1 April, by 'mutual consent', following the heavy 4–1 defeat at Oldham Athletic on 29 March. Academy director Gerry Murphy was put in caretaker charge.[11] First-team coach John Dungworth was the next to go, on 3 April, also announced as by 'mutual consent'.[12] Derby County assistant manager Stan Ternent was appointed as manager at the Galpharm Stadium, on 24 April, with his assistant being ex-Town player Ronnie Jepson. However, Murphy remained in charge of the team for the rest of the season with Ternent assuming control of the team at the start of next season. It was announced, on 10 April, that Ken Davy was to step down as chairman after completing a deal with local businessman Dean Hoyle, who will take full control at the start of the 2009–10 season. Hoyle joined the board immediately.[13]
Following Ritchie's departure, Town regained composure and finished with four consecutive victories including beating local rivals Leeds United 1–0, at the Galpharm, on 15 April. The attendance for that match was 16,413, the highest for a league match for nearly 4 years, apart from the play-off semi-finals. Huddersfield finished the season in 10th place in League One. Although they were 10 points short of a play-off place, at no stage of the season did they look like serious promotion contenders and the 10th place was one of their highest positions since the autumn.
In the cups, a Carling Cup defeat at Blackpool, and an embarrassing 4–1 defeat in the Football League Trophy to Grimsby Town, made it their fourth and fifth consecutive first round cup exits. Huddersfield beat Accrington Stanley away in the first round of the FA Cup, on 10 November. This was followed on 1 December with a second round 3–0 home win over Grimsby Town. Huddersfield caused one of the shocks of the third round when, at home on 5 January 2008, they beat Premier League side Birmingham City 2–1 with goals from Luke Beckett and Chris Brandon.[14] In the fourth round, Town beat fellow League One giant-killers Oldham Athletic (who beat Everton at Goodison Park in Round 3) 1–0 at Boundary Park, thanks to a goal by ex-Oldham striker Luke Beckett. The fifth round draw paired Town with FA Cup holders Chelsea, in a rematch of the third round tie in January 2006. The teams turned round 1–1 after Michael Collins had cancelled out Frank Lampard's 100th Chelsea goal but Lampard and Salomon Kalou sealed Chelsea's 3–1 win.
[edit] Slight improvement
On 6 May 2008, following the mixed season, new manager Stan Ternent released nine players from the club. They were Chris Brandon, Danny Schofield (who had already announced his plans to leave), Frank Sinclair, Matty Young, Aaron Hardy, Danny Racchi, Lucas Akins, Mitchell Bailey and Luke Malcher. Matt Glennon, Joe Skarz and James Berrett were offered new deals, while captain Robert Page had signed a pre-contract agreement with League 2 side Chesterfield, much to the disappointment of Ternent, who hadn't had chance to offer him a new contract at the Galpharm Stadium. The following day, Danny Schofield agreed a pre-contract agreement with fellow League 1 side Yeovil Town. On that same day, Matt Glennon signed a two-year contract with an optional third year and then Joe Skarz put pen to paper on his new three-year contract, the day after that. Recently called-up Ireland U-21 international James Berrett signed his new two-year deal on 13 May. On 30 May, Chris Brandon completed a move to his hometown club Bradford City. On 1 July, Frank Sinclair re-joined ex-Town manager Peter Jackson at Lincoln City. On 7 July, Matty Young joined Conference North side Harrogate Town. Aaron Hardy joined him there on 26 July. On 22 July, Lucas Akins made a surprise move to newly-promoted Scottish Premier League side Hamilton Academical. Six days later, Danny Racchi joined Bury. Mitchell Bailey joined Conference North side Hyde United on 7 August. On 11 August, central defender David Mirfin joined fellow League 1 side Scunthorpe United in a deal worth £150,000. Young defender Shane Killock joined Conference North side Harrogate Town on a month's loan on 1 September. He returned to Town on 7 October. He was loaned out to Oxford United on January 2, 2009. He signed a permanent deal at the Kassam Stadium on February 3. Sierra Leonean international Malvin Kamara joined Football League Two side Grimsby Town on a month's loan on 24 September. He returned to the Galpharm on 25 October. On 23 October, Tom Clarke moved across West Yorkshire to Bradford City on a month's loan. The loan was extended, but he was recalled by Town on December 3. On November 27, Town sent 3 players out on loan just before the end of the transfer deadline window. Michael Flynn joined League 2 side Darlington and young duo Simon Eastwood and Tom Denton joined Conference National side Woking. Flynn returned to the Terriers on December 29, Denton returned in January and Eastwood returned following an injury to Matt Glennon. Meanwhile, striker Luke Beckett left the club and joined Conference North side Gainsborough Trinity until the end of the season. Luke Malcher joined Harrogate Town on December 11. Young striker Daniel Broadbent joined Rushden & Diamonds on loan on January 15, he returned to the Galpharm on February 16. Three days later, he joined Town's new signing, Lee Novak, on loan at Gateshead, before returning on March 19. On March 24, he joined Harrogate Town on loan. Ex-captain Jon Worthington joined fellow League 1 side Yeovil Town on January 30 on a month's loan, which was extended, before he returned on March 26. Keigan Parker joined fellow League 1 side Hartlepool United on loan on March 2. Tom Denton joined his previous club Wakefield on loan on March 6. He was joined there by fellow youngster Dan Codman on March 10. Striker Phil Jevons joined League Two side Bury on a month's loan on March 23. Joe Skarz joined Keigan Parker on loan at Hartlepool United on March 26, as the loan window closed. David Unsworth, signed by Ternent at the start of the season was released from his contract on March 30.
On 27 May, Stan Ternent made his first signing as Huddersfield Town manager. He signed Scottish striker Keigan Parker on a free transfer from Championship side Blackpool. On 5 June, Irish international Jim Goodwin joined Town on a 3-year deal from recently relegated Scunthorpe United. On 13 June, Huddersfield were drawn at home to rivals Bradford City in the first round of the Carling Cup. Three days later, the new Football League fixtures were announced, Town's first game would be a home tie against recently promoted Stockport County. On 2 July, Town signed the ex-Scunthorpe United defender Andy Butler on a 3-year deal. Two days later, Chris Lucketti was brought back to Huddersfield from Sheffield United on a two-year contract, 7 years after leaving the Galpharm Stadium. On 23 July, Ternent made his fifth signing by bringing in Welshman Michael Flynn from Blackpool. Six days later, Gary Roberts joined from Ipswich Town for £250,000. On 8 August, just one day before the new season began, ex-Everton & West Ham United defender David Unsworth signed from Burnley, becoming Stan Ternent's 7th signing since becoming manager at the Galpharm. Also that day, Town were given a bye into the second round of the Football League Trophy. On 15 August, young striker Tom Denton was signed for £60,000 from Wakefield. Stan Ternent signed attacking midfielder Ian Craney for an undisclosed fee from Football League Two side Accrington Stanley on 18 August. The following day, striker Liam Dickinson was signed on loan from Championship side Derby County. That loan was extended by another month on 22 September. He eventually stayed until 17 November, when the 93 day limit expired. Stan Ternent also revealed on 5 September, that Town had failed to capture 3 strikers during the summer. They failed on bid of £850,000 for Town hero Jon Stead, who joined Ipswich Town in September, a £400,000 bid for Colchester United's Clive Platt and a £600,000 bid for Ipswich Town's Alan Lee, who subsequently moved to Championship side Crystal Palace. On 17 October, Town signed Steve Jones on loan from Burnley as cover for Andy Booth, who is out until the New Year with a back injury. He returrned to Turf Moor on 26 November. On January 20, Lee Clark made his first signing as manager by signing German left-back Dominik Werling on a free transfer. On January 23, manager Clark made a double signing with the capture of winger Anthony Pilkington from Stockport County and striker Lionel Ainsworth from Watford. As the transfer deadline closed, Clark made three more signings, Lee Novak from Gateshead, who was then immediately sent back to Gateshead for the rest of the season. Jonathan Téhoué was signed on a free transfer from Turkish side Konyaspor. On February 13, 11 days after the deal was originally agreed, Polish striker Lukas Jutkiewicz joined Town on loan from Premier League side Everton until the end of the season. Young Liverpool defender Martin Kelly was brought in on loan on March 26, as the loan window shut.
After a disappointing opening to the season with a 1–1 draw against Stockport County, Town trounced neighbours Bradford City, on 12 August, 4–0 in the first round of the Carling Cup, with new signing Gary Roberts scoring a brace. Huddersfield were drawn at home to Championship side Sheffield United in the second round. They narrowly lost the tie by 2 goals to 1. Michael Flynn gave Town the lead with a deflected shot after 34 minutes. But, 2 goals in the last 10 minutes from the Blades from Darius Henderson and Kyle Naughton sent Town crashing out in the cruelest of fashions. On 6 September, Town were drawn away to League Two side Darlington in the second round of the Football League Trophy North-East section. They lost that match 1–0 on 7 October. In the FA Cup 1st round, Town were given a home tie against League Two side Port Vale. That match took place on 8 November and saw Town let a 3-1 lead slip to lose 4-3.
On 4 November, Stan Ternent left the Galpharm Stadium after just over 6 months in charge of the Terriers. To date, that is the shortest reign of any manager, with the exception of John Haselden and all the caretaker managers, in the club's 100 year history.
On 15 November, Murphy was in charge of his first league game in his 3rd spell as caretaker manager with a trip to Elland Road to play high-flyers and rivals Leeds United. Despite falling behind to a Robert Snodgrass goal in the 4th minute, Town scored a goal 27 seconds into the second half through Joe Skarz and then in the second minute of added time, Michael Collins scored to give Town a 2-1 win, which was also their first win at Elland Road since Boxing Day 1983.
On 10 December, after weeks of speculation, compensation was agreed with Norwich City for their assistant manager Lee Clark to be appointed as manager, with Derek Fazackerley as his new first team coach. They signed the contracts the following day and Clark officially took over on 15 December. The following week, Terry McDermott became the new assistant manager. Clark's first match was a home game against Hereford United on December 20, which Town won 2-0. Clark's initial reign went well, winning 8 out of 9 matches soon after taking onver. However, immediately after a 1-0 win over local rivals Leeds United once again, scoring in the first half and managing to keep the Whites out of the net under constant pressure, which once again placed them above Leeds in the table, disaster struck and a bad spell resulted in 8 consecutive games without a win, conceding 3 vital last minute goals 3 weeks in succession. The gap between Town and the playoffs widened, and a late bounce back was only enough to place them 9th in the table by the end of the season.
[edit] Season 2009–10
After the end of the centenary season, Lee Clark made wholesale changes at the club. As well as the retirement of Andy Booth, Clark released Jon Worthington, Malvin Kamara, Dominik Werling, Daniel Broadbent, Dan Codman. Danny Cadamarteri and Andy Holdsworth both rejected new deals and subsequently left the club. Cadamarteri joined Scottish Premier League side Dundee United, then a week later, ex-captain Worthington joined fellow League One side Oldham Athletic.
On May 29, Clark made his first signing, by bringing in Tranmere Rovers captain Antony Kay on a free transfer. On June 12, Clark signed defender Peter Clarke on a free transfer from Southend United. On June 18, Coventry City striker Robbie Simpson was signed for £300,000 on a three-year deal. On June 30, Lee Peltier was signed from Yeovil Town on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. On July 3, young striker Theo Robinson was signed from Football League Championship side Watford for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.
[edit] 2008 Centenary
The summer of 2008 saw the centenary of the formation of Huddersfield Town. A number of events, to mark this occasion, took place.
[edit] Season ticket offer
After seeing the pioneering and forward thinking scheme devised by neighbours Bradford City to sell season tickets at a discounted rate in order to bring more fans in, Chairman Ken Davy and newly appointed chairman-elect Dean Hoyle agreed to copy this special offer for season tickets for the new season. Adult tickets in the Antich Stand and Fantastic Media Stand were just £100 and tickets in the Direct Golf Stand were no higher than £175 for adults. Town sold 16,123 tickets during the offer, more than twice the amount sold during the previous season. It also beat the previous record of 14,170 set during the 1970–71 season, which was Town's first season back in the old First Division. The season ticket scheme was widely recognised as a copy of their much more successful footballing neighbours Bradford City. The season ticket scheme ensured that many season tickets were sold however it was very rare that over two thirds of the season ticket holders would turn up to the home games.
[edit] Centenary game
A match against Arsenal for the Herbert Chapman Trophy was played at the Galpharm Stadium on 6 August 2008. The game was televised by Arsenal TV. The match finished 2–1 to Arsenal. Huddersfield took the lead on 75 minutes through Ireland U-21 international James Berrett. Arsenal equalised on 79 minutes through Sanchez Watt, before scoring the winner on 87 minutes through Nacer Barazite. The match was watched by a crowd of 19,044, the highest attendance for a pre-season match at the Galpharm Stadium and the highest since Argentinian side Independiente played against Town at Leeds Road in 1954, where a crowd of 20,042 saw that match.[15]
[edit] Centenary kit
A special gold away kit was commissioned by Mitre. There was a special launch night at the Galpharm Stadium on 19 June 2008 for season ticket holders only. Players Matt Glennon, Malvin Kamara and Michael Collins made an appearance.
[edit] Publications
[edit] 'The Fans' Favourites'
The Fans' Favourites is a book by Alisdair Straughan published, late 2006, to commemorate the centenary. The book lists the 100 Huddersfield Town players voted by the fans as their favourite players.
[edit] Volumes I & II of History
As part of the centenary, two books about the club's history were released as 2 big volumes.
[edit] '99 Years And Counting'
Volume I was called "99 Years And Counting" (Stats and Stories). It was published on 3 November 2007. Illustrated, it contains full statistics for every Town match from 1908 to 2007. The authors were Alan Hodgson, Ian Thomas, Gwen Thomas and John Ward.
[edit] 'All That's Worth Knowing'
Volume Two, "All That's Worth Knowing" (Facts & Photos), is a written account of the club's history. Its publication date was due to be toward of 2008, but it wasn't released until April 13, 2009.
[edit] Popular chants
'Smile a While' was originally sung on the terrace in the 1920s when the original version was a popular song. At the time Huddersfield Town were one of the most successful football clubs in England. However, though 'Smile A While' has been sung down the years, it is no longer the main chant/song as in the past.[16] Also a past chant was 'One Man Went To Mow', often sung all the way up to 11 men. However this is rarely, if ever heard in recent times.
In recent years "Those Were The Days My Friend" (to the tune of the song of the same name by Mary Hopkin) has been popular in times of success and is played after each goal that Huddersfield scores.[16]
The south section of the Antich Stand (nearest the away support) is known as the 'Singing Section'. This group of fans provide particularly vociferous support for the team. This section is sometimes 'all ticket' when the rest of the Antich Stand is not.
In the early days of the Galpharm Stadium there was a band occupying the top row of the Fantastic Media Stand, the stand opposite the away stand (The Pink Link Stand). They disbanded following a dispute with the club over the concessions they received in return for their services.
[edit] Sponsors
[edit] Main club sponsors
The main club sponsors also have the right to have their identity on the shirts.
1984–1985 Central Mirfield
1985–1987 Daihatsu
1987–1989 Greenall's
1991–1994 Gola
1994–1995 Pulse
1995–2001 Panasonic
2001–2005 Prime Time Recruitment
2005–2007 Yorkshire Building Society
2007–2009 CasinoRed
2009– Yorkshire Air Ambulance (Home) and Radian B (Away)
[edit] Kit suppliers
1975–1979 Bukta
1979–1982 Barralan
1982–1986 Bukta
1987–1989 Matchwinner
1989–1990 Beaver
1990–1992 Gola
1993–1997 Super League
1997–1999 Pony
1999–2001 Mitre
2001–2002 Bloggs
2002–2003 VOI
2003–2007 Admiral
2007–present Mitre
[edit] Managers
+ Caretaker manager
[edit] Players
[edit] Full and u-21 internationals
Players with a * next to their name gained caps while at Huddersfield Town.
[edit] Current squad
- As of 3 July 2009.
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[edit] Player Of The Year (Hargreaves Memorial Trophy)
[edit] League history
- Division 2: 1910–11 - 1919–20
- Division 1: 1920–21 - 1951–52
- Division 2: 1952–53
- Division 1: 1953–54 - 1955–56
- Division 2: 1956–57 - 1969–70
- Division 1: 1970–71 - 1971–72
- Division 2: 1972–73
- Division 3: 1973–74 - 1974–75
- Division 4: 1975–76 - 1979–80
- Division 3: 1980–81 - 1982–83
- Division 2: 1983–84 - 1987–88
- Division 3: 1988–89 - 1991–92
- Division 2 (Third Tier): 1992–93 - 1994–95
- Division 1 (Second Tier): 1995–96 - 2000–01
- Division 2 (Third Tier): 2001–02 - 2002–03
- Division 3 (Fourth Tier): 2003–04
- League One (Third Tier): 2004–05 - present
[edit] Honours
- Division 1 Champions: 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26
- Division 1 Runners-up: 1926–27, 1927–28, 1933–34
- Division 2 Champions: 1969–70
- Division 2 Runners-up: 1919–20
- Division 3 (Division 2) Play-Off Winners: 1994–95
- Division 4 Champions: 1979–80
- Division 4 (Division 3) Play-Off Winners: 2003–04
- FA Cup Winners: 1921–22
- FA Cup runners-up: 1919–20, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1937–38
- FA Charity Shield Winners: 1922
- Associate Members Cup (Autoglass Trophy) Runners-up: 1993–94
- Yorkshire Electricity Cup Winners: 1994–95
[edit] Management team & staff
- Correct as of 1 June 2009[17]
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Dean Hoyle |
| Manager | Lee Clark |
| Assistant Manager | Terry McDermott |
| First Team Coach | Derek Fazackerley |
| Performance Coach | Steve Black |
| U-18 Coach | Graham Mitchell |
| Goalkeeper Coach | John Vaughan |
| Physiotherapist | Dave Buckby |
| Caretaker Physiotherapist | Alex Moreno |
| Assistant Physiotherapist | Adam Hirst |
| Director Of Football Development | Paul Stephenson |
| Academy Coach | Tony Carss |
| Kit Manager | Andrew Brook |
| Football in the Community Officer | Paul France |
Source:[citation needed]
[edit] References
- "Huddersfield Town - 75 years on - A History of Huddersfield Town" by George S. Binns
- "Huddersfield Town - A Complete Record 1910-1990" ISBN 090796964X
- "Huddersfield Town - Champions of England 1923-24, 1924-25, 1925-26" by Jim Brown (published in 2003 by Desert Island Books)
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Galpharm Healthcare". http://www.galpharm.co.uk/index.htm.
- ^ Club ridiculed over Brokeback Mountain calendar, Marc Shoffman, Pink News, 22 February 2006
- ^ "Football League Awards - Jagielka Named Championship Player Of The Year", Tony Leighton, FourFourTwo
- ^ "Shortlists Announced For Football League Awards", The Football League
- ^ "Huddersfield sack manager Jackson". BBC Sport. 2007-03-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/6422635.stm. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
- ^ "Parkinson in Huddersfield U-turn". BBC Sport. 2007-04-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/6525135.stm. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
- ^ "Ritchie named Huddersfield boss". BBC Sport. 2007-04-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/6538535.stm. Retrieved on 2007-04-11.
- ^ a b "Terriers gamble on new shirt deal", TeamTalk, 18 April 2007
- ^ Richard Sutcliffe (2007-10-20). "Pearson opts to call off bid for Terriers". Yorkshire Post. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Pearson-opts-to-call-off.3397861.jp. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- ^ Martin Shaw (2008-03-21). "I always show passion declares Worthington". Yorkshire Evening Post. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/yorkshire-soccer/I-always-show-passion-declares.3902926.jp. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.
- ^ "Ritchie leaves Huddersfield post". BBC News. 2008-04-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/7324208.stm. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ "First-team coach leaves Terriers". BBC News. 2008-04-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/7328659.stm. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ "Hoyle to be Terriers chairman", TEAMtalk, retrieved 11 April 2008
- ^ "Huddersfield 2–1 Birmingham", BBC Sport, 5 January 2008
- ^ "Game with Gunners for Centenary Showpiece", HTFC official site, 2 July 2007
- ^ a b "Huddersfield Town Songs and Chants", SoccerJokes.com
- ^ "Who's Who at Huddersfield Town". Huddersfield Town official website. http://www.htafc.com/page/Contacts/0,,10312~1062823,00.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-18.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |
FA Cup Winners 1922 |
Succeeded by Bolton Wanderers F.C. |
| Preceded by Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |
FA Charity Shield Winners 1922 |
Succeeded by Professionals XI |
| Preceded by Liverpool F.C. |
English Football League 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 |
Succeeded by Newcastle United F.C. |
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