Huddersfield Town A.F.C.
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| Full name | Huddersfield Town Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Terriers | ||
| Founded | 15 August 1908 | ||
| Ground | John Smith's Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 24,500 | ||
| Chairman | Dean Hoyle | ||
| Manager | Chris Powell | ||
| League | The Championship | ||
| 2014–15 | The Championship, 16th | ||
| Website | http://www.htafc.com/page/Home | ||
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Huddersfield Town Association Football Club is an English association football club that is based in the West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield and currently play in the Football League Championship (2015–16).
In 1926, Huddersfield became the first English club to win three successive league titles, a feat which only three other clubs have matched, and none has bettered. They also won the FA Cup in 1922.
Nicknamed The Terriers, the club plays in blue and white vertically striped shirts and white shorts. They have played home games at the John Smith's Stadium since 1994. The stadium replaced Leeds Road, Huddersfield Town's home since 1908.
History
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. The team went on to reach the 1920 FA Cup Final and win promotion to Division One.
In 1926, it became the first English team to win three successive league titles – a feat that only three other clubs have been able to match. Huddersfield Town also won the FA Cup in 1922 and have been runners-up on four other occasions. During the club's heyday, on 27 February 1932 the club achieved a record attendance of 67,037 during their FA Cup 6th round tie against Arsenal at Leeds Road. This attendance has been bettered by only 13 other clubs in the history of the Football League.
After the Second World War, the club began a gradual decline, losing its First Division status in 1952. It returned to the top flight for the last time (so far) in 1970 but was relegated two seasons later and has since meandered through the lower three divisions. Before the start of the 1969/70 season, Huddersfield Town adopted the nickname "The Terriers".
In 1998, the club 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. However, the club did not make it back to the top flight and fell two divisions. The club was sold by Rubery to David Taylor and under David Taylors ownership, slipped into administration. In the summer of 2003, the Terriers came out of administration under the new ownership of Ken Davy.
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]
On 19 November 2011, following a 2–1 victory over Notts County, Huddersfield broke Nottingham Forest's long-standing 42-match unbeaten league record, the Terriers went 43 games unbeaten. On 28 November 2011, Huddersfield lost for the first time in 44 games to Charlton Athletic. The score was 2–0.
On 26 May 2012, following a penalty shoot-out in the 2012 Football League One play-off Final victory over Sheffield United, Huddersfield were promoted to the Championship. The shoot-out was the longest contested in the current League One play-offs format. Eleven rounds took place, the final score was 8–7 to Huddersfield, with the winning goal being scored by goalkeeper Alex Smithies.[2]
During the summer of 2012, the stadium changed its name to the John Smith's Stadium, after the sponsorship rights were bought by Heineken International.
In February 2013, Simon Grayson was sacked and Mark Lillis was put in charge as caretaker manager until the club appointed Mark Robins as manager, but he left the club after the first game of the 2014–15 season what saw Huddersfield Town lose 4–0 at home to AFC Bournemouth (Who won the league). Then in September 2014, Chris Powell was named the new Huddersfield Town manager.
In the 2015–16 season, Huddersfield Town sold goalkeeper Alex Smithies to Queens Park Rangers for around £1.5M.
2008 centenary
The summer of 2008 saw the centenary of the formation of Huddersfield Town. A number of events took place to mark this occasion.
Season ticket offer
Chairman Ken Davy and newly appointed chairman-elect Dean Hoyle agreed to a special offer for season tickets for the 2008–09 football 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.
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.[3]
Centenary kit
A special gold-coloured 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.
Publications
'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.
Volumes I & II of History
As part of the centenary, two books about the club's history were released as 2 big volumes. 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. 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 13 April 2009.
Badge and colours
The club spent over five years debating what colour the kit should be. It ranged from salmon pink to plain white or all-blue to white with blue yoke. Eventually in 1913, the club adopted the blue-and-white jersey that remains to this day.
The club badge is based on the coat of arms of Huddersfield. Town first used a badge on its shirts for the 1920 FA Cup Final based on the local Huddersfield Corporation coat of arms. It appeared again with a Yorkshire Rose for the 1922 FA Cup Final and again for the finals of 1928, 1930 and 1938. The club's main colours (blue and white) are evident throughout the badge both in the mantling and in the shield, in the form of stripes. Two Yorkshire White Roses and Castle Hill form part of the history of the club and the area.
Town stuck with the same principal design (blue and white stripes) until 1966, when Scottish manager Tom Johnston introduced all-blue shirts. The next badge did not feature until the 1966–67 season, when the simple "HTFC" adorned the Town's all-blue shirts.
When the club adopted the nickname "The Terriers" for the 1969–70 season, the blue and white stripes returned and with it a red terrier with the words "The Terriers", just in time for their promotion to the big time, the First Division. The terrier sits on top of the crest with a ball on a blanket of blue and white stripes. The Terriers was introduced to the badge shortly after "The Terriers" was adopted as the nickname and mascot of the club.
After relegation to the Fourth Division, Town returned to all-blue shirts with the return of Tom Johnston in 1975. This time they only lasted two seasons and the return of simply "HTFC" badge. This lasted from 1975–1977. Stripes returned from the 1977–78 season and has been the club's home kit ever since. The red Terrier returned to the shirt for the 1978–79 season. In 1980, Town adopted what remains their badge today based on the coat of arms of Huddersfield. This is both the club badge and playing shirt badge and is held in high esteem by Town fans.
In 2000, Town changed badge to a circular design, but that was never popular and following a change of board, returned to the heraldic-style badge. The badge was further redeveloped with a small but significant adaptation in February 2005. The club took the decision to remove "A.F.C." from the text leaving only the wording 'Huddersfield Town'. The current board said that this was in keeping with the time and to make merchandise easier to produce and to make slicker looking promotional material.
Stadia
- Leeds Road; Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (1908–1994)
- John Smith's Stadium; Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (1994–present)
- Named as Alfred McAlpine Stadium: (1994–2004)
- Named as Galpharm Stadium: (2004–2012)
- Named as John Smith's Stadium: (2012–present)
Rivals
- Main articles: West Yorkshire derby
Leeds United are considered to be the club's main rival, with Huddersfield having the better head-to-head record of the two teams. Huddersfield have won 25 of the 61 derbies between the two sides with 17 draws and 19 Leeds wins.[4] Huddersfield's other local rivals are Bradford City; this is due to both clubs having had roughly the same league status for the last couple of decades and therefore it could be argued that they are closest rivals out of the three West Yorkshire teams.
There are smaller rivalries with Barnsley, Roses rivals Oldham Athletic and near neighbours Halifax Town. Manchester City were also once considered rivals during the time that the two clubs were competing in the old First Division.
Affiliated Clubs
Popular chants
Smile A While was originally sung on the terrace in the 1920s when the original version was a popular World War I song ("Till We Meet Again" by Raymond B. Egan, music by Richard Whiting). At the time Huddersfield Town were one of the most successful football clubs in England.
There's a team that is dear to its followers
Their colours are bright blue and white,
They're a team of renown, they're the talk of the town,
And the game of football is their delight
All the while, upon the field of play,
Thousands loudly cheer them on their way.
Often you can hear them say,
Who can beat the Town today?
Then the bells will ring so merrily
Every goal, shall be a memory
So Town play up, and bring the cup
Back to Huddersfield
However, though "Smile A While" has been sung down the years, it is no longer the main chant/song as in the past.[5] 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.[5]
The south section of the (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 Britannia Rescue (Kilner Bank Stand) is not.
The Fantastic Media Lower tier behind the goal, also known as the North Stand – is home to the North Stand Loyal supporters group. Aside from creating loud vocal support, they dress the stand with large flags and banners that celebrate club heroes and past achievements. Colourful displays are coordinated from the North Stand Loyal at most home matches.
In the early days of the Galpharm Stadium there was a band occupying the top row of the Fantastic Media Stand (North Stand Upper), the stand opposite the away stand, the Pink Link Stand (South Stand). They disbanded following a dispute with the club over the concessions they received in return for their services.
Sponsors
Main club sponsors and kit suppliers
The main club sponsors also have the right to have their identity on the shirts.
| Season(s) | Kit supplier | Club Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1975–1979 | Bukta | n/a |
| 1979–1982 | Barralan | n/a |
| 1982–1984 | Bukta | Central Mirfield |
| 1984–1986 | Daihatsu | |
| 1986–1987 | Eagle | Greenall's |
| 1987–1989 | Matchwinner | |
| 1989–1991 | Beaver | |
| 1991–1993 | Gola | Gola |
| 1993–1994 | Super League | Pulse (Home) Vileda (Away) |
| 1994–1995 | Pulse (Home) Panasonic 3DO (Away) | |
| 1995–1997 | Panasonic | |
| 1997–1999 | Pony | |
| 1999–2001 | Mitre | |
| 2001–2002 | Bloggs | Prime Time Recruitment |
| 2002–2003 | VOI | |
| 2003–2005 | Admiral | |
| 2005–2007 | Yorkshire Building Society | |
| 2007–2009 | Mitre | CasinoRed |
| 2009–2010 | Yorkshire Air Ambulance (Home) Radian B (Away) | |
| 2010–2011 | Kirklees College (Home) Radian B (Away) | |
| 2011–2012 | Umbro | |
| 2012–2013 | Rekorderlig (Home) Radian B (Away) | |
| 2013–2014 | Puma | |
| 2014–2015 | Rekorderlig (Home) Radian B (Away) Covonia (3rd) | |
| 2015–2016 | Pure Legal Limited (Home) Radian B (Away) |
Managers
Players
First-team squad
- As of 25 September 2015.[6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Development squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Academy
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Full and u-21 internationals
Only players who gained caps while at the club included. Players who gained U21 caps are italicised.
English Football Hall of Fame members
Several ex-players/managers associated with Huddersfield Town are represented in the English Football Hall of Fame, which was created in 2002 as a celebration of those who have achieved at the very peak of the English game. To be considered for induction players/managers must be 30 years of age or older and have played/managed for at least five years in England.[8]
- 2002 –
Denis Law, Bill Shankly, 
Peter Doherty - 2003 –
Herbert Chapman - 2008 – Ray Wilson
- 2010 – Clem Stephenson
Football League 100 Legends
The Football League 100 Legends is a list of "100 legendary football players" produced by The Football League in 1998, to celebrate the 100th season of League football. Three former Huddersfield players made the list.
Player of the Year (Hargreaves Memorial Trophy)
Young Player of the Year (Incomplete)
- 2009 – Alex Smithies
- 2010 – Alex Smithies
- 2011 – Jordan Rhodes
- 2012 – Jack Hunt
- 2013 – Murray Wallace
- 2014 – Tommy Smith
- 2015 – Conor Coady
PFA Team of the Year
The following have been included in the PFA Team of the Year whilst playing for Huddersfield Town:
- 1975–76: Geoff Hutt (Fourth Division)
- 1976–77: Terry Poole (Fourth Division)
- 1979–80: Malcolm Brown, Ian Robins (Fourth Division)
- 1980–81: Malcolm Brown (Third Division)
- 1981–82: Malcolm Brown (Third Division)
- 1982–83: Malcolm Brown (Third Division)
- 1991–92: Simon Charlton, Chris Marsden,
Iwan Roberts (Third Division) - 1992–93: Simon Charlton (Division Two)
- 1994–95: Tom Cowan, Andy Booth (Division Two)
- 2003–04:
Efe Sodje (Division Three) - 2010–11:
Anthony Pilkington (League One) - 2011–12: Jack Hunt, Jordan Rhodes (League One)
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 – 2011–12
- Championship (Second Tier): 2012–13 – present
Honours
League
- Champions: 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26
- Runners-up: 1926–27, 1927–28, 1933–34
- Third-place: 1922–23, 1935–36, 1953–54
- Promoted: 1982–83
- Play-offs Winners: 1995, 2012
- Play-offs Finalists: 2011
- Play-offs Semi-finalists: 1992, 2002, 2006, 2010
Cup
- Semi-finalists: 1968
- Winners: 1922
- Never played: 1924 (Newcastle United), 1925 (Sheffield United), 1926 (Bolton Wanderers).
- Runners-up: 1994
- Area finalists: 2002, 2011
- Winners: 1994–95
Personnel
Club officials
| Chairman | Dean Hoyle |
| Directors | Dean Hoyle Ann Hough Nigel Clibbens Sean Jarvis Stuart Webber |
| Chief Executive | Nigel Clibbens |
| Operations Director | Ann Hough |
| Commercial Director | Sean Jarvis |
| Lifetime President | Ken Davy |
Updated to match played 28 July 2015
Source: Who's Who
Coaching and medical staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager | Chris Powell |
| Assistant Manager | Alex Dyer |
| Director Of Football Operations | Stuart Webber |
| First Team/Development Coach | Steve Eyre |
| Academy Manager | Mark Lillis |
| Academy Head of Recruitment | Bryan Glover |
| Head of Goalkeeping | Nick Colgan |
| Head of Strength & Conditioning | Dan Hughes |
| Head of Sports Science | Allan Stewart |
| Physiotherapist | Ian Kirkpatrick |
| Assistant Physiotherapist | Dave Hanson |
| Performance Analyst | Chris Markham |
| Kit Manager | Andrew Brook |
| Professional Development Coach | Leigh Bromby |
| U18 Coach | Chris Howarth |
| Assistant Academy Manager | Graham Yates |
| Academy U16's Coach | Tony Carss |
| Academy Lead Sports Scientist | Stuart Heaviside |
| Education & Welfare Officer | Karen Crosland |
| Academy Physiotherapist | Jon Worthington |
| Football in the Community Officer | Paul France |
Last updated: 29 June 2015
Source: Who's Who
References
- "Huddersfield Town – 75 years on – A History of Huddersfield Town" by George S. Binns
- "Huddersfield Town – A Complete Record 1910–1990" ISBN 0-907969-64-X
- "Huddersfield Town – Champions of England 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26" by Jim Brown (published in 2003 by Desert Island Books)
Notes
- ^ "Galpharm Healthcare".
- ^ Huddersfield Town F.C.#History
- ^ "Game with Gunners for Centenary Showpiece", HTFC official site, 2 July 2007
- ^ http://www.huddersfieldtown-mad.co.uk/head_to_head/huddersfield_town/vs/leeds_united/index.shtml/
- ^ a b "Huddersfield Town Songs and Chants", SoccerJokes.com
- ^ "2015/16 squad numbers". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "2014/15 Academy Scholars Confirmed". htafc.com. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Hall of Fame – National Football Museum". National Football Museum. Retrieved 16 November 2007.