Huddersfield Town Association Football Club is a professional football club based in the town of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. The team competes in the Premier League, the highest tier of English football, having been promoted by winning the 2017 Championship play-off final.
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 have bettered. The first two league titles were won under their manager Herbert Chapman, who also led the club to the FA Cup in 1922. In the late 1950s the club was managed by Bill Shankly and the team featured Denis Law and Ray Wilson. After two seasons in the top division in the early 1970s the club spent 45 years in the second, third and fourth tiers of English football before being promoted to the Premier League in 2017 under their manager David Wagner.
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.
Video Huddersfield Town A.F.C.
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, Huddersfield became the first English team to win three successive league titles - a feat that only three other clubs (Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United) 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. They came straight back up, but were relegated again three seasons later. Before the start of the 1969-70 season, Huddersfield Town adopted the nickname "The Terriers". They won the second division title that season, spending the next two seasons in the top flight. After that they moved up and down through the lower three divisions for 45 years.
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 Taylor's ownership, slipped into administration. In the summer of 2003, the Terriers came out of administration under the new ownership of Ken Davy.
In 2010-2011, Huddersfield went 43 games unbeaten, the second-highest in the league after Arsenal's 49-match run of 2003-04.
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. After eleven rounds, the final score was 8-7 to Huddersfield, with the winning goal being scored by goalkeeper Alex Smithies.
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. Robins left the club after the first game of the 2014-15 season that saw Huddersfield Town lose 4-0 at home to AFC Bournemouth (who won the league). In September 2014, Chris Powell was named the new Huddersfield Town manager. He was sacked on 3 November 2015, for "failing to meet the club's objectives".
The following day, ex-US international David Wagner was appointed head coach, becoming the first person born outside the British Isles to manage the club in their 107-year history. On 29 May 2017, the club successfully earned promotion to the Premier League for the first time and the English top flight for the first time since 1972, beating Reading 4-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time in the Championship play-off Final.
Maps Huddersfield Town A.F.C.
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.
Stadium
- Leeds Road (1908-1994)
- Kirklees Stadium (1994-present)
- Named "Alfred McAlpine Stadium" (1994-2004)
- Named "Galpharm Stadium" (2004-2012)
- Named "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. 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 formerly with 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
- Huddersfield Town Ladies F.C.
- Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Sponsors
Main club sponsors and kit suppliers
The main club sponsors also have the right to have their identity on the shirts.
Managers
Players
First-team squad
- As of 31 August 2017.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Development squad
Player achievements
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.
- 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.
- Clem Stephenson
- Peter Doherty
- Denis Law
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
- 2016 - Philip Billing
- 2017 - Philip Billing
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)
- 2016-17: Aaron Mooy (Championship)
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 - 2016-17
- Premier League (First Tier): 2017-18 -
Honours
League
First Division (top tier)
- Champions: 1923-24, 1924-25, 1925-26
- Runners-up: 1926-27, 1927-28, 1933-34
- Third-place: 1922-23, 1935-36, 1953-54
Second Division (second tier)
- Champions: 1969-70
- Runners-up: 1919-20, 1952-53
- Play-offs Winners: 2017
Third Division (third tier)
- Promoted: 1982-83
- Play-offs Winners: 1995, 2012
- Play-offs Finalists: 2011
- Play-offs Semi-finalists: 1992, 2002, 2006, 2010
Fourth Division (fourth tier)
- Champions: 1979-80
- Play-offs Winners: 2004
Cup
FA Cup
- Winners: 1922
- Runners-up: 1920, 1928, 1930, 1938
- Semi-finalists: 1929, 1939
Football League Cup
- Semi-finalists: 1968
FA Charity Shield
- Winners: 1922
- Never played: 1924 (Newcastle United), 1925 (Sheffield United), 1926 (Bolton Wanderers).
Football League Trophy
- Runners-up: 1994
- Area finalists: 2002, 2011
Yorkshire Electricity Cup
- Winners: 1994-95
Personnel
Club officials
Last updated: 3 March 2016
Source: Who's Who
Coaching and medical staff
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
External links
- Official website
- Supporters Trust
- HTAFC Patrons
- Huddersfield Town Blog
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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