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, 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. Town came straight back up, then relegated three seasons later. Fourteen years later, they would return 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 Taylor's 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.

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.

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 that saw Huddersfield Town lose 4–0 at home to A.F.C. Bournemouth (Who won the league). Then 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-USA 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.

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.

Stadiums

Leeds Road; Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (1908–1994)

Kirklees Stadium; Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (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

Popular chants

Smile A While was originally sung on the terrace in the 1920s based on 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. In recent years the song has had a resurgence in popularity.

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

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 south stand behind the goal is home to the North Stand Loyal supporters group. As well as creating a large vocal support, they put on big displays which includes flags and ticker tape, which are influenced from other ultra groups in Europe and South America.

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.

Another popular chant that is usually sung by the fans of the club is "Ooh to be a, ooh to be a terrier!" which is also usually accompanied by a drum.

Main club sponsors and kit suppliers

The main club sponsors also have the right to have their identity on the shirts.

First-team squad

As of 1 February 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

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Academy

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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

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

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

League

First Division

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

Champions: 1969–70

Runners-up: 1919–20, 1952–53

Third Division

Promoted: 1982–83

Play-offs Winners: 1995, 2012

Play-offs Finalists: 2011

Play-offs Semi-finalists: 1992, 2002, 2006, 2010

Fourth Division

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

Club officials

Last updated: 3 March 2016
Source: Who's Who