Huddersfield Town Football Club
Huddersfield Town Football ClubEarly YearsThe post
Huddersfield Town Football Club
Based at Galpharm Stadium on the Leeds Road, Huddersfield Town have had a varied history, moving from top league champions to division four over the course of the last century. They are currently managed by Andy Ritchie and are one of the teams comprising the Coca-Cola League One.
History
Early years
Huddersfield’s first professional football team was born in 1907. Considering the proliferation of clubs across the country, this was relatively late, owing to the huge popularity of rugby league across West Yorkshire at that time.
Huddersfield had its first home at the Leeds Road Recreation Fields and, in 1908, the Huddersfield Association Football Club was ready for business. Two years later, after building an impressive 4000-seater stand at Leeds Road, Huddersfield Town convinced football authorities to allow the club into the official football league.
In 1912, after just two years of membership, Huddersfield were hit with a series of financial difficulties and Leeds Road was only saved by a major fund-raising campaign. The cash-boost was hugely significant though, as the club subsequently entered a new era of prosperity. In 1920, just months after the club was saved, Huddersfield appeared in the FA Cup final and, despite losing the final to Aston Villa, the Town were promoted to Division One following a similarly impressive performance in the league.
After just two years in Division One, Huddersfield won the championship in 1923-24 and defended their title in the following two seasons. Cup success followed as, in 1922, the Town appeared in the FA Cup final for the second time and were victorious, beating Preston North End 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. A fabulous season was rounded off when the club won the Charity Shield that same year. This success continued for the rest of the pre-war years, as Huddersfield were on top form, notably beating Manchester United 6-0 in an away match in 1930 and beating Liverpool 8-0 at home in 1934.
The post-war downturn
Following the end of the Second World War, Huddersfield’s performance took a turn for the worse and, despite enlisting the help of salaried manager Andy Beattie, the Town were relegated in 1952. Desperate to get back to top flight, Huddersfield won almost every match during the 1952-53 season and, although they were somehow beaten for the title by Sheffield United, the Town were immediately promoted back to Division One.
Over the next two decades, Huddersfield yo-yo’d between the First and Second Divisions, being relegated again in 1956-57, promoted in 1969-70 and relegated for the third time in twenty years at the end of the 1971-72 season. Unfortunately, Huddersfield’s yo-yoing ended there and, in 1972-73, the club were relegated to Division Three. Two seasons later, the Town were on the move again, but this time to Division Four, the first time a championship team had ever slipped so low.
The slow recovery and the future
During the 1980s, Huddersfield’s performance improved and, for three years during the mid-eighties, they found themselves back in the Second Division. After a 10-1 defeat by Manchester United in November 1987, the club were back to Division Three where they stayed until changes in the domestic league structure put them in Division Two (third tier) during the 1990s (effectively the same league as the previous third division).
In 1994, Huddersfield moved out of Leeds Road, which had been their home for more than ninety years, and into the newly developed Alfred McAlpine Stadium, now known as the Galpharm Stadium. Their move signified a renewed sense of optimism and the club looked to be on better form than it had been on for years.
The 1994-95 season saw Huddersfield gain promotion to Division One, led by manager Neil Warnock. After a 2-1 victory over Bristol which secured the club’s promotion, Warnock left Huddersfield for Plymouth Argyle and was succeeded by former Manchester City manager Brian Horton. Following bad management and a series of poor performances, Huddersfield began the new millennia back in Division Two, moving down again to Division Three (the fourth tier) in 2003 as the club sunk into administration.
The last four years have seen Huddersfield fighting for promotion but, despite the addition of new manager Andy Ritchie, the team have continually placed mid-table in League One. In November 2007, the team won the first round of the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley and hopes are high that the Town’s luck will change as they enter their centenary year in 2008.
Honours
Huddersfield Town have won a series of high profile honours and were particularly victorious in their early years as a club:
- Division One – 1923-24, 1924-25, 1925-26
- Division Two – 1969
- Division Three (Play-off) – 1994-95
- Division Four – 1979-80
- Division Four (Play-off) – 2003-04
- FA Cup – 1921-22
- FA Charity Shield – 1922
- Yorkshire Electricity Cup – 1994-95
Tickets
Match tickets and season tickets can be pre-ordered online, by telephone on 0870 444 4552 or at the stadium’s ticket office on match days at the following prices: (editor: categories of tickets (adult, sen cit etc) should be in a vertical column. is not formatting correctly)
Panasonic
- Adult: £16.50 (pre-ordered) £19 (match day) £340 (season ticket)
- Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £165 (season ticket)
- Student: £9 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £160 (season ticket)
- Junior (Under-16): £5 (pre-ordered) £7 (match day) £85 (season ticket)
Antich
- Adult: £16.50 (pre-ordered) £19 (match day) £365 (season ticket)
- Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £180 (season ticket)
- Student: £9 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £175 (season ticket)
- Junior (Under-16): £5 (pre-ordered) £7 (match day) £100 (season ticket)
Riverside (Lower)
- Adult: £18 (pre-ordered) £20.50 (match day) £395 (season ticket)
- Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £185 (season ticket)
- Student: £10 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £180 (season ticket)
- Junior (Under-16): £6 (pre-ordered) £8 (match day) £105 (season ticket)
Riverside (Upper)
- Adult: £19.50 (pre-ordered) £22 (match day) £430 (season ticket)
- Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £290 (season ticket)
- Student: £12 (pre-ordered) £13 (match day) £190 (season ticket)
- Junior (Under-16): £8 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £115 (season ticket)
Travel
Directions to Galpharm Stadium are as follows.
By Car
From the M62, leave at Junction 25 and follow the signs for Huddersfield (A62). The stadium is situated on the left-hand side. From the M1, leave the motorway at Junction 38 and take the A637 onto the A642 into Huddersfield. On approaching the town centre, keep in the right-hand lane and turn right at the island onto the A62 (Leeds Road). The stadium is situated on the right-hand side. For parking, turn right at the traffic lights by the Market Pub and follow the signs for official and unofficial car parks.
By Train
Huddersfield’s train station is approximately 20 minutes walk from Galpharm Stadium. On exiting the station, go past the George Hotel and over the crossroads into Northumberland Street. Walk across the Ring Road onto the Leeds Road, turning right onto Gasworks Street. Continue over the crossroads and into the main entrance of the ground.
Contact
For information about matches or for general enquiries see the official Huddersfield Town website or contact the main office on:
Galpharm Stadium
Huddersfield
HD1 6PX
Tel: 0870 444 4677
Fax: 01484 484 101