First Played: 2011-2
Win Rate: n/a
Huddersfield Town ended a long 45-year wait to return to the top flight with promotion to the Premier League in 2017. It came only five seasons after a first-ever meeting with us; the 2011-2 League One programme pitting our wits against theirs. So, we like to think The Terriers rise is – in part – down to us. The mini-downfall that followed? Not our fault, guv.
John Smith's Stadium
Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PX
It’ll be the Terriers’ 112th birthday this summer, with the club forming in August 1908. And things seemed to happen pretty quickly at the start too. They were elected to the Football League in time for the 1910-1 campaign and were promoted to the top flight at the end of the first season back after World War One. That same year (1920), there was an FA Cup Final outing to celebrate too – but Aston Villa ran out 1-0 winners. Not that they’d have to wait too much longer for the good times.
In 1922, the FA Cup returned to Huddersfield for the first time and – two seasons later – the Terriers started a run of three successive title-winning campaigns. The rest of those roaring 1920s and slightly-less-so 1930s saw them go close to the title and FA Cup on more than one occasion. But the 1938-9 FA Cup semi-finals was arguably the end of a special era for the club. After World War Two, they spent far less time at the top table – sinking as low as Division Four in 1975 after three rapid relegations.
After finishing the 20th century in the second tier, the Terriers were slow to start the 21st. Relegations in 2001 and 2003 saw them back in the basement division, but they did rise straight back up into the third tier through the 2003-4 Division Three playoffs. In the next few years, they went on to fall short twice in the now-League One playoffs – 2006-7 and 2009-10. The longer they stuck around in the same division, the higher the chances of a side like us making up the ground to become equals. In 2011, that’s just what happened.
| Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts* | WR% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 1 | 0% |
| Home | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Away | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0% |
| League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 1 | 0% |
| Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0% |
* league points only
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While there isn’t much time to be saved by going up the A1 and across, the preferable route to Huddersfield is via the M1. Heading northbound, leave the motorway at Junction 38 and take the second exit at the roundabout for the A637 Huddersfield Road. Continue through two roundabouts.
After more than six miles, take the first exit at the roundabout for the A642 Wakefield Road. In 3.2 miles after passing Soccer City (left) and McDonalds (right), take a right turn onto Waterloo Road. Then, in 0.4 miles, take the second exit at the roundabout; turning right onto Albany Road.
As quick as you know it, you’ll be at another roundabout and you want the first exit; heading left on Crossley Lane. Continue around to the left and turn right onto Cow Heys; this will look quite residential to someone who isn’t native to the area. Follow Cow Heys around until it becomes Holays.
Still continuing along, Holays will kink sharp left and end at junction. Turn right here onto Bradley Mills Road. This snakes through some greenery for 0.7 miles before coming to a roundabout next to an Odeon cinema. The ground is off to the left via the first exit here.
Tools: AA Route Planner | Highways Agency
There is a decent-sized car park at the stadium that will cost £5 to use, as well as some unofficial facilities nearby that will cost a few quid.
Station: HUDDERSFIELD
Services to: LEEDS (for STEVENAGE)
From Huddersfield station, you want to emerge onto a public square-type space on the right hand side of the station as you look north. From here, head out onto John William Street and cross to continue straight into Northumberland Street; La Fleur and Casino Red are among the businesses along here.
At the junction that confronts you at the end of Northumberland Street, you need to cross the busy A62 Southgate for Leeds Road ahead of you. Head up Leeds Road until a complicated road junction presents itself. Don’t worry, you want the first right for Gasworks Street.
Cross St Andrew’s Road into Stadium Way (with Polar Ford garage) on your left. Stadium Way will snake around to the left as the ground appears before you.
Tools: National Rail | TfL Journey Planner
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