1971–72 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town
1971–72 season
Chairman England Frank Drabble
Manager England Ian Greaves
Division One 22nd (relegted)
FA Cup Sixth Round
Football League Cup Second Round
Top goalscorer League:
Jimmy Lawson (9)

All:
Jimmy Lawson (12)
Highest home attendance 33,458 vs Manchester United (9 October 1971)
Lowest home attendance 9,459 vs Nottingham Forest (26 October 1971)

Huddersfield Town's 1971–72 campaign was Town's last season in the Football League's top division. They finished bottom of the table with only 25 points, the same as Nottingham Forest. Town won only 6 matches in the league all season and did not win any games from December to the end of the season. The only bright spark came in the FA Cup campaign which saw Town reach the 6th round, before losing to Birmingham City. Town only scored 6 goals in 1972 and 2 of those were own goals. This would be the start of Town's slump which would see Town relegated to Division 4 in 1975 .

Squad at the start of the season

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

No. Position Player
-- England GK David Lawson
-- England GK Gary Pierce
-- England GK Terry Poole
-- England DF Trevor Cherry
-- England DF Dennis Clarke
-- England DF Roy Ellam
-- England DF Geoff Hutt
-- England DF Alan Jones
-- Wales MF Mike Barry
-- England MF Les Chapman
No. Position Player
-- England MF Terry Dolan
-- England MF Bobby Hoy
-- England MF Brian Mahoney
-- Scotland MF Jimmy McGill
-- Northern Ireland MF Jimmy Nicholson
-- England MF Steve Smith
-- Wales FW Dick Krzywicki
-- England FW Jimmy Lawson
-- England FW Dave Smith
-- England FW Frank Worthington

Review

Following their first season back in Division 1 for 15 years, Town were hoping to try to reach the summit of English football. This season would be one of Town's worst in their history. Town were bottom of the table all season, with the exception of a small period in September. They had a run of 4 wins in 5 during that time including a 2–1 win over rivals Leeds United. Interestingly, Town's last league win on 27 November was a 2–1 win over Derby County, who would become champions at the end of the season.

Town never won another league game until the next season, but they put on an inspired run in the FA Cup. After beating Division 2 sides Burnley and Fulham, Town hosted West Ham United and put on a thrilling display culminating in a 4–2 win over the Hammers. They then lost to Birmingham City in the 6th round and were then promptly relegated to Division 2 with 25 points, the same as Nottingham Forest. This is also currently the last season that Town have been in the top flight.

Squad at the end of the season

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

No. Position Player
-- England GK David Lawson
-- England GK Gary Pierce
-- England GK Terry Poole
-- England DF Trevor Cherry
-- England DF Dennis Clarke
-- England DF Roy Ellam
-- England DF Geoff Hutt
-- England DF Alan Jones
-- Wales MF Mike Barry
-- England MF Les Chapman
No. Position Player
-- England MF Terry Dolan
-- England MF Bobby Hoy
-- Northern Ireland MF Jimmy Nicholson
-- England MF Steve Smith
-- Republic of Ireland FW Mick Fairclough
-- Wales FW Dick Krzywicki
-- England FW Jimmy Lawson
-- England FW Dave Lyon
-- England FW Dave Smith
-- England FW Frank Worthington

Results

Division One

Date Opponents Home/

Away

Result

F–A

Scorers Attendance Position
14 August 1971 Leicester City H 2–2 Worthington, Cherry 16,285 9th
17 August 1971 Arsenal H 0–1 21,279 15th
21 August 1971 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–4 J. Lawson 33,260 20th
25 August 1971 Newcastle United A 0–0 40,880 19th
28 August 1971 Chelsea H 1–2 Worthington 15,303 22nd
31 August 1971 Sheffield United A 1–3 J. Lawson 35,007 22nd
4 September 1971 Southampton A 2–1 Chapman, J. Lawson 17,372 21st
11 September 1971 West Bromwich Albion H 1–0 Chapman 9,938 18th
18 September 1971 Stoke City A 0–1 16,463 21st
25 September 1971 Leeds United H 2–1 J. Lawson, Ellam 26,340 16th
2 October 1971 Nottingham Forest A 2–1 Worthington, J. Lawson 15,693 14th
9 October 1971 Manchester United H 0–3 33,458 16th
16 October 1971 Leicester City A 0–2 22,412 18th
23 October 1971 Liverpool A 0–2 41,627 18th
26 October 1971 Nottingham Forest H 0–1 9,459 18th
30 October 1971 Manchester City H 1–1 D. Smith 20,153 19th
6 November 1971 Coventry City A 1–2 D. Smith 16,400 19th
13 November 1971 West Ham United H 1–0 D. Smith 14,177 18th
20 November 1971 Ipswich Town A 0–1 16,165 18th
27 November 1971 Derby County H 2–1 Worthington, J. Lawson 15,329 17th
4 December 1971 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–2 J. Lawson, Dolan 21,498 17th
11 December 1971 Crystal Palace H 0–1 11,692 19th
18 December 1971 Southampton H 0–2 10,436 19th
27 December 1971 Everton A 2–2 Worthington, J. Lawson 41,088 19th
1 January 1972 Stoke City H 0–0 12,655 19th
8 January 1972 Chelsea A 2–2 Chapman, S. Smith 30,801 19th
22 January 1972 Arsenal A 0–1 36,670 19th
29 January 1972 Newcastle United H 0–0 12,829 19th
12 February 1972 Liverpool H 0–1 18,702 20th
19 February 1972 Manchester City A 0–1 36,421 21st
4 March 1972 West Ham United A 0–3 18,481 21st
11 March 1972 Manchester United A 0–2 53,581 21st
21 March 1972 Sheffield United H 0–0 17,729 21st
25 March 1972 West Bromwich Albion A 1–1 Robertson (og) 18,501 21st
28 March 1972 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–1 J. Lawson 16,123 21st
1 April 1972 Everton H 0–0 17,265 21st
5 April 1972 Leeds United A 1–3 S. Smith 46,148 21st
8 April 1972 Ipswich Town H 1–3 Hunter (og) 12,139 21st
11 April 1972 Coventry City H 0–1 11,782 21st
15 April 1972 Derby County A 0–3 31,414 21st
22 April 1972 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–1 11,677 21st
29 April 1972 Crystal Palace A 0–0 18,120 21st
  • Town did not drop to 22nd until Nottingham Forest finished their matches at a later date.

FA Cup

Date Round Opponents Home/

Away

Result

F–A

Scorers Attendance
15 January 1972 Round 3 Burnley A 1–0 Clarke 21,563
5 February 1972 Round 4 Fulham H 3–0 Chapman, J. Lawson (2) 18,000
26 February 1972 Round 5 West Ham United H 4–2 J. Lawson, Dolan, D. Smith, Worthington 27,080
18 March 1972 Round 6 Birmingham City A 1–3 Cherry 52,500

Football League Cup

Date Round Opponents Home/

Away

Result

F–A

Scorers Attendance
7 September 1971 Round 2 Bolton Wanderers H 0–2 10,131

Appearances and goals

Name Nation Position League Apps League Goals FA Cup Apps FA Cup Goals League Cup Apps League Cup Goals Total Apps Total Goals
Mike Barry WalesMF2 (3)000002 (3)0
Les Chapman EnglandMF38 (1)3411043 (1)4
Trevor Cherry EnglandDF4214110462
Dennis Clarke EnglandDF4103110451
Terry Dolan EnglandMF18 (2)1410022 (2)2
Roy Ellam EnglandDF4214010471
Mick Fairclough Republic of IrelandFW5 (3)00 (1)0005 (4)0
Bobby Hoy EnglandMF2200010230
Geoff Hutt EnglandDF4204010470
Alan Jones EnglandDF10 (2)01 (1)00011 (3)0
Dick Krzywicki WalesMF10 (3)01 (1)00011 (4)0
David Lawson EnglandGK3204010370
Jimmy Lawson EnglandMF40943104512
Dave Lyon EnglandDF20000020
Brian Mahoney EnglandMF4 (1)010005 (1)0
Jimmy McGill ScotlandMF10 (1)0001011 (1)0
Jimmy Nicholson Northern IrelandMF50000050
Gary Pierce EnglandGK1000000100
Dave Smith EnglandMF8 (2)3210010 (2)4
Steve Smith EnglandMF4024010452
Frank Worthington EnglandFW3954110446
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