1978–79 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

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Huddersfield Town
1978–79 season
Chairman Flag of England.svg Keith Longbottom
Manager Flag of Scotland.svg Tom Johnston (until 29 August 1978)
Flag of England.svg Mick Buxton (from 31 October 1978)
Football League Fourth Division 9th
FA Cup First round
(knocked out by Doncaster Rovers)
Football League Cup First round
(knocked out by Preston North End)
Top goalscorerLeague: Ian Robins (16)
All: Ian Robins (16)
Highest home attendance9,382 vs Barnsley (2 May 1979)
Lowest home attendance1,680 vs Torquay United (30 April 1979)
Biggest win3–0 vs Wimbledon (21 October 1978)
Biggest defeat0–3 vs Preston North End (12 August 1978)
0–3 vs Hereford United (25 April 1979)
  1977–78
1979–80  

Huddersfield Town's 1978-79 campaign was Town's penultimate season in their 5-year stint in the Football League's basement division. It also saw the arrival of Mick Buxton at the club, he would be Town's second longest manager in the club's history. After replacing Tom Johnston, Town gained a resurgence in their form and then finished in 9th place. It would be a precursor to Town's championship winning team the next season.

Contents

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.Pos.NationPlayer
-- GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan Starling
-- GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Dick Taylor
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jim Branagan
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Malcolm Brown
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Gartland
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Phil Sandercock
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Dave Sutton
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Chris Topping
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Terry Armstrong
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Bielby
No.Pos.NationPlayer
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG David Cowling
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Keith Hanvey
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Hart
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ian Holmes
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Keith Ripley
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Fletcher
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Terry Gray
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Howey
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Mark Lillis
-- FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Frank McGrellis (on loan from Coventry City)

Review

Following on from the previous season's disappointments and the early season's poor form, Tom Johnston resigned and following a spell as caretaker, Mick Buxton became the new manager and helped Town recover their form mainly from the signing from Bury and the conversion of Keith Hanvey from midfield to defence to partner Dave Sutton in the centre.

Town would finish the season in 9th place with just 47 points, but the following season would see Town return to Division 3 in style.

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.Pos.NationPlayer
-- GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan Starling
-- GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Dick Taylor
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jim Branagan
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Malcolm Brown
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Gartland
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Keith Hanvey
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Phil Sandercock
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Dave Sutton
-- DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Chris Topping
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Terry Armstrong
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Bielby
No.Pos.NationPlayer
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG David Cowling
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Hart
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ian Holmes
-- MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Keith Ripley
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Daryl Brook
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Fletcher
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Terry Gray
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Peter Howey
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Mark Lillis
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Ian Robins
-- FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Tommy Smith

Results

Division Four

DateOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F - A
ScorersAttendancePosition
19 August 1978 Crewe Alexandra H0 - 02,83813th
22 August 1978 Darlington A0 - 12,54918th
25 August 1978 Scunthorpe United A1 - 3Hanvey3,20019th
2 September 1978 Reading H1 - 1Bielby (pen)2,95121st
9 September 1978 Doncaster Rovers H2 - 1Hanvey, Bielby4,03816th
12 September 1978 Bournemouth A0 - 22,41618th
16 September 1978 Barnsley A0 - 111,79420th
23 September 1978 Northampton Town H1 - 0Holmes3,32017th
26 September 1978 Grimsby Town H2 - 0 Brolly (og), Campbell (pen)4,23816th
29 September 1978 Stockport County A1 - 3Bielby (pen)5,55417th
7 October 1978 Wigan Athletic H1 - 1Bielby (pen)5,15016th
14 October 1978 Newport County A1 - 2Robins3,62422nd
17 October 1978 Hereford United H2 - 3Campbell (2)2,56522nd
21 October 1978 Wimbledon H3 - 0Robins (2), Bielby3,37418th
28 October 1978 Bradford City A1 - 1Fletcher5,47819th
4 November 1978 York City H1 - 0Sutton3,69616th
11 November 1978 Reading A1 - 1Robins6,87015th
18 November 1978 Scunthorpe United H3 - 2Topping, Gray, Fletcher3,37515th
2 December 1978 Aldershot H0 - 03,13813th
9 December 1978 Portsmouth A0 - 111,61515th
26 December 1978 Halifax Town H2 - 0Fletcher, Robins5,34116th
1 January 1979 Port Vale A0 - 14,02117th
3 February 1979 Grimsby Town A1 - 2Robins4,92117th
17 February 1979 Wigan Athletic A1 - 2Robins7,42018th
24 February 1979 Newport County H0 - 13,36120th
27 February 1979 Doncaster Rovers A2 - 0Holmes, Howey3,41918th
3 March 1979 Wimbledon A1 - 2Holmes3,26518th
6 March 1979 Northampton Town A3 - 2Holmes (2), Robins1,82318th
10 March 1979 Bradford City H0 - 06,18818th
13 March 1979 Bournemouth H2 - 1Fletcher, Armstrong2,26818th
24 March 1979 Darlington H2 - 2Robins (2)2,86218th
28 March 1979 Crewe Alexandra A3 - 3Fletcher (2), Holmes1,38218th
31 March 1979 Hartlepool United H2 - 0Robins, Holmes2,42016th
4 April 1979 Stockport County H0 - 02,26714th
7 April 1979 Aldershot A0 - 14,21516th
10 April 1979 Rochdale A2 - 0Fletcher, Robins2,02013th
14 April 1979 Halifax Town A3 - 2Fletcher (2), Holmes4,02712th
16 April 1979 Port Vale H3 - 2Robins, Fletcher, Holmes3,23610th
17 April 1979 Rochdale H1 - 0Fletcher3,3469th
21 April 1979 Torquay United A1 - 2Holmes2,4789th
25 April 1979 Hereford United A0 - 32,63511th
28 April 1979 Portsmouth H2 - 0Robins, Fletcher (pen)2,89510th
30 April 1979 Torquay United H1 - 1Hart1,68010th
2 May 1979 Barnsley H1 - 0Robins9,3829th
5 May 1979 Hartlepool United A0 - 22,20710th
19 May 1979 York City A3 - 1Holmes, Cowling, Robins2,6649th

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F - A
ScorersAttendance
25 November 1978Round 1 Doncaster Rovers A1 - 2Fletcher4,330

Football League Cup

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F - A
ScorersAttendance
12 August 1978Round 1 1st Leg Preston North End A0 - 36,841
15 August 1978Round 1 2nd Leg Preston North End H2 - 2Holmes, Ripley (pen)3,435
  • Huddersfield lost 5-2 on aggregate.

Appearances and goals

NameNationPositionLeague AppsLeague GoalsFA Cup AppsFA Cup GoalsLeague Cup AppsLeague Cup GoalsTotal AppsTotal Goals
Terry Armstrong Flag of England.svg  England FW15 (2)1000015 (2)1
Paul Bielby Flag of England.svg  England MF29 (2)5100030 (2)5
Jim Branagan Flag of England.svg  England DF13 (1)0000013 (1)0
Daryl Brook Flag of England.svg  England FW10000010
Malcolm Brown Flag of England.svg  England DF4201020450
Bobby Campbell Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland FW73000073
David Cowling Flag of England.svg  England MF25 (1)1100026 (1)1
Peter Fletcher Flag of England.svg  England FW31 (4)120 (1)12033 (5)13
Paul Gartland Flag of England.svg  England DF40000040
Terry Gray Flag of England.svg  England FW22 (4)1100023 (4)1
Keith Hanvey Flag of England.svg  England DF3220020342
Peter Hart Flag of England.svg  England MF4611020491
Ian Holmes Flag of England.svg  England MF31 (3)11002133 (3)12
Peter Howey Flag of England.svg  England MF1010020121
Mark Lillis Flag of England.svg  England MF11 (1)0100012 (1)0
Frank McGrellis Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FW4 (1)000206 (1)0
Keith Ripley Flag of England.svg  England MF2 (3)0000 (1)12 (4)1
Ian Robins Flag of England.svg  England FW37 (1)16100038 (1)16
Phil Sandercock Flag of England.svg  England DF3601020390
Tommy Smith Flag of England.svg  England FW0 (1)000000 (1)0
Alan Starling Flag of England.svg  England GK4501020480
Dave Sutton Flag of England.svg  England DF3911020421
Dick Taylor Flag of England.svg  England GK10000010
Chris Topping Flag of England.svg  England DF2311020261

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