2004 Football League Third Division play-off final

Last updated

2004 Football League Third Division play-off final
Millennium Stadium (aerial view).jpg
The match was played at the Millennium Stadium.
Huddersfield Town won 4–1 on penalties
Date31 May 2004
Venue Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee Mark Clattenburg (Durham)
Attendance37,298
2003
2005

The 2004 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 31 May 2004 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Huddersfield Town and Mansfield Town to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to Football League One (the renamed Second Division). The top three teams of the 2003–04 Third Division season, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City and Torquay United, gained automatic promotion to League One, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2004–05 season in Football League One. Huddersfield and Mansfield defeated Lincoln City and Northampton Town, respectively, in the semi-finals.

Contents

The final kicked off around 3 p.m. in front of a crowd of 37,298 and was refereed by Mark Clattenburg. Both sides had chances to score in regular time and in the final minute of the match, Colin Larkin put the ball into the Huddersfield net but the goal was disallowed as the ball had gone out of play during the build-up. The match was goalless after 90 minutes, sending it into extra time. Tony Carss went close for Huddersfield in the first period of additional time while Laurent D'Jaffo and Wayne Corden missed chances for Mansfield, but with no score after 120 minutes, a penalty shootout was required to decide the outcome of the match. Huddersfield scored their first three penalties while Mansfield converted one, and Lee Fowler scored Huddersfield's fourth penalty to secure a 4–1 victory for his side and promotion to the 2nd Division or League 1 after the change.

Huddersfield's next season saw them finish in ninth place in Football League One, three positions and one point below the play-offs. Mansfield ended their following season in thirteenth position in Football League Two (the renamed Third Division).

Route to the final

Football League Third Division final table, leading positions [1]
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 Doncaster Rovers 46271187945+3492
2 Hull City 46251388244+3888
3 Torquay United 462312116844+2481
4 Huddersfield Town 462312116852+1681
5 Mansfield Town 45221497662+1480
6 Northampton Town 46229155851+775
7 Lincoln City 461917106847+2174

Huddersfield Town finished the regular 2003–04 season in fourth place in the Football League Third Division, the fourth tier of the English football league system, one position ahead of Mansfield Town. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to the Second Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Huddersfield Town finished level on points with Torquay United (who were promoted in third place with superior goal difference), seven behind Hull City (who were promoted in second) and eleven behind league winners Doncaster Rovers. [1] Huddersfield missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the regular season when they drew with Cheltenham Town, allowing Torquay to secure third place, after they beat Southend United. [2]

Mansfield Town faced Northampton Town in their play-off semi-final with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at Sixfields in Northampton on 16 May 2004. [3] The home side dominated the first half but Mansfield took the lead five minutes before half-time when Rhys Day scored with a header from a Liam Lawrence cross. Midway through the second half, Junior Mendes doubled the lead from close range after the Northampton goalkeeper Lee Harper failed to keep hold of Tom Curtis' shot. In the final minute of the match, Northampton were reduced to ten men when Ashley Westwood was sent off for a foul on Colin Larkin, and the match ended 2–0. [4] The second leg took place four days later at Field Mill in Mansfield. Ten minutes before half-time, Mansfield went ahead after Marc Richards scored with a volley from a Paul Trollope pass. Chris Hargreaves then scored with a header from a Martin Smith free kick to make it 2–0 at half time, levelling the tie on aggregate. Thirty seconds into the second half, Smith made it 3–0 after Trollope capitalised on a misplaced pass from Wayne Corden. Northampton levelled the tie on aggregate when Curtis scored from a rebound. Regular time finished with the aggregate score 3–3 and the game went into extra time, but with no change to the scoreline, a penalty shootout was required to decide the tie. [5] Both sides scored their first three penalties before Northampton's Éric Sabin saw his spotkick saved by Kevin Pilkington, the Mansfield goalkeeper. All the remaining penalties were scored so Mansfield won 5–4 to progress to the final. [6]

Huddersfield Town's opposition for their semi-final were Lincoln City and the first leg was held at Sincil Bank in Lincoln on 15 May 2004. [7] Iffy Onuora put the visiting side ahead after five minutes with a close-range header from a Rob Edwards corner. In the 51st minute, Lincoln equalised: a long throw-in from Kevin Ellison eventually found Simon Yeo whose volley was saved by Paul Rachubka but the rebound was scored by Gary Fletcher. Huddersfield regained the lead through David Mirfin: Andy Holdsworth's corner was headed goalward by Andy Booth and saved by Alan Marriott but the ball fell to Mirfin who scored from a tight angle, ending the match 2–1 to Huddersfield. [8] The second leg was played four days later at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield. Richard Butcher scored in the 38th minute after a defensive mix-up between Rachubka and Efe Sodje to give Lincoln a 1–0 lead before Mark Bailey doubled the lead with a shot from the edge of the Huddersfield penalty area. In the 60th minute, Lincoln's Jamie McCombe fouled Booth to concede a penalty which Danny Schofield converted. Late in the match, Edwards scored from the edge of the Lincoln box to make it 2–2 and give Huddersfield a 4–3 aggregate victory. [9]

Match

Background

This was Huddersfield's fourth appearance in the play-offs and their second final, having won the 1995 Football League Second Division play-off final 2–1 against Bristol Rovers at Wembley Stadium. They had been relegated to the Third Division the previous season and were aiming for an immediate return. [10] Mansfield were playing in their first play-off final, having been knocked out in the semi-finals on one prior occasion, in 1995. They had also been relegated to the Third Division the preceding season. [11] In the two matches between the sides during the regular season, the first ended in a 3–3 at Field Mill in November 2003 while the return game saw Mansfield win 3–1 at Sixfields the following May. [12] Lawrence was Mansfield's top scorer with 22 goals in the regular season (19 in the league and 3 in the FA Cup) followed by Mendes on 12 (11 in the League and 1 in the FA Cup). [13] Jon Stead, who had joined Blackburn Rovers in January 2004, [14] led the scoring for Huddersfield with 18 goals (16 in the league and 2 in the League Cup) followed by Booth on 14 (13 in the league and 1 in the League Cup). [15]

The referee for the match was Mark Clattenburg. [16] Huddersfield were considered favourites to win the match according to the Racing Post . [17] Mansfield adopted a 4–4–2 formation while Huddersfield played as a 3–5–2. [2]

Summary

The match kicked off around 3 p.m. on 31 May 2004 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in front of a crowd of 37,298. [16] Six minutes into the game, Booth headed a cross from Anthony Lloyd narrowly wide of the Mansfield goal before Lawrence shot wide. Mansfield's Bobby Hassell also struck the ball wide of the Huddersfield goal. Midway through the first half, the Mansfield goalkeeper Pilkington saved from Schofield. A strike from Lawrence then went high over the Mansfield crossbar before Pawel Abbott's shot from close range was caught by Pilkington. Just before half time, Adam Eaton's shot was wide of the Huddersfield goal. [18]

Neither side made any changes to their personnel during the interval and nine minutes into the second half, Schofield had a chance to score after a jinking run but was tackled by Eaton. As the half progressed, fouls crept into the game with both Eaton and Sodje booked for poor challenges. Booth's header was then saved before Lloyd's mis-hit shot found Schofield whose strike was blocked by Curtis. In the 76th minute Corden's cross from the left wing found substitute Larkin who missed the ball with an attempted header. Booth then sent a chip wide of Mansfield's goal after making a break. Corden's last-minute shot from long range was saved by Rachubka before Larkin's goal was disallowed after Laurent D'Jaffo's cross to him was adjudged to have gone out, and regular time ended goalless, sending the match into extra time. [18]

In the 94th minute, Tony Carss sent a curling shot from around 25 yards (23 m) just wide of the Mansfield goal before both D'Jaffo and Corden missed opportunities to score at the other end of the pitch. With the game still without a goal at the conclusion of the additional period of play, a penalty shootout was required to determine the result. [18] Huddersfield's Edwards took the first penalty and scored before Corden's shot was saved. Schofield then made it 2–0 and Lawrence missed Mansfield's second penalty. Carss converted Huddersfield's third spot kick before Neil MacKenzie scored for Mansfield to make it 3–1. Lee Fowler scored Huddersfield's fourth penalty to secure a 4–1 victory for his side and promotion to the Second Division. [16]

Details

Kit left arm white stripes.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body whitestripes.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm white stripes.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Huddersfield Town
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body thinbluesides.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts goldsides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Mansfield Town
GK29 Paul Rachubka
DF27 David Mirfin
DF16 Efe Sodje Yellow card.svg 65'
DF5 Steve Yates
MF24 Anthony Lloyd Sub off.svg 112'
MF8 Tony Carss
MF18 Jon Worthington Sub off.svg 85'
MF11 Danny Schofield
MF21 Andy Holdsworth
FW23 Andy Booth
FW9 Pawel Abbott Sub off.svg 91'
Substitutes:
GK13 Phil Senior
DF3 Rob Edwards Sub on.svg 112'
DF20 Nat Brown
MF4 Lee Fowler Sub on.svg 85'
FW31 John McAliskey Sub on.svg 91'
Manager:
Peter Jackson
GK1 Kevin Pilkington
DF12 Bobby Hassell Yellow card.svg 90'
DF5 Rhys Day
DF15 Alex Baptiste
DF3 Adam Eaton Yellow card.svg 63'
MF7 Liam Lawrence
MF4 Tom Curtis
MF24 Lee Williamson Sub off.svg 98'
MF11 Wayne Corden
FW8 Craig Disley Sub off.svg 60'
FW20 Junior Mendes Sub off.svg 69'
Substitutes:
GK40James Coates
DF25 David Artell
MF14 Neil MacKenzie Sub on.svg 98'
FW30 Laurent D'Jaffo Sub on.svg 69'
FW9 Colin Larkin Sub on.svg 60'
Manager:
Keith Curle

Post-match

Peter Jackson, the Huddersfield manager, reflected on his side's success despite recent financial struggles as a year prior the club had gone into administration: "I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with what we've achieved this year ... Nine months ago, when only eight players turn up, you think you've got a difficult job." [2] He paid tribute to his counterpart, Keith Curle, saying "We are all delighted but we have to feel sorry for Keith Curle and his team because it is a terrible way to lose." [19] Curle was downbeat: "More than cruel. That hurts." [2]

Huddersfield's next season saw them finish in ninth place in Football League One (the renamed Second Division), three positions and one point below the play-offs. [20] Mansfield ended their following season in thirteenth position in Football League Two (the renamed Third Division). [21]

Related Research Articles

The EFL League One play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from third to sixth in the EFL League One table and are part of the English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing third plays the team finishing sixth, and the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing fifth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium.

The EFL League Two play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from fourth to seventh in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They are part of the annual English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing seventh, and the team finishing fifth plays the team finishing sixth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Football League Two play-off final</span> Football match

The 2006 Football League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 2006 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Grimsby Town and Cheltenham Town. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, English football's fourth tier, to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2005–06 Football League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2006–07 season in League One. Grimsby Town finished in fourth place while Cheltenham Town ended the season in fifth position. They beat Lincoln City and Wycombe Wanderers, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Football League Second Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1995 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 28 May 1995 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Huddersfield Town and Bristol Rovers. It was to determine the second team to gain promotion from the Football League Second Division to the First Division. Only Birmingham City, the champions of the 1994–95 Football League Second Division league, gained automatic promotion to the First Division due to the reduction of the Premier League from 22 to 20 teams. The sides placed from second to fifth place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1995–96 season in the First Division. The losing semi-finalists were Brentford and Crewe Alexandra who had been defeated by Huddersfield and Bristol Rovers respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1997 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 24 May 1997 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Northampton Town and Swansea City to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1996–97 Football League Third Division, Carlisle United, Fulham and league winners Wigan Athletic, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1997–98 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Chester City and Cardiff City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Football League Two play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2005 Football League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 2005 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Southend United and Lincoln City. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, English football's fourth tier, to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2004–05 Football League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2005–06 season in League One. Southend United finished in fourth place while Lincoln City ended the season in sixth position. They defeated Northampton Town and Macclesfield Town, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Football match

The 1995 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 1995 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Chesterfield and Bury to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top two teams of the 1994–95 Football League Third Division, Carlisle United and Walsall, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1995–96 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Preston North End and Mansfield Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2000 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 26 May 2000 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Peterborough United and Darlington. It was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1999–2000 Football League Third Division, Swansea City, Rotherham United and Northampton Town, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2000–01 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Hartlepool United and Barnet who had been defeated by Darlington and Peterborough United respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Football League One play-off final</span> Football match

The 2011 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 29 May 2011 at Old Trafford in Manchester, between Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2010–11 Football League One season, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth position took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2011–12 season in the Championship. AFC Bournemouth and Milton Keynes Dons were the defeated semi-finalists, losing to Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Football League One play-off final</span> Football match

The 2012 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 26 May 2012 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2011–12 Football League One season, Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth position in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2012–13 season in the Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1998 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 22 May 1998 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Colchester United and Torquay United to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division for the 1998–99 season. The top three teams of the 1997–98 Football League Third Division, Notts County, Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in the play-offs. The losing semi-finalists were Scarborough and Barnet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Football League Two play-off final</span> English association football match in 2013

The 2013 Football League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 18 May 2013 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Bradford City and Northampton Town. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, English football's fourth tier, to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2012–13 Football League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners then competed for the final place for the 2013–14 season in League One. Northampton Town finished in sixth place while Bradford City ended the season in seventh position. Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town were the losing semi-finalists, being defeated by Bradford and Northampton respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Football League One play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2006 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2006 between Barnsley and Swansea City at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2005–06 Football League One season, Southend United and Colchester United, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth in the table took part in play-off semi-finals. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2006–07 season in the Championship. The losing semi-finalists were Brentford and Huddersfield Town. It was the last League One play-off final to be played at the Millennium Stadium, while Wembley Stadium was being redeveloped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Football League Second Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1998 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 24 May 1998 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Grimsby Town and Northampton Town. The top two teams of the 1997–98 Football League Second Division league, Watford and Bristol City, gained automatic promotion to the First Division, while those placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1998–99 season in the First Division. The losing semi-finalists were Bristol Rovers and Fulham who had been defeated by Northampton and Grimsby respectively.

The 2003–04 season was Northampton Town's 107th season in their history and the first season back in the Third Division after relegation the previous year. Alongside competing in Division Three, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Football match

The 2003 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 24 May 2003 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, between Bournemouth and Lincoln City to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 2002–03 Third Division season, Rushden & Diamonds, Hartlepool United and Wrexham, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2003–04 season in the Second Division. Bournemouth and Lincoln City defeated Bury and Scunthorpe United, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2002 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match played on 6 May 2002 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Cheltenham Town and Rushden & Diamonds. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division, English football's fourth tier, to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 2001–02 Third Division season gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2002–03 season in the Second Division. Cheltenham Town finished in fourth place while Rushden & Diamonds ended the season in sixth position. Hartlepool United and Rochdale were the losing semi-finalists, being defeated by Cheltenham and Rushden respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Football League Fourth Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1992 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 23 May 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Blackpool and Scunthorpe United to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Fourth Division to the Third Division. The top three teams of the 1991–92 Football League Fourth Division, Burnley, Rotherham United and Mansfield Town, gained automatic promotion, while those placed from fourth to seventh place took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place in the Third Division for the 1992–93 season. Blackpool and Scunthorpe United beat Barnet and Crewe Alexandra, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 EFL League Two play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2022 EFL League Two play-off final was an association football match which was played on 28 May 2022 at Wembley Stadium, London, to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football, to EFL League One. The top three teams of the League Two, Forest Green Rovers, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers, gained automatic promotion to League One, while the clubs placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in the 2022 English Football League play-offs. Port Vale and Mansfield Town competed for the final place in the 2022–23 season in League One.

References

  1. 1 2 "League Two – 2003/2004 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dart, Tom (1 June 2004). "Spot-on Huddersfield earn instant return" . The Times . p. 39. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021 via Gale.
  3. "Northampton Town v Mansfield Town, 16 May 2004". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  4. "Northampton 0–2 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 16 May 2004. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  5. "Mansfield reach final". BBC Sport. 20 May 2004. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  6. "Mansfield Town v Northampton Town, 20 May 2004". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. "Lincoln City v Huddersfield Town, 15 May 2004". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  8. "Lincoln 1–2 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 15 May 2004. Archived from the original on 3 July 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  9. "Huddersfield 2–2 Lincoln". BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Archived from the original on 3 July 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  10. "Huddersfield Town". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. "Mansfield Town". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. "Huddersfield Town football club: record v Mansfield Town". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  13. "Mansfield squad details – 2003/04 – Player details". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  14. "Blackburn sign Stead". BBC Sport. 2 February 2004. Archived from the original on 3 February 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  15. "Huddersfield squad details – 2003/04 – Player details". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 "Huddersfield Town v Mansfield Town, 31 May 2004". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  17. Davis, Steve (31 May 2004). "Division 3 play offs: Well-balanced Huddersfield to take honours" . Racing Post . p. 103. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021 via Gale.
  18. 1 2 3 "Huddersfield 0–0 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 31 May 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  19. Johnson, William (1 June 2004). "Penalty prize for Huddersfield" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021 via Gale.
  20. "League One – 2004/2005 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  21. "League Two – 2004/2005 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2021.