The 1996–97 season for Huddersfield Town failed to carry on the good work of the previous and nearly saw Town relegated back to Division Two. Following the heavy spending on players in the closed season, much was expected of the Terriers in the 1996–97 season but, despite a bright start from new striker Marcus Stewart, Horton was unable to improve on the team's consistently poor away form that had ended the side's playoff bid the previous year. Long-term injuries to Stewart and Andy Morrison did little to help things and, with the previously strong home form becoming increasingly patchy, the Terriers struggled at the wrong end of the table. It was perhaps the least celebrated summer signing, Andy Payton, who notched an impressive tally of 20 goals and helped staved off the threat of relegation as the side scrambled to 20th, just 8 points and 2 places above the drop zone.
Injuries and illness forced Town to play 35 players during the season, then a record, which would actually be broken the following season. Brian Horton's job was seemingly under threat, although he wouldn't leave the McAlpine Stadium until October 1997.
Squad at the start of the season
Review Town made a promising start beating Charlton Athletic 2–0 in front of the highest home crowd for an opening day game for 24 years. This was followed up by wins over Ipswich Town, Oldham Athletic, Reading & Birmingham City, but then a spell of 9 games without a win, including a 6–0 defeat at Swindon Town, left manager Brian Horton in the lurch.
Form wasn't helped by the consistent injuries to top players such as Marcus Stewart and Andy Morrison, but Town slowly tried to recover, but their best run of the season came during the Christmas and New Year period when they went 5 games unbeaten, but they then went on a run of 1 win in 10, which propelled them into relegation territory.
By the end of the season, top scorer Andy Payton's goals were starting to dry up, but a win on the penultimate day of the season against already relegated Southend United made certain that Town would play Division 1 football the next season.
Squad at the end of the season
Results Division One DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendancePosition17 August 1996Charlton AthleticH2–0Bullock , Morrison 11,8583rd25 August 1996BarnsleyA1–3Cowan 9,78712th31 August 1996Crystal PalaceH1–1Payton 11,16616th7 September 1996Ipswich TownA3–1Payton [47, 67], Stewart 10,6617th10 September 1996Tranmere RoversH0–110,18111th13 September 1996Oldham AthleticH3–2Stewart [15, 85], Gray 10,2967th22 September 1996Stoke CityA2–3Worthington [7 (og)], Stewart 9,14714th28 September 1996ReadingH1–0Payton 10,33011th8 October 1996Birmingham CityH3–0Edwards , Stewart , Dalton 10,9047th12 October 1996West Bromwich AlbionA1–1Cowan 14,9606th16 October 1996Swindon TownA0–67,72410th19 October 1996Southend UnitedH0–09,57810th26 October 1996Port ValeH0–111,01712th30 October 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA0–022,37613th2 November 1996Bolton WanderersA0–215,86515th8 November 1996Bradford CityH3–3Dalton , Lawson , Crosby 14,12613th16 November 1996Oxford UnitedA0–17,46015th19 November 1996Manchester CityA0–023,31417th23 November 1996Grimsby TownH2–0Payton [24, 27]10,59013th30 November 1996Port ValeA0–06,02615th3 December 1996Sheffield UnitedA1–3Payton 14,70015th7 December 1996Norwich CityH2–0Payton [34, 56]10,74913th14 December 1996PortsmouthA1–3Makel 6,95417th21 December 1996Queens Park RangersH1–2Payton 10,71818th26 December 1996Tranmere RoversA1–1Payton 10,13418th28 December 1996Ipswich TownH2–0Lawson , Payton 11,46718th1 January 1997Stoke CityH2–1Makel , Edwards 11,91912th18 January 1997Manchester CityH1–1Lawson 17,35813th25 January 1997Oldham AthleticA2–1Payton [71, 83]8,56613th28 January 1997ReadingA1–4Payton 5,71013th1 February 1997Bradford CityA1–1Crosby 17,37314th8 February 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH0–215,26715th15 February 1997Grimsby TownA2–2Stewart , Edwards 6,19716th22 February 1997Bolton WanderersH1–2Cowan 15,86116th1 March 1997Norwich CityA0–213,00117th4 March 1997Oxford UnitedH1–0Makel 11,27614th8 March 1997Queens Park RangersA0–29,78918th15 March 1997PortsmouthH1–3Stewart 10,51220th22 March 1997BarnsleyH0–014,75420th31 March 1997Sheffield UnitedH2–1Dalton , Cowan 14,55119th5 April 1997Crystal PalaceA1–1Payton 13,54120th9 April 1997Charlton AthleticA1–2Dalton 11,03220th12 April 1997Birmingham CityA0–114,39420th19 April 1997West Bromwich AlbionH0–012,74820th26 April 1997Southend UnitedA2–1Payton , Beresford 4,76220th4 May 1997Swindon TownH0–011,50620th
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendance4 January 1997Round 3Queens Park RangersA1–1Crosby 11,77614 January 1997Round 3 replayQueens Park RangersH1–2Edwards 11,814
League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendance20 August 1996Round 1 1st LegWrexhamH3–0Stewart [12, 25, 53]5,1783 September 1996Round 1 2nd LegWrexhamA2–1Payton , Edwards 1,776 Huddersfield won 5–1 on aggregate17 September 1996Round 2 1st LegColchester UnitedH1–1Cowan 5,09424 September 1996Round 2 2nd LegColchester UnitedA2 – 0 (aet: 90 mins: 0 – 0)Stewart , Simon Collins 4,095 Huddersfield won 3–1 on aggregate23 October 1996Round 3MiddlesbroughA1–5Payton 26,615
Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSimon BaldryMF2 (5)000002 (5)0David BeresfordMF61000061Marcus BrowningMF1300000130Darren BullockMF26 (1)1204032 (1)1Wayne BurnettMF33 (2)01 (1)03037 (3)0Sam CollinsDF10 (6)00 (2)02 (2)012 (10)0Simon CollinsDF3 (1)0001 (1)14 (2)1Tom CowanDF4241051485Gary CrosbyMF19 (5)2210021 (5)3Paul DaltonMF17 (12)4001 (2)018 (14)4Simon DaviesMF30000030Iain DunnFW1 (4)000001 (4)0Jon DysonDF18 (5)0200 (2)020 (7)0Darren EdmondsonDF1000000100Rob EdwardsMF24 (9)3214 (1)130 (10)5Delroy FaceyFW1 (2)000001 (2)0Steve FrancisGK4201050480Lee GloverMF1100000110Kevin GrayDF36 (3)1004040 (3)1Thomas HearyDF2 (3)010003 (3)0Jeremy IllingworthMF2 (1)000002 (1)0Steve JenkinsDF3302050400Peter KayeFW0 (1)000000 (1)0Ian LawsonFW8 (10)31 (1)01 (3)010 (14)3Lee MakelMF1932030243Andy MorrisonDF9 (1)1002011 (1)1Tony NormanGK40100050Andy PaytonFW381720524519Paul ReidMF20 (2)01 (1)04025 (3)0Rodney RoweFW1 (6)0000 (1)01 (7)0Robbie RyanDF2 (3)000002 (3)0Lee SinnottDF29 (1)0002031 (1)0Marcus StewartFW19 (1)7104424 (1)11Paul TisdaleDF1 (1)000001 (1)0Mike WilliamsMF20000020
References