Huddersfield Town's 1981–82 campaign was a disappointing season for Town following nearly earning back-to-back promotions the previous season. Town only finished in 17th place. They did however have a fairly good season in the FA Cup, reaching the fourth round.

Squad at the start of the season

Review Following the previous season's near miss, many fans were thinking that promotion would be just a formality for the season. The start, however, was very unsensational, with 4 draws and a loss in their first 5 league games. Their form did improve, but the season was mainly noted for the amount of career-ending injuries to Steve Kindon, Andy Rankin, Dick Taylor, Fred Robinson and Peter Fletcher. Even Steve Smith was called up for Town's FA Cup game against Workington.

Town's season seemed to be a battle against relegation back to Division 4, but results such as the thrashings of Reading by 6–1, Swindon Town by 5–1 and the 5–0 defeat of Bristol City, which seemed to guarantee Town's Division 3 status, near the end of May. Town finished with 57 points in the first season in which 3 points for a win was introduced, but a disappointing finishing position of 17th, would be a distant memory after next season's exploits.

Squad at the end of the season

Results

Division Three DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendancePosition29 August 1981Exeter CityH1–1Kindon8,64713th5 September 1981Oxford UnitedA0–13,97619th12 September 1981WimbledonH1–1Fletcher7,32621st19 September 1981BurnleyA0–06,48521st22 September 1981Preston North EndA1–1Kennedy6,48319th26 September 1981Southend UnitedH3–2Kindon (pen), Robins, Kennedy (pen)7,25415th29 September 1981ChesterH1–2Robins7,74718th3 October 1981ReadingA2–1Kindon (pen), Hicks (og)4,97115th10 October 1981FulhamH1–0Robins8,25812th17 October 1981GillinghamA2–3Weatherly (og), Hanvey4,43216th20 October 1981Carlisle UnitedH2–1Burke, Cowling7,18511th24 October 1981Bristol RoversA2–3Lillis, Kennedy (pen)5,06415th31 October 1981MillwallH1–2Robins8,54617th3 November 1981ChesterfieldA0–16,84718th6 November 1981Doncaster RoversA2–1Kennedy, Laverick11,31915th14 November 1981Swindon TownH3–0Laverick (2), Hanvey7,80214th28 November 1981PortsmouthA1–2Aizlewood (og)8,15515th5 December 1981Plymouth ArgyleH0–06,94915th2 January 1982BrentfordA1–0Fletcher5,44014th9 January 1982Oxford UnitedH2–0Cowling, Brown7,0709th16 January 1982Bristol CityA0–04,9218th30 January 1982BurnleyH1–2Cowling10,62912th6 February 1982WimbledonA0–22,49916th9 February 1982Preston North EndH2–3Fletcher (2)6,67416th13 February 1982ReadingH6–1Fletcher (2), Lillis, Hicks (og), Cowling, Stanton6,02213th16 February 1982WalsallA1–1Austin3,36214th20 February 1982ChesterA1–2Purdie3,12015th27 February 1982FulhamH2–2Austin, Stanton5,96315th2 March 1982Lincoln CityH0–25,87415th6 March 1982GillinghamH2–0Robins, Fletcher5,33815th9 March 1982Carlisle UnitedA2–2Robins, Lillis3,64313th13 March 1982Bristol RoversH0–26,15616th23 March 1982ChesterfieldH1–1Lillis6,72117th27 March 1982Doncaster RoversH1–2Hanvey6,87118th30 March 1982Newport CountyH2–0Kennedy (pen), Hotte4,20516th3 April 1982Swindon TownA5–1Hanvey, Hotte (2), Cowling, Kennedy3,87214th6 April 1982MillwallA3–1Lillis, Cowling, Wilson3,50712th10 April 1982WalsallH2–1Cowling, Hotte6,57212th12 April 1982Lincoln CityA0–28,20313th17 April 1982Plymouth ArgyleA1–1Kennedy (pen)5,43412th24 April 1982PortsmouthH0–15,65813th1 May 1982Southend UnitedA0–44,47016th4 May 1982Bristol CityH5–0Boyle (og), Cowling, Robins, Stanton, Wilson3,46814th8 May 1982BrentfordH1–1Valentine4,54214th12 May 1982Exeter CityA0–12,88815th15 May 1982Newport CountyA0–14,16916th

FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance21 November 1981Round 1WorkingtonA1–1Brown3,10124 November 1981Round 1 ReplayWorkingtonH5–0Robins, Lillis, Laverick (2), Brown7,30512 December 1981Round 2ChesterfieldA1–0Cowling8,60923 January 1982Round 3Carlisle UnitedA3–2Fletcher (3)6,34526 January 1982Round 4OrientH1–1Austin13,6231 February 1982Round 4 ReplayOrientA0–26,478

Milk Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance1 September 1981Round 1 1st LegRochdaleH3–1Fletcher (2), Wilson6,71315 September 1981Round 1 2nd LegRochdaleA4–2Fletcher (2), Robins, Kindon3,735 Huddersfield won 7–3 on aggregate.6 October 1981Round 2 1st LegBrighton & Hove AlbionH1–0Austin9,80327 October 1981Round 2 2nd LegBrighton & Hove AlbionA0–214,192 Huddersfield lost 2–1 on aggregate.

Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTerry AustinFW20 (1)2512 (2)127 (3)4Graham BellMF20000020Malcolm BrownDF4616240563David BurkeDF4114040491David CowlingMF36 (2)8611 (1)043 (3)9Brian CoxGK1400000140Peter FletcherFW22 (4)74 (1)33429 (5)14Keith HanveyDF4346030524Tim HotteFW13 (1)4000013 (1)4Mick KennedyMF3974040477Steve KindonFW1030031134Mick LaverickMF43220065Mark LillisMF4256140526Bernard PurdieDF11 (4)12 (2)02015 (6)1Andy RankinGK1900040230Ian RobinsFW26 (6)73 (1)13132 (7)9Steve SmithDF00100010Brian StantonMF3134000353Dave SuttonDF2906040390Dick TaylorGK1306000190Peter ValentineDF1410000141Phil WilsonMF31 (3)2104136 (3)3

References