Huddersfield Town's 1979–80 campaign is one of Town's most successful in their history, gaining promotion from the Division 4 title, the last season in which Town won the divisional title. They finished two points clear of Walsall. In Mick Buxton's first full season in charge, Town scored 101 league goals, the only season in which Town have scored more than 100 league goals in their entire history. This ended Town's five-year stint in the basement division. The only season after this that they were in the 4th tier was in the 2003–04 season.
Squad at the start of the season
Review With Mick Buxton at the helm for his first full season, many were thinking that after his team's good form in the previous season, that promotion to Division 3 was possible and a good start to the season didn't dampen spirits. In the first 12 games, Town won 10 of them including a 7–1 win against Port Vale. But after a run in November and December of 4 games without a win, manager Buxton brought in Steve Kindon from Burnley just before Christmas. It proved to be an inspired signing, he scored 14 goals in his 23 games for Town during the second half of the season.
However, Ian Robins topped the goalscoring charts for the whole 4th Division with 25 league goals. He and Malcolm Brown were put in the "Divisional Team of the Season". They guaranteed their promotion with a 2–1 win over Scunthorpe United with 3 matches to go. Amongst other big victories were 5–0 victories against Northampton Town, Stockport County, Halifax Town and a 5–1 win over Rochdale. The last game of the season against Hartlepool United also saw Town scored their 100th and 101st league goals of their season, the only time Town have reached triple figures in goals in their entire history. They finished 2 points clear of Walsall in 1st position. This is their last season as champions of any division.
Squad at the end of the season
Results Division Four DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendancePosition18 August 1979AldershotH2–0Robins, Hart3,3135th22 August 1979Wigan AthleticA2–1Holmes, Fletcher6,9273rd25 August 1979Doncaster RoversH3–0Holmes (pen), Cowling, Robins5,2323rd1 September 1979Lincoln CityA0–24,2725th8 September 1979Newport CountyH2–1Fletcher, Robins3,1343rd14 September 1979Scunthorpe UnitedA1–1Stanton2,5643rd19 September 1979Crewe AlexandraA3–1Robins, Brown, Fletcher2,1044th22 September 1979Port ValeH7–1Fletcher, Delgado (og), Hart (2), Robins (2), Stanton4,2994th28 September 1979Stockport CountyA2–1Laverick, Hart5,3691st2 October 1979Crewe AlexandraH3–0Robins, Robinson (pen), Fletcher5,7882nd6 October 1979Peterborough UnitedA3–1Robins (2), Fletcher5,1832nd9 October 1979Wigan AthleticH4–0Stanton, Fletcher (2), Cowling7,8711st13 October 1979PortsmouthH1–3Fletcher16,5402nd20 October 1979BournemouthA3–1Cowling, Fletcher, Laverick4,8952nd23 October 1979Northampton TownA2–4Cowling, Byatt (og)3,2102nd27 October 1979York CityH2–2Cowling (2, 1 pen)7,5471st3 November 1979AldershotA2–0Fletcher, Robins5,2711st6 November 1979Northampton TownH5–0Robins (2), Laverick, Cowling, Sutton6,5521st10 November 1979Bradford CityA0–010,5091st17 November 1979Tranmere RoversH1–1Fletcher7,0691st1 December 1979Hereford UnitedH0–15,5822nd8 December 1979Torquay UnitedA1–3Holmes4,0443rd21 December 1979RochdaleH5–1Sutton, Cowling, Fletcher, Brown, Robins4,5503rd26 December 1979Halifax TownA1–2Dunleavy (og)10,0613rd29 December 1979Doncaster RoversA2–1Stanton, Kindon7,3373rd1 January 1980DarlingtonH2–1Hanvey, Robins9,8982nd5 January 1980WalsallA1–1Kindon7,6392nd12 January 1980Lincoln CityH3–2Robins, Kindon (pen), Fletcher8,1082nd18 January 1980Newport CountyA2–2Sutton, Laverick4,8511st26 January 1980Hartlepool UnitedA1–1Kindon5,9192nd9 February 1980Port ValeA1–1Cowling5,1432nd16 February 1980Stockport CountyH5–0Kindon, Stanton (3), Robins7,5612nd23 February 1980PortsmouthA1–4Kindon19,2032nd1 March 1980BournemouthH2–0Robins, Hanvey7,7402nd8 March 1980York CityA4–0Robins, Kindon (2), Cowling5,7422nd15 March 1980Peterborough UnitedH0–08,1722nd22 March 1980Bradford CityH0–014,8752nd29 March 1980Tranmere RoversA0–03,2322nd1 April 1980RochdaleA2–0Kindon (2)4,9792nd5 April 1980Halifax TownH5–0Robins (2), Kindon (2, 1 pen), Sutton10,5802nd8 April 1980DarlingtonA3–2Kindon (pen), Stanton, Craig (og)4,6282nd12 April 1980WalsallH1–1Stanton17,2332nd15 April 1980Scunthorpe UnitedH2–1Robins (2)10,9002nd19 April 1980Hereford UnitedA3–1Kindon, Fletcher (2)4,2782nd26 April 1980Torquay UnitedH4–2Fletcher, Sutton (2), Robins11,0671st3 May 1980Hartlepool UnitedH2–1Robins (2)16,8071st
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance24 November 1979Round 1DarlingtonA1–1Hart3,67827 November 1979Round 1 ReplayDarlingtonH0–18,084
Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance11 August 1979Round 1 1st LegCrewe AlexandraH2–1Brown, Sutton2,94415 August 1979Round 1 2nd LegCrewe AlexandraA3–1Robins (2), Fletcher3,920 Huddersfield won 5–2 on aggregate.28 August 1979Round 2 1st LegGrimsby TownA0–17,8034 September 1979Round 2 2nd LegGrimsby TownH1–4Holmes (pen)5,550 Huddersfield lost 5–1 on aggregate.
Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJim BranaganDF00000 (1)00 (1)0Malcolm BrownDF4622041523David CowlingMF39 (1)10104044 (1)10Peter FletcherFW30 (8)17203135 (8)18Keith HanveyDF3320040392Peter HartMF4641140515Ian HolmesMF6 (4)3004110 (4)4Steve KindonFW22 (1)14000022 (1)14Mick LaverickMF4542040514Bernard PurdieDF18 (4)0200020 (4)0Andy RankinGK2400000240Ian RobinsFW452520425127Fred RobinsonDF3012040361Tommy SmithFW00001010Brian StantonMF4192000439Alan StarlingGK2202040280Dave SuttonDF4662041527Chris ToppingDF1302000150
References