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.
Squad at the start of the season
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
Results
Division Four DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF - AScorersAttendancePosition19 August 1978Crewe AlexandraH0 - 02,83813th22 August 1978DarlingtonA0 - 12,54918th25 August 1978Scunthorpe UnitedA1 - 3Hanvey3,20019th2 September 1978ReadingH1 - 1Bielby (pen)2,95121st9 September 1978Doncaster RoversH2 - 1Hanvey, Bielby4,03816th12 September 1978BournemouthA0 - 22,41618th16 September 1978BarnsleyA0 - 111,79420th23 September 1978Northampton TownH1 - 0Holmes3,32017th26 September 1978Grimsby TownH2 - 0Brolly (og), Campbell (pen)4,23816th29 September 1978Stockport CountyA1 - 3Bielby (pen)5,55417th7 October 1978Wigan AthleticH1 - 1Bielby (pen)5,15016th14 October 1978Newport CountyA1 - 2Robins3,62422nd17 October 1978Hereford UnitedH2 - 3Campbell (2)2,56522nd21 October 1978WimbledonH3 - 0Robins (2), Bielby3,37418th28 October 1978Bradford CityA1 - 1Fletcher5,47819th4 November 1978York CityH1 - 0Sutton3,69616th11 November 1978ReadingA1 - 1Robins6,87015th18 November 1978Scunthorpe UnitedH3 - 2Topping, Gray, Fletcher3,37515th2 December 1978AldershotH0 - 03,13813th9 December 1978PortsmouthA0 - 111,61515th26 December 1978Halifax TownH2 - 0Fletcher, Robins5,34116th1 January 1979Port ValeA0 - 14,02117th3 February 1979Grimsby TownA1 - 2Robins4,92117th17 February 1979Wigan AthleticA1 - 2Robins7,42018th24 February 1979Newport CountyH0 - 13,36120th27 February 1979Doncaster RoversA2 - 0Holmes, Howey3,41918th3 March 1979WimbledonA1 - 2Holmes3,26518th6 March 1979Northampton TownA3 - 2Holmes (2), Robins1,82318th10 March 1979Bradford CityH0 - 06,18818th13 March 1979BournemouthH2 - 1Fletcher, Armstrong2,26818th24 March 1979DarlingtonH2 - 2Robins (2)2,86218th28 March 1979Crewe AlexandraA3 - 3Fletcher (2), Holmes1,38218th31 March 1979Hartlepool UnitedH2 - 0Robins, Holmes2,42016th4 April 1979Stockport CountyH0 - 02,26714th7 April 1979AldershotA0 - 14,21516th10 April 1979RochdaleA2 - 0Fletcher, Robins2,02013th14 April 1979Halifax TownA3 - 2Fletcher (2), Holmes4,02712th16 April 1979Port ValeH3 - 2Robins, Fletcher, Holmes3,23610th17 April 1979RochdaleH1 - 0Fletcher3,3469th21 April 1979Torquay UnitedA1 - 2Holmes2,4789th25 April 1979Hereford UnitedA0 - 32,63511th28 April 1979PortsmouthH2 - 0Robins, Fletcher (pen)2,89510th30 April 1979Torquay UnitedH1 - 1Hart1,68010th2 May 1979BarnsleyH1 - 0Robins9,3829th5 May 1979Hartlepool UnitedA0 - 22,20710th19 May 1979York CityA3 - 1Holmes, Cowling, Robins2,6649th
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF - AScorersAttendance25 November 1978Round 1Doncaster RoversA1 - 2Fletcher4,330
Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF - AScorersAttendance12 August 1978Round 1 1st LegPreston North EndA0 - 36,84115 August 1978Round 1 2nd LegPreston North EndH2 - 2Holmes, Ripley (pen)3,435 Huddersfield lost 5–2 on aggregate.
Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTerry ArmstrongFW15 (2)1000015 (2)1Paul BielbyMF29 (2)5100030 (2)5Jim BranaganDF13 (1)0000013 (1)0Daryl BrookFW10000010Malcolm BrownDF4201020450Bobby CampbellFW73000073David CowlingMF25 (1)1100026 (1)1Peter FletcherFW31 (4)120 (1)12033 (5)13Paul GartlandDF40000040Terry GrayFW22 (4)1100023 (4)1Keith HanveyDF3220020342Peter HartMF4611020491Ian HolmesMF31 (3)11002133 (3)12Peter HoweyMF1010020121Mark LillisMF11 (1)0100012 (1)0Frank McGrellisFW4 (1)000206 (1)0Keith RipleyMF2 (3)0000 (1)12 (4)1Ian RobinsFW37 (1)16100038 (1)16Phil SandercockDF3601020390Tommy SmithFW0 (1)000000 (1)0Alan StarlingGK4501020480Dave SuttonDF3911020421Dick TaylorGK10000010Chris ToppingDF2311020261
References