Huddersfield Town's 1974–75 campaign saw Town relegated to the 4th Division for the first time in the club's history. Following Ian Greaves' resignation at the end of the previous season, Bobby Collins took charge at Leeds Road, but could not stop Town's alarming slide to Division 4. Town finished bottom of the table, 6 points from safety and 5 points from 2nd bottom team Watford.
Squad at the start of the season
Review Following Ian Greaves' resignation at the end of the previous season, Town hired ex-Leeds United player and Scotland international Bobby Collins in his first managerial post. Following mid-table mediocrity the previous season, Town were hoping for a good start to mount a serious promotion challenge. But the start of the season saw Town lose 6 of their opening 8 league games. They then went on a 6-match unbeaten run, but that would be as good as it got for Town for the rest of the season. Even the 17 goals of Alan Gowling, the top scorer from the previous 2 seasons could not help Town's alarming slide.
In January 1975, ex-manager Tom Johnston was brought in as General Manager to help his fellow countryman, but even he could not change Town's fortunes as the team only won 4 out of their 22 games in 1975. Therefore, Town got relegated to Division 4 for the first time in their history. They also became the first team to win the 1st Division and play in the bottom tier of the Football League. They finished 24th with only 32 points, 5 behind Watford and Tranmere Rovers. 33 different players were used during the season, a record that would stand until the 1996–97 season.
Squad at the end of the season
Results Division Three DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendancePosition17 August 1974Peterborough UnitedH1–2Summerill7,33417th24 August 1974AldershotA0–13,90923rd31 August 1974WatfordH3–1Chapman, Hoy, Dolan5,00715th7 September 1974Charlton AthleticA0–16,55123rd14 September 1974ChesterfieldH2–0Hoy (2)5,96216th21 September 1974BuryA0–35,95622nd28 September 1974Crystal PalaceH0–16,52423rd1 October 1974Plymouth ArgyleA0–25,32423rd5 October 1974Grimsby TownA2–1Gowling, MacLeod4,90124th12 October 1974Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–0Garner6,54421st19 October 1974Tranmere RoversA2–1Gray, Gowling2,83321st22 October 1974WrexhamH0–05,87320th26 October 1974Swindon TownH2–2Gowling (2)5,79219th2 November 1974Hereford UnitedA1–1Gowling7,47119th4 November 1974WrexhamA0–34,77719th9 November 1974Colchester UnitedH3–2Gowling (pen), Gray, Dolan5,23317th16 November 1974Halifax TownA1–2Ellam6,82719th30 November 1974Preston North EndA0–47,95822nd3 December 1974BournemouthH2–2McGinley, Lawson3,80421st7 December 1974GillinghamH0–24,76121st14 December 1974Port ValeA0–43,98622nd21 December 1974WalsallH3–2Gowling (3)3,62719th26 December 1974ChesterfieldA0–34,59323rd28 December 1974Blackburn RoversH1–2O'Neil8,12223rd4 January 1975BournemouthA1–1O'Neil5,07822nd11 January 1975GillinghamA2–3Garwood (2)7,96023rd18 January 1975Preston North EndH0–17,65423rd1 February 1975Colchester UnitedA2–3Gowling (2 pens)3,92124th8 February 1975Hereford UnitedH2–1Fowler, Lawson4,89324th15 February 1975Southend UnitedA0–14,31624th22 February 1975Halifax TownH1–2Gowling (pen)7,93124th28 February 1975WatfordA0–14,34524th4 March 1975Southend UnitedH4–1Gowling, Maitland, Ellam, Belfitt4,53824th8 March 1975Port ValeH3–1Garner, Gowling (pen), Dolan6,70523rd15 March 1975Crystal PalaceA1–1Lawson15,04323rd19 March 1975Peterborough UnitedA1–2Endean4,89423rd22 March 1975Charlton AthleticH1–3Belfitt6,54623rd28 March 1975Blackburn RoversA1–1Dolan16,74624th29 March 1975WalsallA0–24,14024th1 April 1975BuryH0–05,66623rd5 April 1975Swindon TownA1–4Gray7,00923rd8 April 1975Plymouth ArgyleH0–22,94723rd12 April 1975Grimsby TownH1–0Gowling3,96124th19 April 1975Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–210,82224th22 April 1975AldershotH2–2Gowling (2)2,45524th26 April 1975Tranmere RoversH0–02,96024th
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance23 November 1974Round 1Grimsby TownA0–15,541
Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance21 August 1974Round 1York CityA2–0Saunders, Summerill5,57010 September 1974Round 2Leeds UnitedH1–1Gowling15,01324 September 1974Round 2 ReplayLeeds UnitedA1–1Gowling18,4967 October 1974Round 2 2nd ReplayLeeds UnitedA1–2McGinley14,599
Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRod BelfittFW62000062Les ChapmanMF1511040201Terry DolanMF4641040514John DungworthFW40000040Roy EllamDF1821020212Barry EndeanMF6 (2)100006 (2)1Mick FaircloughFW3 (1)000003 (1)0Franny FirthFW10000010Martin FowlerMF14 (2)1000014 (2)1Paul GarnerDF3520040392Colin GarwoodFW10 (6)2000010 (6)2Alan GowlingFW411710424619Terry GrayFW24 (8)3100 (2)025 (10)3Peter HartMF1300000130Bobby HoyMF23 (1)3104028 (1)3Geoff HuttDF2801030320Jimmy LawsonMF17 (3)3000017 (3)3Lloyd MaitlandMF1210000121Brian MarshallDF30000030Grahame McGiffordDF2201010240Billy McGinleyFW11 (4)1002 (1)113 (5)2Ally McLeodFW3 (1)100003 (1)1Bob NewtonFW2 (1)000002 (1)0Brian O'NeilMF22 (1)2000022 (1)2Terry PooleGK2400040280Graham PughMF1501030190John SaundersDF4101041461Steve SmithMF1600020180Steve SpriggsMF2 (2)000103 (2)0Phil SummerillFW6 (2)100218 (2)2Alan SweeneyDF10000010Dick TaylorGK2101000220John TurnerGK10000010
References