Huddersfield Town's 1961–62 campaign was an impressive season for the Town, following the previous season's near miss with relegation to Division 3. In Eddie Boot's first full season in charge, Town finished in 7th place in Division 2 with 44 points, 10 off 2nd placed Leyton Orient and a further 8 behind league champions Liverpool.
Squad at the start of the season
Review After just missing out on relegation to Division 3, Eddie Boot took his first full season in charge to try to raise Town up to the top half of the Division 2. Town made a promising start with 4 wins from their first 6 games, including a 5–1 win against Plymouth Argyle and a 4–3 win at Luton Town. Derek Stokes had a great start to the season with 8 goals from the first 9 league games including a hat-trick in the 4–2 win against Walsall. An indifferent spell in October and November saw Town lose ground, but a player exchange in February would see Town surge up the table.
Jim Kerray moved to Newcastle United with experienced striker Len White returning to his native Yorkshire. His 8 goals in 16 matches propelled Town to the upper reaches of the Division 2. They would finish the season in 7th place with 44 points.
Squad at the end of the season
Results Division Two DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendancePosition19 August 1961Swansea TownA1–1Stokes18,20811th23 August 1961Plymouth ArgyleH5–1Stokes (2), Kerray, O'Grady, Massie13,7305th26 August 1961SouthamptonH1–0Patrick (og)13,9983rd30 August 1961Plymouth ArgyleA2–4Kerray, Stokes (pen)14,0656th2 September 1961Luton TownA4–3Dinsdale, Stokes (2), Saward14,4364th9 September 1961Newcastle UnitedH2–1Kerray, Massie18,0873rd16 September 1961MiddlesbroughA0–114,0036th20 September 1961Leyton OrientA0–38,95710th23 September 1961WalsallH4–2Stokes (3), Sharples (og)15,1005th27 September 1961Leyton OrientH1–1Bettany16,9176th30 September 1961Derby CountyA0–113,4556th7 October 1961Norwich CityH1–1McHale14,9108th14 October 1961Leeds UnitedA0–119,16211th21 October 1961Bristol RoversH4–1Kerray, Stokes (2), Frowen (og)11,8458th28 October 1961Stoke CityA0–335,9749th4 November 1961SunderlandH0–019,0179th11 November 1961Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–2Kerray (2)10,74210th18 November 1961LiverpoolH1–2McHale23,08613th25 November 1961Charlton AthleticA2–0Massie, O'Grady12,18710th2 December 1961BuryH2–0Kerray, Coddington (pen)11,9149th8 December 1961Rotherham UnitedA3–3Massie, Kerray, McHale10,2419th23 December 1961SouthamptonA1–3McHale11,26212th26 December 1961Preston North EndA0–115,52413th13 January 1962Luton TownH1–2Coddington (pen)11,14014th20 January 1962Newcastle UnitedA1–1O'Grady31,95014th3 February 1962MiddlesbroughH0–011,61914th10 February 1962WalsallA2–2McHale, Balderstone10,86416th24 February 1962Norwich CityA2–1White (2)16,11213th3 March 1962Leeds UnitedH2–1White, Massie16,79912th10 March 1962Bristol RoversA1–1White10,71212th17 March 1962Stoke CityH3–0White (2), Stokes20,26110th24 March 1962SunderlandA1–3Balderstone26,41212th26 March 1962Swansea TownH3–1Coddington (2 pens), Massie7,8139th31 March 1962Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–0Baxter (og), McHale8,1879th2 April 1962Preston North EndH2–2McHale, Balderstone5,2568th7 April 1962LiverpoolA1–1Balderstone38,0228th9 April 1962Derby CountyH4–0Stokes, White, Coddington (2 pens)8,3236th14 April 1962Charlton AthleticH0–29,1277th21 April 1962BuryA2–1McHale (2)7,6306th23 April 1962Scunthorpe UnitedH1–2Stokes12,3977th24 April 1962Scunthorpe UnitedA3–1White, O'Grady, Massie10,8126th28 April 1962Rotherham UnitedH0–38,6797th
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendance9 January 1962Round 3Rotherham UnitedH4–3Massie, McHale (2), Kerray28,07127 January 1962Round 4Aston VillaA1–2McHale 69'38,013
Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendance12 September 1961Round 1Carlisle UnitedA1–1Massie7,36025 September 1961Round 1 ReplayCarlisle UnitedH3–0McCann, Holt (2)8,8804 October 1961Round 2Leeds UnitedA2–3McHale 69', Dinsdale 85'10,023
Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDenis AtkinsDF2801020310Chris BalderstoneMF940010104John BettanyMF81001091John CoddingtonDF3862010416Peter DinsdaleDF4012031452Harry FearnleyGK2501030290Brian GibsonDF00100010Ray HoltDF30002252Jim KerrayMF2682130319Bob LedgerMF20002040Les MassieFW3172110348John McCannMF80001191Kevin McHaleMF40923214413John MilnerMF80000080Michael O'GradyMF3842020424Bob ParkerDF1000020120Pat SawardMF3211030361Derek StokesFW371420204114Ken TaylorDF20100030Ken TurnerDF50001060Len WhiteFW1680000168Ray WilsonDF3902010420Ray WoodGK1701000180
References