Huddersfield Town's 1955–56 campaign saw Town relegated from Division 1. They finished in 21st position with 35 points, the same as 20th placed Aston Villa, who survived due to a superior goal average. The season was a cramped affair in the league standings, with difference in points between 2nd placed Blackpool and bottom placed Sheffield United, being just 16 points.
Squad at the start of the season
Review Following the previous season's failure to improve on the season before's 3rd-placed finish, some were wondering what Town would conjure up under Andy Beattie. The start of the season was dreadful for Town, with many losses sending Town into a downward spiral to the bottom of Division 1. Even the signing of Aston Villa striker Dave Hickson didn't halt the slide to Division 2. A run of 7 defeats in a row, including a 5–2 defeat at Everton, followed immediately by a 6–2 defeat to Newcastle United at Leeds Road didn't help things much.
February to April saw Town mount a recovery mainly through the goals of Jimmy Glazzard, Dave Hickson and Vic Metcalfe. Town still had a chance of survival with 4 matches to go, although they realistically had to win all their last 4 games against West Bromwich Albion, Charlton Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton Athletic. They did manage to achieve this, but an inferior goal average meant that Town went down, while Aston Villa survived.
Squad at the end of the season
Results Division One DateOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendancePosition20 August 1955PortsmouthH1–0Watson21,0621st24 August 1955ChelseaH1–3Glazzard20,30814th27 August 1955SunderlandA1–4Cavanagh42,36917th29 August 1955ChelseaA0–025,88316th3 September 1955Aston VillaH1–1Glazzard19,80517th10 September 1955Wolverhampton WanderersA0–443,95420th17 September 1955Manchester CityH3–3McGarry, Metcalfe (pen), Connor26,44321st24 September 1955Cardiff CityA2–1Watson, Davie25,11718th1 October 1955Preston North EndH2–2Watson, Glazzard23,89216th8 October 1955BurnleyA0–222,10919th15 October 1955Luton TownH0–219,62121st22 October 1955Manchester UnitedA0–334,15021st29 October 1955Sheffield UnitedH1–2Glazzard17,83221st5 November 1955EvertonA2–5Glazzard, Lello (og)36,42321st12 November 1955Newcastle UnitedH2–6Cavanagh, Watson18,66422nd19 November 1955Birmingham CityA0–524,84122nd26 November 1955West Bromwich AlbionH1–0Metcalfe (pen)18,73122nd3 December 1955Charlton AthleticA1–4Metcalfe (pen)16,72822nd10 December 1955Tottenham HotspurH1–0Glazzard11,09422nd17 December 1955PortsmouthA2–5Metcalfe (pen), Watson16,34722nd24 December 1955SunderlandH4–0Quested, Marriott, Glazzard (2)21,80322nd26 December 1955BlackpoolA2–4Glazzard, Hickson27,62822nd27 December 1955BlackpoolH3–1Metcalfe (2), Gratrix (og)34,61922nd31 December 1955Aston VillaA0–324,99322nd2 January 1956Bolton WanderersA2–2Hartle (og), Cavanagh39,52422nd14 January 1956Wolverhampton WanderersH1–3Metcalfe (pen)14,58722nd21 January 1956Manchester CityA0–121,07622nd4 February 1956Cardiff CityH1–2Metcalfe (pen)12,58622nd11 February 1956Preston North EndA2–1Hickson (2)17,36322nd18 February 1956BurnleyH1–0Cavanagh16,24321st25 February 1956Luton TownA2–1McGarry (2)15,33121st7 March 1956Birmingham CityH1–1Simpson9,22420th10 March 1956Sheffield UnitedA1–3Quested30,38221st17 March 1956EvertonH1–0Hickson18,80721st24 March 1956Newcastle UnitedA1–1Davie20,00820th31 March 1956Manchester UnitedH0–237,78022nd2 April 1956ArsenalA0–230,83622nd3 April 1956ArsenalH0–124,46922nd7 April 1956West Bromwich AlbionA2–1Hickson, Glazzard16,14122nd14 April 1956Charlton AthleticH4–0Metcalfe (2), McGarry, Hickson14,06522nd21 April 1956Tottenham HotspurA2–1Norman (og), Hickson36,38721st28 April 1956Bolton WanderersH3–1Glazzard, Hickson (2)18,87721st
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendance7 January 1956Round 3Bolton WanderersA0–0Match abandoned after 46 minutes due to fog?11 January 1956Round 3Bolton WanderersA0–320,862
Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJohn BattyeDF800080Gerry BurrellMF400040Tommy CavanaghFW19410204Ron CockerillDF100010John CoddingtonDF100010Jack ConnorDF210021Tony ConwellDF18000180Willie DavieFW21200212Harry FearnleyGK13000130Bryan FrearFW700070Brian GibsonDF28010290Jimmy GlazzardFW2711102811Dave HicksonFW26910279Albert HobsonMF300030Laurie KellyDF28010290Bob LedgerMF100010Jackie MarriottMF27110281Bill McGarryDF40410414Vic MetcalfeMF3110103210Harry MillsGK10000100Len QuestedDF42210432Ron SimpsonFW21100211Ken TaylorDF36010370Jimmy WatsonMF23500235Jack WheelerGK19010200Ray WilsonDF600060
References