1956–57 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season explained

Season:1956–57
Manager:Andy Beattie (until 3 November 1956)
Bill Shankly (from 5 November 1956)
League Result:12th
Cup1 Result:Fifth round
League Topscorer:Dave Hickson (19)
Season Topscorer:Dave Hickson (22)
Highest Attendance:55,168 vs Burnley (16 February 1957)
Lowest Attendance:5,878 vs West Ham United (23 February 1957)
Largest Win:5–0 vs Barnsley (10 November 1956)
Largest Loss:2–7 vs Middlesbrough (22 April 1957)
Nextseason:1957–58

Huddersfield Town's 1956–57 campaign was a fairly poor season for the Town under Andy Beattie and then his assistant Bill Shankly, following the previous season's relegation from Division 1. They finished in 12th place with 42 points, 12 points behind 2nd placed Nottingham Forest, but only 12 points ahead of 20th placed Notts County.

Review

Following the previous season's relegation from Division 1, Andy Beattie tried to get Town back into the 1st Division at the first attempt. A mixed start to the season saw Town gain some memorable wins including an opening day 3–2 win at Anfield over Liverpool. Beattie resigned in early November and was replaced by his assistant Bill Shankly, who would then lead Liverpool to greatness in the 1960s and 1970s. Memorable wins during the season for Town were a 5–0 away win at Barnsley and a 6–2 win over West Ham United, where defender Ken Taylor, playing as an emergency striker, scored 4 goals.

This season also marked the debuts of Town's future stalwarts Kevin McHale and Les Massie and future British transfer record holder Denis Law. Law broke the record for the youngest player ever to make a first-team appearance when he came on at the age of 16 years, 303 days, beating McHale's record by 26 days, which he set earlier in the season.

Town also had a good run in the FA Cup, where they reached the 5th round, before bowing out to Burnley in a 2–1 defeat in front of over 55,000 fans at Leeds Road. Town finished the league season in 12th position with 44 points, but it would be nearly 15 years until Town returned to the big time.

Results

Division Two

DateOpponentsHome/
Away		Result
F – A		ScorersAttendancePosition
18 August 1956LiverpoolA3–2Simpson, Hickson, Davie49,3447th
20 August 1956Leicester CityH1–2Simpson18,9788th
25 August 1956Leyton OrientH3–0Metcalfe (pen), Hickson, Watson15,1647th
29 August 1956Leicester CityA2–2Hickson, McHale28,3016th
1 September 1956FulhamA0–117,6069th
3 September 1956Bristol RoversH2–1Hickson (2)14,5605th
8 September 1956BuryA3–1Hickson (2), Frear17,4344th
10 September 1956Bristol RoversA0–427,5535th
15 September 1956Grimsby TownH2–1Frear, McHale18,3125th
22 September 1956Doncaster RoversA0–419,7549th
29 September 1956Stoke CityH2–2Hickson, McHale16,2028th
6 October 1956Nottingham ForestH1–0Hickson17,6007th
13 October 1956West Ham UnitedA2–0Marriott, Hickson22,6436th
20 October 1956Lincoln CityH0–116,9998th
27 October 1956Bristol CityA1–2Hickson24,8739th
3 November 1956Sheffield UnitedH1–4Hickson18,85310th
10 November 1956BarnsleyA5–0Hickson, Massie, Marriott, Simpson (2)15,2349th
17 November 1956Port ValeH3–1Marriott, Sproson (og), Hickson14,0448th
24 November 1956Rotherham UnitedA3–3Hickson, Metcalfe, Quested12,9778th
1 December 1956Blackburn RoversH0–214,41810th
8 December 1956Swansea TownA2–4Simpson (2)13,78112th
15 December 1956LiverpoolH0–311,57713th
22 December 1956Leyton OrientA1–3Metcalfe (pen)14,72514th
24 December 1956Notts CountyA2–1Simpson (2)9,16512th
26 December 1956Notts CountyH3–0Hickson, Connor, Law7,48312th
29 December 1956FulhamH1–1Hickson16,50312th
12 January 1957BuryH1–2Metcalfe (pen)16,28213th
19 January 1957Grimsby TownA2–1Simpson (2)14,92912th
2 February 1957Doncaster RoversH0–117,88813th
9 February 1957Stoke CityA1–5Hickson27,50314th
21 February 1957Nottingham ForestA0–014,75413th
23 February 1957West Ham UnitedH6–2Taylor (4), Massie, McGarry5,87813th
2 March 1957Lincoln CityA2–1McGarry, Massie9,91712th
9 March 1957Bristol CityH2–1Taylor, Metcalfe (pen)14,21811th
16 March 1957Sheffield UnitedA0–219,03812th
23 March 1957BarnsleyH2–0Simpson, Conwell16,77211th
30 March 1957Port ValeA2–1Massie, Taylor10,50011th
6 April 1957Rotherham UnitedH1–0Taylor13,0089th
13 April 1957Blackburn RoversA2–3Taylor, Woods (og)24,18110th
20 April 1957Swansea TownH2–2Law, Simpson13,51611th
22 April 1957MiddlesbroughA2–7Hickson, Massie20,65112th
23 April 1957MiddlesbroughH0–113,81812th

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away		Result
F – A		ScorersAttendance
5 January 1957Round 3Sheffield UnitedH0–024,220
7 January 1957Round 3 ReplaySheffield UnitedA1–1Simpson25,537
14 January 1957Round 3 2nd ReplaySheffield UnitedN2–1Quested, Hickson12,270
26 January 1957Round 4Peterborough UnitedH3–1Law, Hickson, Simpson48,735
16 February 1957Round 5BurnleyH1–2Hickson55,168

Appearances and goals

NameNationPositionLeague AppsLeague GoalsFA Cup AppsFA Cup GoalsTotal AppsTotal Goals
Ron CockerillDF20050250
Jack ConnorDF10140141
Tony ConwellDF31150361
Tom DaleyGK100010
Willie DavieFW510051
Harry FearnleyGK21050260
Bryan FrearFW420042
Brian GibsonDF29050340
Dave HicksonFW2819533322
Laurie KellyDF11000110
Sandy KennonGK20000200
Denis LawMF13251183
Jackie MarriottMF11300113
Les MassieFW16500165
Bill McGarryDF35210362
Kevin McHaleMF27350323
Vic MetcalfeMF42550475
Len QuestedDF41151462
Ron SimpsonFW3412523914
Ken TaylorDF33800338
Jimmy WatsonMF17100171
Ray WilsonDF13000130

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "1956–57 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.