1968–69 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season explained

Season:1968–69
League Result:6th
Cup1 Result:Fourth round
Cup2 Result:Second round
League Topscorer:Colin Dobson (11)
Season Topscorer:Colin Dobson (11)
Highest Attendance:31,842 vs West Ham United (25 January 1969)
Lowest Attendance:5,702 vs Charlton Athletic (12 April 1969)
Largest Win:3–0 vs Cardiff City (14 September 1968)
4–1 vs Bury (28 September 1968)
3–0 vs Middlesbrough (8 October 1968)
4–1 vs Bristol City (18 January 1969)
3–0 vs Bolton Wanderers (4 March 1969)
3–0 vs Fulham (15 April 1969)
Largest Loss:1–5 vs Birmingham City (7 September 1968)
0–4 vs Manchester City (11 September 1968)
1–5 vs Millwall (1 February 1969)
Nextseason:1969–70

Huddersfield Town's 1968–69 campaign was Town's first season under new manager Ian Greaves. He would lead Town for six seasons, including two seasons in the top flight. His first season saw Town finish in 6th place in the Second Division, 10 points behind second-placed Crystal Palace.

Review

Ian Greaves was made the new manager in June 1968 and tried to improve on Town's faltering league form. He brought in new signings Terry Poole from Manchester United and Jimmy Lawson from Middlesbrough. The start to the season was in no way spectacular, with Town winning only 2 of their first 10 matches, although one of those was against eventual champions Derby County. Following that they went on a run of 6 wins out of 7, which helped Town rise the Division 2 table.

From December, Town went on a run of only 1 win in 8, but the last 2 months saw Town lose only 2 more matches from their last 13 matches, which saw Town finish in 6th place with 46 points.

Results

Division Two

DateOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F - A
ScorersAttendancePosition
10 August 1968PortsmouthH0 - 010,8559th
14 August 1968Crystal PalaceA1 - 2Nicholson16,26016th
17 August 1968Preston North EndA0 - 112,67319th
20 August 1968Norwich CityH2 - 2Nicholson, Aimson9,16716th
24 August 1968Derby CountyH2 - 0Aimson (2)10,44211th
27 August 1968MiddlesbroughA1 - 1Aimson25,42210th
31 August 1968Carlisle UnitedA0 - 07,93510th
7 September 1968Birmingham CityA1 - 5Worthington25,00117th
14 September 1968Cardiff CityH3 - 0Worthington (2), Dobson7,52315th
21 September 1968Charlton AthleticA0 - 115,33117th
28 September 1968BuryH4 - 1Cherry, Hill (2), Ellam9,44214th
5 October 1968BlackpoolH2 - 1Aimson, Nicholson13,02314th
8 October 1968MiddlesbroughH3 - 0Lawson (2), Dobson14,7995th
12 October 1968Hull CityA0 - 321,34411th
19 October 1968Sheffield UnitedH1 - 0Aimson13,6679th
26 October 1968Bolton WanderersA3 - 2Lawson, Dobson, S. Smith12,4317th
2 November 1968Aston VillaH3 - 1Dobson, Nicholson (2)9,3465th
9 November 1968Bristol CityA1 - 0S. Smith13,7384th
16 November 1968MillwallH0 - 218,6147th
23 November 1968FulhamA3 - 4Lawson (2), Aimson11,3948th
30 November 1968Oxford UnitedH2 - 1S. Smith, Dobson (pen)9,9036th
7 December 1968Blackburn RoversA0 - 09,3128th
14 December 1968Hull CityH0 - 312,4188th
21 December 1968Sheffield UnitedA0 - 017,4089th
26 December 1968BlackpoolA0 - 020,3199th
11 January 1969Aston VillaA0 - 129,02910th
18 January 1969Bristol CityH4 - 1Nicholson, Aimson, Dobson (2, 1 pen)9,0598th
1 February 1969MillwallA1 - 5Kitchener (og)13,61312th
15 February 1969Oxford UnitedA0 - 38,26013th
1 March 1969PortsmouthA2 - 1Lawson, Worthington16,42710th
4 March 1969Bolton WanderersH3 - 0Dobson (2), Hutt8,6148th
8 March 1969Preston North EndH1 - 1Ellam10,2818th
15 March 1969Derby CountyA0 - 128,29310th
22 March 1969Carlisle UnitedH2 - 0Cherry, McGill8,5609th
29 March 1969Birmingham CityH0 - 08,10510th
5 April 1969BuryA1 - 1Lawson6,7949th
7 April 1969Norwich CityA0 - 19,26112th
8 April 1969Crystal PalaceH0 - 012,11312th
12 April 1969Charlton AthleticH0 - 05,70212th
15 April 1969FulhamH3 - 0Lawson, Cherry, Dobson (pen)5,8379th
19 April 1969Cardiff CityA2 - 0Cherry, Murray (og)11,5497th
30 April 1969Blackburn RoversH2 - 1Nicholson, Dobson5,8436th
DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F - A
ScorersAttendance
4 January 1969Round 3BuryA2 - 1Hill, Nicholson14,251
25 January 1969Round 4West Ham UnitedH0 - 231,842
DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F - A
ScorersAttendance
3 September 1968Round 2Manchester CityH0 - 023,426
11 September 1968Round 2 ReplayManchester CityA0 - 426,948

Appearances and goals

NameNationPositionLeague AppsLeague GoalsFA Cup AppsFA Cup GoalsLeague Cup AppsLeague Cup GoalsTotal AppsTotal Goals
Paul AimsonFW24 (4)8202028 (4)8
Trevor CherryDF4242020464
Dennis ClarkeDF1500000150
Colin DobsonFW38 (1)11202042 (1)11
Roy EllamDF4122020452
Brian HillMF20 (2)2212024 (2)3
Bobby HoyMF8 (1)000008 (1)0
Geoff HuttDF1411000151
Jimmy LawsonMF37 (1)8202041 (1)8
Billy LeggDF2601020290
Jimmy McGillMF39 (1)1202043 (1)1
Alan McNeillMF1 (1)000001 (1)0
Ray MielczarekDF50000050
Jimmy NicholsonMF4072120448
John OldfieldGK1501010170
Terry PooleGK2701010290
David ShawMF6 (1)000006 (1)0
Alex SmithDF2802020320
Steve SmithMF22 (1)3000 (1)022 (2)3
Frank WorthingtonFW14 (2)4000014 (2)4