1983–84 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season explained

Season:1983–84
League Result:12th
Cup1 Result:Fourth round
Cup2 Result:Third round
League Topscorer:Mark Lillis (11)
Season Topscorer:Mark Lillis (14)
Highest Attendance:25,101 vs Newcastle United (7 May 1984)
Lowest Attendance:5,190 vs Mansfield Town (13 September 1983)
Largest Win:5–1 vs Mansfield Town (13 September 1983)
4–0 vs Cardiff City (28 April 1984)
Largest Loss:2–5 vs Newcastle United (10 December 1983)
Nextseason:1984–85

Huddersfield Town's 1983–84 campaign was Town's first season in the second tier since the 1972–73 season under the management of Ian Greaves. They finished in 12th place.

Review

Following their impressive promotion campaign the previous season, many Town fans were hoping that Town would return to the promised land of the First Division and Town had a fairly good start to the season, with the exception of losing their 34 match unbeaten home record, which went back to the end of the 1981–82 season, when they lost 3–2 to Chelsea in September.

Following Christmas, Town suffered a dramatic lost in form, going on a run of 9 matches without a win, which seemed to put Town in a downward spiral right back to the Third Division. So Mick Buxton decided to bring in some more strikers on loan to help Town in their time of need.

Peter Eastoe (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) and Mel Eves (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers) helped bring up a mini-revival which eventually got Town clear of the relegation mess and finished in a respectable 12th place with 57 points, the same number of points as Fulham and Charlton Athletic.

Results

DateOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F–A
ScorersAttendancePosition
27 August 1983Blackburn RoversA2–2Lillis, Stonehouse (pen)7,7399th
3 September 1983Charlton AthleticH0–08,11316th
6 September 1983Crystal PalaceH2–1Lillis (2)7,81410th
10 September 1983Oldham AthleticA3–0Stanton, Cowling, Lillis8,5435th
17 September 1983Swansea CityH1–0Stanton10,1163rd
24 September 1983Carlisle UnitedA0–05,4613rd
1 October 1983ChelseaH2–3Stanton, Lillis13,2807th
8 October 1983Grimsby TownH0–08,8977th
15 October 1983BarnsleyA2–2Lillis, Russell (pen)14,0968th
18 October 1983Cambridge UnitedA3–0Lillis, Stanton, Russell (pen)3,5136th
22 October 1983Derby CountyH3–0Lillis, Russell, Cowling10,7525th
29 October 1983Sheffield WednesdayA0–027,8245th
5 November 1983Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–3Sutton11,0635th
12 November 1983Shrewsbury TownH1–0Wilson8,7985th
19 November 1983FulhamH2–0Stanton, Russell (pen)8,9145th
26 November 1983Cardiff CityA1–3Russell6,0675th
3 December 1983PortsmouthH2–1Pugh, Stonehouse8,7245th
10 December 1983Newcastle UnitedA2–5Wilson, Jones25,7476th
17 December 1983MiddlesbroughH2–2Cowling, Stonehouse (pen)7,8898th
26 December 1983Leeds UnitedA2–1Russell, Lillis23,7916th
27 December 1983Manchester CityH1–3Stonehouse23,4978th
31 December 1983Charlton AthleticA2–1Hanvey, Russell5,9728th
2 January 1984Carlisle UnitedH0–010,6219th
14 January 1984Blackburn RoversH0–28,2039th
18 January 1984Swansea CityA2–2Pugh, Lillis4,9449th
4 February 1984ChelseaA1–3Doyle17,9229th
11 February 1984Oldham AthleticH0–18,1629th
25 February 1984Derby CountyA1–1Stanton13,5259th
3 March 1984Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–16,98510th
10 March 1984Shrewsbury TownA0–13,62711th
17 March 1984Crystal PalaceA0–05,00312th
24 March 1984Cambridge UnitedH3–0Eves (2), Jones (pen)6,03711th
31 March 1984Grimsby TownA1–2Jones (pen)7,54112th
7 April 1984BarnsleyH0–19,65713th
14 April 1984FulhamA2–0Lillis, Eves5,26512th
21 April 1984Leeds UnitedH2–2Eves, Doyle16,27013th
23 April 1984Manchester CityA3–2Jones (pen), Pugh, Wilson23,24710th
28 April 1984Cardiff CityH4–0Jones (3, 2 pens), Pugh5,59911th
1 May 1984Sheffield WednesdayH0–118,48811th
5 May 1984PortsmouthA1–1Robinson7,73812th
7 May 1984Newcastle UnitedH2–2Cooper, Carney (og)25,10112th
12 May 1984MiddlesbroughA0–05,68712th

FA Cup

See main article: 1983–84 FA Cup.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F–A
ScorersAttendance
7 January 1984Round 3Queens Park RangersH2–1Lillis, Stonehouse11,984
1 February 1984Round 4Notts CountyH1–2Stonehouse13,634

League Cup

See main article: 1983–84 Football League Cup.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F–A
ScorersAttendance
30 August 1983Round 1 1st LegMansfield TownA2–1Sutton, Russell3,734
13 September 1983Round 1 2nd LegMansfield TownH5–1Lillis (2), Jones, Stanton, Sutton5,190
  • Huddersfield won 7–2 on aggregate.
4 October 1983Round 2 1st LegWatfordH2–1Cowling, Bolton (og)10,631
25 October 1983Round 2 2nd LegWatfordA2–2Sutton, Jones13,006
  • Huddersfield won 4–3 on aggregate.
8 November 1983Round 3Stoke CityA0–014,175
22 November 1983Round 3 ReplayStoke CityH0–214,191

Appearances and goals

NameNationPositionLeague AppsLeague GoalsFA Cup AppsFA Cup GoalsLeague Cup AppsLeague Cup GoalsTotal AppsTotal Goals
Kevin BirdDF10000010
David BurkeDF4202060500
Graham CooperFW31000031
David CowlingMF40 (1)3206148 (1)4
Brian CoxGK2300060290
Steve DoyleMF34 (2)2204040 (2)2
Peter EastoeFW8 (2)000008 (2)0
Mel EvesFW74000074
Roy GreenwoodDF1 (3)000001 (3)0
Keith HanveyDF912000111
Paul JonesDF3670062429
Brian LawsDF3100050360
Mark LillisMF36 (1)11216244 (1)14
Keith MasonGK1902000210
Daral PughMF19 (10)4201 (1)024 (11)4
Liam RobinsonFW4 (1)100004 (1)1
Colin RussellFW23 (2)70 (1)06129 (3)8
Brian StantonMF3361061407
Kevin StonehouseFW15 (2)4222 (1)019 (3)6
Steve StouttDF30100040
Dave SuttonDF3412063424
Phil WilsonMF4132060493