1989–90 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season explained

Season:1989–90
League Result:8th
Cup1 Result:Fourth round
Cup2 Result:Second round
Cup3 Result:First round
League Topscorer:Craig Maskell (14)
Season Topscorer:Craig Maskell (20)
Highest Attendance:13,262 vs Nottingham Forest (3 October 1989)
Lowest Attendance:1,714 vs Doncaster Rovers (7 November 1989)
Largest Win:5–1 vs Cardiff City (17 March 1990)
Largest Loss:0–6 vs Bury (16 April 1990)
Nextseason:1990–91

Huddersfield Town's 1989–90 campaign was a fairly successful season, with the exception of Town's failure of reaching the play-offs, after they finished in 8th place, just 2 places and 4 points off the play-offs.

Review

Following a disappointing first season back in the 3rd Division, many were wondering if Town were going to mount any serious promotion challenge, and if Craig Maskell was going to carry on his goalscoring form from the previous season. Town did start the season brightly and only lost two of their first 13 league games.

The middle part of the season saw Town carry on their good start to the season and during the Christmas/New Year season, they won 6 out of 8 and by February, Town reached 5th place, with a play-off place at least seeming to be the minimum requirement for Town's season. However, from February onwards, Town's promotion dreams took a major downward spiral into nothingness.

Amongst the interesting records set by Town during the end of the season were the unwanted record of losing 5 consecutive home league games set between 3 March and 3 April. Also, Bury beat Town 6–0 at Gigg Lane in April, 12 months after Town beat them 6–0 at Gigg Lane. On a brighter note, Craig Maskell became only the third Town player to score 4 goals in an away match in Town's 5–1 win at Cardiff City, equalling the feat set by Charlie Wilson and George Brown. (That record would later be broken by Jordan Rhodes' 5 goals in Town's 6–0 win at Wycombe Wanderers in the 2011–12 season.)

Results

DateOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendancePosition
19 August 1989Swansea CityH1–0Cecere5,7756th
26 August 1989WalsallA3–2Wilson, Smith, Onuora4,1733rd
2 September 1989Bolton WanderersH1–1O'Regan7,8724th
9 September 1989Preston North EndA3–3Smith, Hutchings, Wilson5,8225th
16 September 1989BrentfordH1–0Smith5,5783rd
22 September 1989Tranmere RoversA0–47,3754th
26 September 1989FulhamA0–04,4458th
30 September 1989Leyton OrientH2–0Cecere (2, 1 pen)5,2587th
7 October 1989Cardiff CityH2–3Marsden, O'Regan5,8359th
14 October 1989ReadingA0–03,95010th
17 October 1989Wigan AthleticH2–0Maskell, Smith5,1197th
21 October 1989Birmingham CityA1–0Smith7,9516th
28 October 1989Shrewsbury TownH1–1Bent6,0016th
1 November 1989Bristol RoversA2–2Cecere, Smith6,4676th
4 November 1989Chester CityA1–2Wilson2,6609th
11 November 1989Northampton TownH2–2Smith, Mitchell4,9739th
25 November 1989Notts CountyH1–2Short (og)5,41610th
2 December 1989Mansfield TownA2–1Wilson, Hutchings2,9669th
16 December 1989Rotherham UnitedA0–06,67310th
26 December 1989BuryH2–1Maskell, O'Connell8,4838th
30 December 1989Bristol CityH2–1Smith, Maskell7,6815th
1 January 1990BlackpoolA2–2Hutchings, Onuora5,0976th
13 January 1990WalsallH1–0Marsden5,8566th
21 January 1990Swansea CityA3–1Wilson, Hutchings (2)4,4885th
3 February 1990Tranmere RoversH1–0Onuora7,0053rd
10 February 1990BrentfordA1–2Wilson6,7744th
17 February 1990Mansfield TownH1–0Maskell5,4414th
24 February 1990Notts CountyA0–17,6327th
3 March 1990Crewe AlexandraH0–15,9337th
6 March 1990Leyton OrientA0–13,0407th
10 March 1990FulhamH0–14,7808th
13 March 1990Crewe AlexandraA0–34,3848th
17 March 1990Cardiff CityA5–1Maskell (4), O'Regan2,6288th
20 March 1990ReadingH0–14,5888th
24 March 1990Wigan AthleticA2–1Byrne, Maskell3,1678th
31 March 1990Birmingham CityH1–2Withe5,8379th
3 April 1990Preston North EndH0–24,3819th
7 April 1990Shrewsbury TownA3–3Byrne, Maskell (2, 1 pen)2,8679th
10 April 1990Bristol RoversH1–1Kelly 4,3599th
14 April 1990BlackpoolH2–2Byrne, Maskell (pen) 4,8459th
16 April 1990BuryA0–64,62110th
21 April 1990Rotherham UnitedH2–1Edwards (2)4,9638th
24 April 1990Bristol CityA1–1Duggan17,7918th
28 April 1990Northampton TownA0–12,3888th
1 May 1990Bolton WanderersA2–2Edwards, Maskell8,5508th
5 May 1990Chester CityH4–1Byrne, Maskell, Edwards, Reeves (og)3,5148th

FA Cup

See main article: 1989–90 FA Cup.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
18 November 1989Round 1Hartlepool UnitedA2–0Cecere (2, 1 pen)3,160
9 December 1989Round 2ChesterfieldA2–0Cecere (pen), Maskell6,687
6 January 1990Round 3Grimsby TownH3–1Smith, Maskell, Lever (og)9,901
27 January 1990Round 4Crystal PalaceA0–412,920

League Cup

See main article: 1989–90 Football League Cup.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
22 August 1989Round 1 1st LegDoncaster RoversH1–1Onuora3,983
29 August 1989Round 1 2nd LegDoncaster RoversA2–1Wilson (2)3,985
  • Huddersfield won 3–2 on aggregate.
20 September 1989Round 2 1st LegNottingham ForestA1–1O'Doherty18,976
3 October 1989Round 2 2nd LegNottingham ForestH3 – 3 (aet: 90 mins: 3 – 3)Maskell (2), Cecere13,262
  • 4–4 on aggregate. Town lost on away goals rule.

League Trophy

See main article: 1989–90 Football League Trophy.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
7 November 1989Preliminary RoundGroup 5Doncaster RoversH2–2Smith, Maskell1,714
12 December 1989Preliminary RoundGroup 5Grimsby TownA3–3Onuora, Maskell (pen), Duggan991
9 January 1990Round 1Rotherham UnitedA0–33,519

Appearances and goals

NameNationPositionLeague AppsLeague GoalsFA Cup AppsFA Cup GoalsLeague Cup AppsLeague Cup GoalsFLT AppsFLT GoalsTotal AppsTotal Goals
Junior BentMF6 (1)10010108 (1)1
Aidy BoothroydDF9 (1)00000009 (1)0
Ian BrayDF13 (1)020001016 (1)0
Mick ByrneFW17 (2)400000017 (2)4
Mike CecereFW22 (1)43 (1)3411030 (2)8
Simon CharltonDF1 (2)00000001 (2)0
Kevin DonovanMF1000000010
Andy DugganDF151000021172
Keith EdwardsMF6 (4)40000006 (4)4
Steve HardwickGK210104010270
Chris HutchingsDF465404030575
John KellyMF9 (1)10000009 (1)1
Dudley LewisDF280304020370
Peter MaguireFW0 (3)00000000 (3)0
Chris MarsdenMF29 (3)2403 (1)03039 (4)2
Lee MartinGK250300020300
Craig MaskellFW40 (1)1542423251 (1)21
Andy MayMF40 (1)030203048 (1)0
Graham MitchellDF35 (2)1402 (1)01042 (3)1
Brendan O'ConnellFW111000000111
Ken O'DohertyDF17 (1)010411023 (1)1
Iffy OnuoraFW3 (17)32 (1)00 (3)11 (1)16 (22)5
Kieran O'ReganMF31 (6)33 (1)02 (1)02 (1)038 (9)3
Mark SmithFW39 (5)741303149 (5)9
Simon TrevittDF70003000100
Robert WilsonMF27 (1)630423037 (1)8
Peter WitheFW8 (4)10 (1)0200 (1)010 (6)1