1994–95 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season explained

Season:1994–95
League Result:5th (promoted via play-offs)
Cup1 Result:Winners
Cup2 Result:Second round
Cup3 Result:Second round
Cup4 Result:Area quarter-final
League Topscorer:Andy Booth (26)
Season Topscorer:Andy Booth (30)
Highest Attendance:17,959 vs Birmingham City (6 May 1995)
Lowest Attendance:4,183 vs York City (17 October 1994)
Largest Win:5–1 vs Cardiff City (18 February 1995)
5–1 vs Chester City (11 March 1995)
Largest Loss:0–4 vs Southampton (5 October 1994)
Nextseason:1995–96

Huddersfield Town's 1994–95 campaign was Town's first season in their new stadium, the Alfred McAlpine Stadium. After playing at Leeds Road for 86 years, Town moved to the new stadium with a then capacity of around 20,000. Under the leadership of Neil Warnock, Town finished in 5th place, but after qualifying for the play-offs, Town beat 2nd placed Brentford, they beat 4th placed Bristol Rovers at Wembley Stadium.

Review

Following a mediocre season the previous year, many were hoping the move to the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, many were hoping a charge up the Division 2 ladder.

In the summer of 1994, popular full-back Tom Cowan made his loan move from Sheffield United a permanent one, centre-back Kevin Gray arrived from Mansfield Town in a part exchange with Iffy Onuora, and midfielder Paul Reid made the switch from local rivals Bradford City. Phil Starbuck, despite speculation about a move to Notts County, signed a new deal that stipulated he was made new club captain. In addition to these signings, veteran striker Ronnie Jepson was revitalised and formed a potent strikeforce with the precocious Booth. A first-day 4–1 drubbing of Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, Reid and Jepson scoring twice, signalled that Town meant business.

A brilliant start to the season saw Town beat Blackpool 4–1 at Bloomfield Road, a 1–0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in their home league game followed, but they then went on a run of 13 league games without defeat, which was brought to an abrupt halt by a 3–0 defeat at York City. During Town's 2nd round match in the Auto Windscreens Shield, Iain Dunn became the first person in England to score a golden goal in first-class professional football.

In August 1994, the Terriers opened their new home with a 0–1 defeat to Martin O'Neill's recently promoted Wycombe Wanderers. However, things were soon to get much better for Warnock's team, Jepson and Booth amassing 53 goals between them in League and cup. Town soon reached the top of the league, where they would battle with Birmingham City and Brentford for the one automatic spot that season. But with Starbuck unable to find his form, the festive period saw a downturn in their fortunes. Starbuck had played his last game for the club and would move on loan to Sheffield United, later making his move permanent. Despite a substantial outlay on the Bradford City Lees (Sinnott and Duxbury) with Graham Mitchell going in the other direction, the first warning signs came with some poor results over the festive season, including defeats at Wycombe and Hull City. The Terriers challenge started to fade around Easter with solitary points gained in Yorkshire derbies against Hull City and Rotherham United and a defeat in a match played in farcical conditions at Shrewsbury Town signalled the end of Town's automatic hopes. Warnock's men limped over the finish line in 5th place (one of their lowest positions in months) and signed off with a home defeat by newly crowned champions Birmingham.

A two-legged play-off against 2nd placed Brentford then followed. After a 1–1 draw at the McAlpine, many thought Town blew it again, but a 1–1 draw at Griffin Park led to a penalty shoot-out. After Pat Scully missed, Steve Francis saved the penalties of both Denny Mundee and Jamie Bates, it was left to Darren Bullock to score the winner to send Town to Wembley for a match against 4th placed Bristol Rovers.

At Wembley, Town took the lead in the play-off final with a goal from Andy Booth one minute from half-time, but within a minute of the goal, future Town player Marcus Stewart levelled proceedings, but with less than 10 minutes remaining Huddersfield-born Chris Billy scored the winning goal which gained Town's promotion. Within a few days of winning promotion, Neil Warnock left to become manager of Plymouth Argyle.

Results

Second Division

DateOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendancePosition
13 August 1994BlackpoolA4–1Reid (2), Jepson (2)8,3434th
20 August 1994Wycombe WanderersH0–113,33412th
27 August 1994Chester CityA2–1Booth, Dunn2,8958th
30 August 1994Leyton OrientH2–1Booth, Reid8,5526th
3 September 1994Oxford UnitedH3–3Booth, Starbuck (pen), Bullock10,1225th
10 September 1994Plymouth ArgyleA3–0Booth (3)5,4644th
13 September 1994Peterborough UnitedA2–2Dunn (2)5,3164th
17 September 1994Stockport CountyH2–1Booth (2)9,5262nd
24 September 1994Bradford CityA4–3Booth (2), Jepson, Reid11,3002nd
1 October 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionH3–0Booth, Reid, Logan10,3211st
8 October 1994Birmingham CityA1–1Bullock15,2651st
15 October 1994Cambridge UnitedH3–1Jepson (2, 1 pen), Dunn10,7421st
22 October 1994Crewe AlexandraA3–3Jepson, Billy, Booth5,3521st
29 October 1994BournemouthH3–1Booth, Jepson, Scully11,2511st
1 November 1994WrexhamH2–1Bullock, Billy9,6391st
5 November 1994York CityA0–36,3451st
19 November 1994BrentfordH1–0Jepson10,8891st
26 November 1994Bristol RoversA1–1Jepson (pen)5,6792nd
10 December 1994Wycombe WanderersA1–2Jepson6,7904th
17 December 1994BlackpoolH1–1Booth11,5364th
26 December 1994Hull CityA0–110,2204th
27 December 1994Rotherham UnitedH1–0Booth15,5574th
31 December 1994Swansea CityA1–1Booth5,4384th
2 January 1995Shrewsbury TownH2–1Jepson, Duxbury12,7482nd
7 January 1995Crewe AlexandraH1–2Booth11,4662nd
14 January 1995Cardiff CityA0–03,8082nd
28 January 1995BournemouthA2–0Jepson, Duxbury4,4272nd
4 February 1995Bristol RoversH1–1Booth10,3893rd
11 February 1995WrexhamA2–1Booth, Jepson5,8942nd
18 February 1995Cardiff CityH5–1Booth, Cowan, Jepson, Reid, Crosby10,0352nd
21 February 1995BrentfordA0–09,5622nd
25 February 1995Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–07,7513rd
28 February 1995York CityH3–0Jepson, Bullock, Crosby10,4681st
4 March 1995Bradford CityH0–017,4041st
7 March 1995Oxford UnitedA1–3Dyson7,1602nd
11 March 1995Chester CityH5–1Cowan, Jepson, Booth (3)9,6062nd
18 March 1995Leyton OrientA2–0Dunn, Jepson (pen)3,1772nd
21 March 1995Plymouth ArgyleH2–0Dyson, Booth12,0991st
25 March 1995Stockport CountyH2–1Jepson (pen), Gannon (og)5,3831st
1 April 1995Peterborough UnitedH1–2Bullock11,3242nd
8 April 1995Swansea CityH2–0Crosby (2)10,1051st
15 April 1995Rotherham UnitedA1–1Booth6,6871st
17 April 1995Hull CityH1–1Sinnott12,4022nd
22 April 1995Shrewsbury TownA1–2Jepson (pen)4,7583rd
29 April 1995Cambridge UnitedA1–1Booth5,1883rd
6 May 1995Birmingham CityH1–2Moulden17,9595th

Promotion play-offs

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
14 May 1995Semi-final first LegBrentfordH1–1Billy14,160
17 May 1995Semi-final second LegBrentfordA1–1Booth11,161
  • 2–2 on aggregate.
align=center rowspan=2 width=15% width=24% width=13% align=centerPenaltieswidth=24% 
align=right valign=topGrainger
Taylor
Mundee: Francis saved
Ratcliffe
Bates: Francis saved
align=center valign=top3–4valign=top Jepson
Scully: Dearden saved
Duxbury
Sinnott
Bullock
 

FA Cup

See main article: 1994–95 FA Cup.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
12 November 1994First roundDoncaster RoversA4–1Bullock, Booth, Jepson, Dunn6,626
3 December 1994Second roundLincoln CityA0–14,143

League Cup

See main article: 1994–95 Football League Cup.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
16 August 1994First round first legScunthorpe UnitedA1–2Scully2,841
23 August 1994First round second legScunthorpe UnitedH3–0Jepson (2), Reid6,445
  • Huddersfield won 4–2 on aggregate
20 September 1994Second round first legSouthamptonH0–113,765
5 October 1994Second round second legSouthamptonA0–412,032
  • Huddersfield lost 5–0 on aggregate

League Trophy

See main article: 1994–95 Football League Trophy.

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
11 October 1994First roundGroup 7Bradford CityA2–1Baldry, Booth3,772
18 October 1994First roundGroup 7York CityH3–0Mitchell, Clayton, Starbuck (pen)4,183
30 November 1994Second roundLincoln CityH3–2 (aet: 90 mins: 2–2)Crosby, Jepson (pen), Dunn (gg)5,738
24 January 1995Area quarter-finalBuryA1–2Clayton3,311

Appearances and goals

NameNationPositionLeague AppsLeague GoalsFA Cup AppsFA Cup GoalsLeague Cup AppsLeague Cup GoalsFLT AppsFLT GoalsPlayoff AppsPlayoff GoalsTotal AppsTotal Goals
Simon BaldryMF8 (3)000200 (2)10010 (5)1
Chris BillyMF30 (7)2203 (1)03 (1)03241 (9)4
Kevin BlackwellGK3 (1)0100 (1)030007 (2)0
Andy BoothFW45 (1)2621402 (1)13256 (2)30
Darren BullockMF39621300030477
Gary ClaytonMF0 (2)00 (1)00042004 (3)2
Simon CollinsDF2 (2)000001 (1)0003 (3)0
Tom CowanDF37220402030482
Gary CrosbyMF16 (3)410102 (2)13023 (5)5
Iain DunnFW13 (26)50 (2)11 (2)0310 (3)017 (33)7
Lee DuxburyMF26200000030292
Jon DysonDF23 (5)200401 (1)00 (1)028 (7)2
Steve FrancisGK43010401030520
Kevin GrayDF500000300080
Ronnie JepsonFW36 (5)19213 (1)2413048 (6)23
Richard LoganMF24 (3)11030300031 (3)1
Graham MitchellDF11 (1)02000310016 (1)1
Paul MouldenFW0 (2)0000000000 (2)0
Paul ReidMF42620311000487
Pat ScullyDF38120412130493
Chris ShortDF600000100070
Lee SinnottDF25100000030281
Phil StarbuckFW4 (5)1003021009 (5)2
Simon TrevittDF20 (1)02020203029 (1)0
Craig WhitingtonFW100000000010
Paul Williams (1st Spell)DF200000100030
Paul Williams (2nd Spell)DF700000000070