Huddersfield Town's 1971–72 campaign was Town's last season in the Football League's top division. They finished bottom of the table with only 25 points, the same as Nottingham Forest. Town won only 6 matches in the league all season and did not win any games from December to the end of the season. The only bright spark came in the FA Cup campaign which saw Town reach the 6th round, before losing to Birmingham City. Town only scored 6 away goals in 1972, and 2 of those were own goals. This would be the start of Town's slump which would see Town relegated to Division 4 in 1975, and they would not return to the top flight, by then the Premier League, until 2017.
| 1971–72 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman |  Frank Drabble |
| Manager | Ian Greaves |
| Football League First Division | 22nd (relegated) |
| FA Cup | Quarter-finals (knocked out by Birmingham City) |
| Football League Cup | Second round (knocked out by Bolton Wanderers) |
| Top goalscorer | League: Jimmy Lawson (9) All: Jimmy Lawson (12) |
| Highest home attendance | 33,458 vs Manchester United (9 October 1971) |
| Lowest home attendance | 9,459 vs Nottingham Forest (26 October 1971) |
| Biggest win | 3–0 vs Fulham (5 February 1972) |
| Biggest defeat | 1–4 vs Tottenham Hotspur (21 August 1971) 0–3 vs Manchester United (9 October 1971) 0–3 vs West Ham United (4 March 1972) 0–3 vs Derby County (15 April 1972) |
Squad at the start of the season
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Review
editFollowing their first season back in Division 1 for 15 years, Town were hoping to try to reach the summit of English football. This season would be one of Town's worst in their history. Town were bottom of the table all season, with the exception of a small period in September. They had a run of 4 wins in 5 during that time including a 2–1 win over rivals Leeds United. Town's last league win on 27 November was a 2–1 win over Derby County, who would become champions at the end of the season.
Town never won another league game until the next season, but they put on an inspired run in the FA Cup. After beating Division 2 sides Burnley and Fulham, Town hosted West Ham United and put on a thrilling display culminating in a 4–2 win over the Hammers. They then lost to Birmingham City in the 6th round and were then promptly relegated to Division 2 with 25 points, the same as Nottingham Forest.
Squad at the end of the season
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Results
edit| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 August 1971 | Leicester City | H | 2–2 | Worthington, Cherry | 16,285 | 9th |
| 17 August 1971 | Arsenal | H | 0–1 | 21,279 | 15th | |
| 21 August 1971 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–4 | J. Lawson | 33,260 | 20th |
| 25 August 1971 | Newcastle United | A | 0–0 | 40,880 | 19th | |
| 28 August 1971 | Chelsea | H | 1–2 | Worthington | 15,303 | 22nd |
| 31 August 1971 | Sheffield United | A | 1–3 | J. Lawson | 35,007 | 22nd |
| 4 September 1971 | Southampton | A | 2–1 | Chapman, J. Lawson | 17,372 | 21st |
| 11 September 1971 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–0 | Chapman | 9,938 | 18th |
| 18 September 1971 | Stoke City | A | 0–1 | 16,463 | 21st | |
| 25 September 1971 | Leeds United | H | 2–1 | J. Lawson, Ellam | 26,340 | 16th |
| 2 October 1971 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2–1 | Worthington, J. Lawson | 15,693 | 14th |
| 9 October 1971 | Manchester United | H | 0–3 | 33,458 | 16th | |
| 16 October 1971 | Leicester City | A | 0–2 | 22,412 | 18th | |
| 23 October 1971 | Liverpool | A | 0–2 | 41,627 | 18th | |
| 26 October 1971 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–1 | 9,459 | 18th | |
| 30 October 1971 | Manchester City | H | 1–1 | D. Smith | 20,153 | 19th |
| 6 November 1971 | Coventry City | A | 1–2 | D. Smith | 16,400 | 19th |
| 13 November 1971 | West Ham United | H | 1–0 | D. Smith | 14,177 | 18th |
| 20 November 1971 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–1 | 16,165 | 18th | |
| 27 November 1971 | Derby County | H | 2–1 | Worthington, J. Lawson | 15,329 | 17th |
| 4 December 1971 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–2 | J. Lawson, Dolan | 21,498 | 17th |
| 11 December 1971 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–1 | 11,692 | 19th | |
| 18 December 1971 | Southampton | H | 0–2 | 10,436 | 19th | |
| 27 December 1971 | Everton | A | 2–2 | Worthington, J. Lawson | 41,088 | 19th |
| 1 January 1972 | Stoke City | H | 0–0 | 12,655 | 19th | |
| 8 January 1972 | Chelsea | A | 2–2 | Chapman, S. Smith | 30,801 | 19th |
| 22 January 1972 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 36,670 | 19th | |
| 29 January 1972 | Newcastle United | H | 0–0 | 12,829 | 19th | |
| 12 February 1972 | Liverpool | H | 0–1 | 18,702 | 20th | |
| 19 February 1972 | Manchester City | A | 0–1 | 36,421 | 21st | |
| 4 March 1972 | West Ham United | A | 0–3 | 18,481 | 21st | |
| 11 March 1972 | Manchester United | A | 0–2 | 53,581 | 21st | |
| 21 March 1972 | Sheffield United | H | 0–0 | 17,729 | 21st | |
| 25 March 1972 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–1 | Robertson (og) | 18,501 | 21st |
| 28 March 1972 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–1 | J. Lawson | 16,123 | 21st |
| 1 April 1972 | Everton | H | 0–0 | 17,265 | 21st | |
| 5 April 1972 | Leeds United | A | 1–3 | S. Smith | 46,148 | 21st |
| 8 April 1972 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–3 | Hunter (og) | 12,139 | 21st |
| 11 April 1972 | Coventry City | H | 0–1 | 11,782 | 21st | |
| 15 April 1972 | Derby County | A | 0–3 | 31,414 | 21st | |
| 22 April 1972 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–1 | 11,677 | 21st | |
| 29 April 1972 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–0 | 18,120 | 21st
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| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January 1972 | Round 3 | Burnley | A | 1–0 | Clarke | 21,563 |
| 5 February 1972 | Round 4 | Fulham | H | 3–0 | Chapman, J. Lawson (2) | 18,000 |
| 26 February 1972 | Round 5 | West Ham United | H | 4–2 | J. Lawson, Dolan, D. Smith, Worthington | 27,080 |
| 18 March 1972 | Round 6 | Birmingham City | A | 1–3 | Cherry | 52,500 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 September 1971 | Round 2 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0–2 | 10,131 |
Appearances and goals
edit| Name | Nation | Position | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | League Cup Apps | League Cup Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Barry |  Wales |
MF | 2 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (3) | 0 |
| Les Chapman | England |
MF | 38 (1) | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 (1) | 4 |
| Trevor Cherry | England |
DF | 42 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| Dennis Clarke | England |
DF | 41 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Terry Dolan | England |
MF | 18 (2) | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 (2) | 2 |
| Roy Ellam | England |
DF | 42 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| Mick Fairclough |  Republic of Ireland |
FW | 5 (3) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (4) | 0 |
| Bobby Hoy | England |
MF | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Geoff Hutt | England |
DF | 42 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| Alan Jones | England |
DF | 10 (2) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 (3) | 0 |
| Dick Krzywicki | Wales |
MF | 10 (3) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 (4) | 0 |
| David Lawson | England |
GK | 32 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Jimmy Lawson | England |
MF | 40 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 12 |
| Dave Lyon | England |
DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Brian Mahoney | England |
MF | 4 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (1) | 0 |
| Jimmy McGill |  Scotland |
MF | 10 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 (1) | 0 |
| Jimmy Nicholson |  Northern Ireland |
MF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Gary Pierce | England |
GK | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Dave Smith | England |
MF | 8 (2) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 (2) | 4 |
| Steve Smith | England |
MF | 40 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 2 |
| Frank Worthington | England |
FW | 39 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 6 |