The 1997–98 season was a disaster turned into a success for Huddersfield Town. After a closed season of little activity in the transfer market, Town started the 1997–98 season disastrously and, after some questionable signings and tactical decisions, Brian Horton was sacked in October 1997 as the club lay at the foot of Division One. Thirty-six-year-old former Huddersfield, Bradford City and Newcastle United central defender Peter Jackson was drafted in as Horton's replacement in October and turned the club's fortunes around drastically. He immediately installed the experienced former Wales manager Terry Yorath as his assistant. Given a generous transfer budget by the board, Jackson captured experienced pros such as former Welsh internationals Barry Horne and David Phillips in addition to powerful local-born striker Wayne Allison from Division 1 rivals Swindon Town. He also managed to rejuvenate players such as Marcus Stewart and, particularly, the previously inconsistent Paul Dalton to the extent that the club finished a respectable 16th in the final table.
| 1997-98 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman |  Malcolm Asquith |
| Manager | Brian Horton (until 5 October 1997) Peter Jackson (from 8 October 1997) |
| Division One | 16th |
| FA Cup | Fourth round (knocked out by Wimbledon) |
| League Cup | Second round (knocked out by West Ham United) |
| Top goalscorer | League: Marcus Stewart (15) All: Marcus Stewart (16) |
| Highest home attendance | 18,186 vs Middlesbrough (26 December 1997) |
| Lowest home attendance | 8,525 vs West Ham United (16 September 1997) |
| Biggest win | 5–1 vs Oxford United (10 January 1998) |
| Biggest defeat | 0–5 vs Norwich City (13 April 1998) |
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
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The start of the season was the worst in the entire history of Huddersfield Town. Town won none of their first 14 league games. In fact the only games they won were two League Cup ties against Bradford City and more surprisingly Premier League side West Ham United (they eventually lost 3–1 on aggregate against the Hammers) Manager Brian Horton dropped popular keeper Steve Francis for the televised game against Nottingham Forest. Town lost the game 2–0 and two days later Horton was shown the door.
Popular ex-player Peter Jackson was hired three days later, but Town lost four of Jackson's first 5 games and drew the other, conceding 14 goals and only scoring three. Then amazingly, Town beat Stoke City 3–1 on 1 November and the fightback began. Jackson brought in experienced players such as Barry Horne, Wayne Allison, David Phillips and Lee Richardson, as well as loan signing Steve Harper from Newcastle United. They then managed to beat Manchester City 1–0 in a televised game at Maine Road in November.
After another severe dip in form during February and March, in which Town lost five out of six, some thought that survival was a bridge too far for Jackson's side. But a six-match unbeaten run near the end of the season, followed by a win against West Bromwich Albion, confirmed Town's safety. They finished in 16th position and used a record 37 players during that season, including four goalkeepers. The season will always be remembered and referred to as "The Great Escape".
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1997 | Oxford United | A | 0 - 2 | 7,085 | 21st | |
| 23 August 1997 | Swindon Town | A | 1 - 1 | Stewart [43] | 7,683 | 22nd |
| 30 August 1997 | Sheffield United | H | 0 - 0 | 14,268 | 23rd | |
| 2 September 1997 | Bradford City | H | 1 - 2 | Stewart [75] | 13,159 | 23rd |
| 9 September 1997 | Birmingham City | H | 0 - 1 | 9,477 | 23rd | |
| 13 September 1997 | Ipswich Town | H | 2 - 2 | Jenkins [41], Dyer [88] | 9,313 | 24th |
| 20 September 1997 | Stockport County | A | 0 - 3 | 6,995 | 24th | |
| 27 September 1997 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1 - 1 | Stewart [32] | 21,723 | 24th |
| 3 October 1997 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0 - 2 | 11,258 | 24th | |
| 14 October 1997 | Charlton Athletic | H | 0 - 3 | 9,596 | 24th | |
| 18 October 1997 | Sunderland | A | 1 - 3 | Dalton [45] | 24,782 | 24th |
| 21 October 1997 | Port Vale | A | 1 - 4 | Stewart [86] | 5,244 | 24th |
| 25 October 1997 | Portsmouth | H | 1 - 1 | Dalton [80] | 8,985 | 24th |
| 28 October 1997 | Middlesbrough | A | 0 - 3 | 29,965 | 24th | |
| 1 November 1997 | Stoke City | H | 3 - 1 | Richardson [46], Stewart [80], Dalton [90] | 10,916 | 24th |
| 4 November 1997 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0 - 1 | 5,127 | 24th | |
| 7 November 1997 | Manchester City | A | 1 - 0 | Edwards [76] | 24,425 | 24th |
| 15 November 1997 | Reading | H | 1 - 0 | Dalton [73] | 12,617 | 24th |
| 22 November 1997 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1 - 2 | Morrison [89] | 16,066 | 24th |
| 29 November 1997 | Bury | H | 2 - 0 | Dalton [7, 83] | 11,929 | 23rd |
| 6 December 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 5 - 2 | Stewart [24, 70], Dalton [40, 83 (pen)], Allison [89] | 4,861 | 22nd |
| 13 December 1997 | Norwich City | H | 1 - 3 | Stewart [58] | 11,436 | 24th |
| 20 December 1997 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2 - 0 | Dalton [51, 72] | 14,619 | 20th |
| 26 December 1997 | Middlesbrough | H | 0 - 1 | 18,186 | 23rd | |
| 28 December 1997 | Bradford City | A | 1 - 1 | Dalton [34] | 17,842 | 22nd |
| 10 January 1998 | Oxford United | H | 5 - 1 | Gray [21 (og)], Phillips [30], Stewart [41, 55], Allison [59] | 10,378 | 19th |
| 17 January 1998 | Birmingham City | A | 0 - 0 | 17,850 | 19th | |
| 27 January 1998 | Sheffield United | A | 1 - 1 | Dalton [24] | 16,535 | 19th |
| 31 January 1998 | Swindon Town | H | 0 - 0 | 10,028 | 19th | |
| 7 February 1998 | Stockport County | H | 1 - 0 | Allison [53] | 11,121 | 18th |
| 14 February 1998 | Ipswich Town | A | 1 - 5 | Stewart [37] | 10,509 | 19th |
| 17 February 1998 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0 - 3 | 18,231 | 20th | |
| 21 February 1998 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1 - 0 | Dyson [90] | 12,633 | 18th |
| 24 February 1998 | Sunderland | H | 2 - 3 | Allison [51], Phillips [57] | 14,615 | 19th |
| 28 February 1998 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0 - 1 | 12,908 | 22nd | |
| 3 March 1998 | Manchester City | H | 1 - 3 | Dalton [38 (pen)] | 15,694 | 22nd |
| 7 March 1998 | Stoke City | A | 2 - 1 | Barnes [15], Stewart [18] | 12,594 | 21st |
| 14 March 1998 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 3 - 0 | Allison [10], Stewart [67], Hill [77 (og)] | 10,844 | 17th |
| 21 March 1998 | Reading | A | 2 - 0 | Stewart [73, 88] | 8,593 | 15th |
| 28 March 1998 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1 - 1 | Gray [59] | 13,681 | 15th |
| 4 April 1998 | Bury | A | 2 - 2 | Richardson [34 (pen), 71] | 8,042 | 15th |
| 11 April 1998 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2 - 0 | Allison [42], Johnson [44] | 11,263 | 14th |
| 13 April 1998 | Norwich City | A | 0 - 5 | 16,550 | 16th | |
| 18 April 1998 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1 - 0 | Baldry [12] | 11,704 | 13th |
| 25 April 1998 | Portsmouth | A | 0 - 3 | 14,013 | 14th | |
| 3 May 1998 | Port Vale | H | 0 - 4 | 15,610 | 16th |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F - A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 January 1998 | Round 3 | Bournemouth | A | 1 - 0 | Stewart [15] | 7,385 |
| 24 January 1998 | Round 4 | Wimbledon | H | 0 - 1 | 14,533 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F - A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 August 1997 | Round 1 1st Leg | Bradford City | H | 2 - 1 | Payton [6], Dreyer [45 (og)] | 8,735 |
| 26 August 1997 | Round 1 2nd Leg | Bradford City | A | 1 - 1 | Burnett [77] | 8,065
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| 16 September 1997 | Round 2 1st Leg | West Ham United | H | 1 - 0 | Dyer [75] | 8,525 |
| 29 September 1997 | Round 2 2nd Leg | West Ham United | A | 0 - 3 | 16,137
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Allison | England |
FW | 27 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 6 |
| Simon Baldry | England |
MF | 8 (3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 9 (4) | 1 |
| Paul Barnes | England |
FW | 11 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 (4) | 1 |
| Vince Bartram | England |
GK | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| David Beresford | England |
MF | 5 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 (3) | 0 |
| Marcus Browning |  Wales |
MF | 10 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 (4) | 0 |
| Wayne Burnett | England |
MF | 11 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (1) | 1 | 14 (5) | 1 |
| Sam Collins | England |
DF | 9 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 (1) | 0 |
| Paul Dalton | England |
MF | 26 (5) | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 (5) | 13 |
| Alex Dyer | England |
MF | 8 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 (4) | 2 |
| Jon Dyson | England |
DF | 35 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40 (1) | 1 |
| Darren Edmondson | England |
DF | 15 (4) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 (5) | 0 |
| Rob Edwards | England |
MF | 26 (12) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 (13) | 1 |
| Delroy Facey |  Grenada |
FW | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 |
| Steve Francis | England |
GK | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Kevin Gray | England |
DF | 34 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 (1) | 1 |
| Steve Harper | England |
GK | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Thomas Heary |  Republic of Ireland |
DF | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 (2) | 0 |
| Sean Hessey | England |
DF | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| Barry Horne | Wales |
MF | 29 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 (1) | 0 |
| Chris Hurst | England |
MF | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (3) | 0 |
| Steve Jenkins | Wales |
DF | 28 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 34 (1) | 1 |
| Grant Johnson |  Scotland |
MF | 28 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 (1) | 1 |
| Ian Lawson | England |
FW | 3 (15) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 3 (16) | 0 |
| Lee Makel | England |
MF | 10 (3) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 (4) | 0 |
| Lee Martin | England |
DF | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 |
| Michael Midwood | England |
FW | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| Andy Morrison | Scotland |
DF | 22 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 (1) | 1 |
| Martin Nielsen |  Denmark |
MF | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (3) | 0 |
| Derek O'Connor | Republic of Ireland |
GK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 |
| Andy Payton | England |
FW | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 (1) | 1 |
| David Phillips | Wales |
MF | 29 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| Lee Richardson | England |
MF | 16 (5) | 3 | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 (7) | 3 |
| Robbie Ryan | Republic of Ireland |
DF | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Alex Smith | England |
DF | 4 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (2) | 0 |
| Marcus Stewart | England |
FW | 38 (3) | 15 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 44 (3) | 16 |
| Julian Watts | England |
DF | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |