1960–61 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season
Huddersfield Town's 1960–61 campaign was Town's worst ever season to date. They missed out on relegation to Division Three for the first time in their history. They finished the season in 20th place, just two points ahead of relegated Portsmouth. Their main high point of the season was the defeat of FA Cup holders Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the FA Cup.
Squad at the start of the season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Review
Following Denis Law's record-breaking departure to Manchester City the previous season, Town's strikeforce was severely depleted, despite the purchase of Derek Stokes from neighbours Bradford City. Town's start was OK in the strike department, but the defence department was leaking goals leading Town down the table to the relegation trapdoor to Division Three. Not even a 4–1 win over rivals Leeds United at Elland Road gave Town much joy during the season. As Town were dropping rapidly down the table Aston Villa's Pat Saward was brought in to stop the slide. Les Massie & Derek Stokes' 31 league goals helped Town survive the drop by just two points from Portsmouth. They finished 20th with just 35 points, their closest shave with relegation in their history.
Their season will be best remembered for their exploits in the FA Cup. Their 3rd round match was against the holders and Division One leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers. At the time, Town were bottom of Division Two and travelled to Molineux Stadium with virtually no chance of victory expected. They managed a 1–1 draw thanks to a goal by Stokes. The replay at Leeds Road was the first match to use the newly erected "Denis Law Lights" and saw Town victorious by the score of 2–1 with goals from Stokes and Michael O'Grady. They eventually lost to Barnsley in the next round.
Squad at the end of the season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Results
Date |
Opponents |
Home/
Away |
Result
F – A |
Scorers |
Attendance |
Position |
20 August 1960 |
Luton Town |
H |
1–1 |
Stokes |
18,156 |
9th |
23 August 1960 |
Swansea Town |
A |
0–2 |
|
15,295 |
15th |
27 August 1960 |
Lincoln City |
A |
0–0 |
|
8,639 |
19th |
31 August 1960 |
Swansea Town |
H |
3–1 |
Stokes, Massie, McHale |
12,913 |
10th |
3 September 1960 |
Portsmouth |
H |
3–3 |
Massie, Stokes (2) |
15,237 |
11th |
6 September 1960 |
Sheffield United |
A |
1–3 |
Stokes (pen) |
14,258 |
15th |
10 September 1960 |
Leeds United |
A |
4–1 |
Stokes (2, 1 pen), Charlton (og), Balderstonw |
22,146 |
11th |
14 September 1960 |
Sheffield United |
H |
0–1 |
|
12,346 |
15th |
17 September 1960 |
Sunderland |
A |
2–1 |
McGarry, Stokes |
21,336 |
10th |
24 September 1960 |
Plymouth Argyle |
H |
1–5 |
Holden |
14,154 |
14th |
1 October 1960 |
Norwich City |
A |
0–2 |
|
25,304 |
16th |
8 October 1960 |
Southampton |
H |
3–1 |
Massie, McCann, Stokes |
11,220 |
12th |
15 October 1960 |
Rotherham United |
A |
2–2 |
Massie, Taylor |
10,961 |
13th |
22 October 1960 |
Liverpool |
H |
2–4 |
Massie, Taylor |
15,719 |
15th |
29 October 1960 |
Bristol Rovers |
A |
2–1 |
Stokes (2) |
15,381 |
13th |
5 November 1960 |
Derby County |
H |
1–3 |
Stokes (pen) |
11,770 |
14th |
19 November 1960 |
Scunthorpe United |
H |
1–2 |
John (og) |
8,617 |
17th |
26 November 1960 |
Ipswich Town |
A |
2–4 |
Stokes, Low |
11,056 |
18th |
3 December 1960 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
H |
0–1 |
|
5,860 |
20th |
10 December 1960 |
Middlesbrough |
A |
1–2 |
McNeil (og) |
9,948 |
21st |
17 December 1960 |
Luton Town |
A |
0–1 |
|
11,219 |
21st |
24 December 1960 |
Stoke City |
A |
2–2 |
O'Grady, Massie |
12,029 |
21st |
26 December 1960 |
Stoke City |
H |
0–0 |
|
13,783 |
19th |
31 December 1960 |
Lincoln City |
H |
4–1 |
Massie, Stokes, Bettany, O'Grady |
11,564 |
19th |
14 January 1961 |
Portsmouth |
A |
3–1 |
Massie, McHale, Balderstone |
11,243 |
18th |
21 January 1961 |
Leeds United |
H |
0–1 |
|
18,938 |
18th |
4 February 1961 |
Sunderland |
H |
4–2 |
Bettany (2), Balderstone (2) |
16,341 |
17th |
11 February 1961 |
Plymouth Argyle |
A |
1–2 |
Kerray |
12,876 |
18th |
21 February 1961 |
Norwich City |
H |
1–1 |
Kerray |
16,984 |
16th |
25 February 1961 |
Southampton |
A |
2–4 |
Kerray, McHale |
14,368 |
18th |
4 March 1961 |
Rotherham United |
H |
0–1 |
|
15,144 |
19th |
11 March 1961 |
Liverpool |
A |
1–3 |
Kerray |
29,733 |
20th |
18 March 1961 |
Middlesbrough |
H |
1–0 |
Massie |
11,788 |
20th |
21 March 1961 |
Leyton Orient |
A |
0–2 |
|
10,099 |
20th |
25 March 1961 |
Derby County |
A |
1–1 |
Dinsdale |
9,524 |
20th |
31 March 1961 |
Charlton Athletic |
A |
3–2 |
Massie (2), Balderstone |
12,980 |
20th |
1 April 1961 |
Ipswich Town |
H |
1–3 |
McHale |
16,459 |
20th |
3 April 1961 |
Charlton Athletic |
H |
2–2 |
Balderstone, Massie |
12,542 |
20th |
8 April 1961 |
Scunthorpe United |
A |
1–0 |
Massie |
8,352 |
20th |
15 April 1961 |
Leyton Orient |
H |
1–0 |
Massie |
12,247 |
19th |
22 April 1961 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
A |
1–2 |
O'Grady |
13,088 |
20th |
29 April 1961 |
Bristol Rovers |
H |
4–0 |
Stokes (2), O'Grady, Massie |
10,322 |
19th |
Date |
Round |
Opponents |
Home/
Away |
Result
F – A |
Scorers |
Attendance |
7 January 1961 |
Round 3 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
A |
1–1 |
Stokes |
31,403 |
11 January 1961 |
Round 3 Replay |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
H |
2–1 |
Stokes, O'Grady |
46,155 |
1 February 1961 |
Round 4 |
Barnsley |
H |
1–1 |
Coddington (pen) |
44,761 |
6 February 1961 |
Round 4 Replay |
Barnsley |
A |
0–1 |
|
29,149 |
Date |
Round |
Opponents |
Home/
Away |
Result
F – A |
Scorers |
Attendance |
12 October 1960 |
Round 2 |
Aston Villa |
A |
1–4 |
Milner |
17,057 |
Appearances and goals
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| Related to national team | |
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| Club seasons | | First Division | |
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| Second Division |
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Bristol Rovers
- Charlton Athletic
- Derby County
- Huddersfield Town
- Ipswich Town
- Leeds United
- Leyton Orient
- Lincoln City
- Liverpool
- Luton Town
- Middlesbrough
- Norwich City
- Plymouth Argyle
- Portsmouth
- Rotherham United
- Scunthorpe United
- Sheffield United
- Southampton
- Stoke City
- Sunderland
- Swansea Town
|
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| Third Division |
- Barnsley
- Bradford City
- Brentford
- Bristol City
- Bournemouth
- Bury
- Chesterfield
- Colchester United
- Coventry City
- Grimsby Town
- Halifax Town
- Hull City
- Newport County
- Notts County
- Port Vale
- Queens Park Rangers
- Reading
- Southend United
- Stockport County
- Swindon Town
- Tranmere Rovers
- Torquay United
- Walsall
- Watford
|
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| Fourth Division |
- Accrington Stanley
- Aldershot
- Barrow
- Bradford Park Avenue
- Carlisle United
- Chester
- Crewe Alexandra
- Crystal Palace
- Darlington
- Doncaster Rovers
- Exeter City
- Gillingham
- Hartlepools United
- Mansfield Town
- Millwall
- Northampton Town
- Oldham Athletic
- Peterborough United
- Rochdale
- Shrewsbury Town
- Southport
- Workington
- Wrexham
- York City
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