1960–61 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town
1960–61 season
Chairman England Stephen Lister
Manager England Eddie Boot
Division Two 20th
FA Cup Fourth Round
Football League Cup Second Round
Top goalscorer League:
Derek Stokes (16)
All:
Derek Stokes (18)
Highest home attendance 46,155 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (11 January 1961)
Lowest home attendance 5,860 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (3 December 1960)

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.

No. Position Player
-- England GK Harry Fearnley
-- England GK Ray Wood
-- England DF Denis Atkins
-- England DF John Coddington
-- England DF Jack Connor
-- England DF Brian Gibson
-- England DF Bob Ledger
-- Scotland DF Gordon Low
-- England DF Bill McGarry
-- England DF Bob Parker
-- England DF Ken Taylor
No. Position Player
-- England DF Ray Wilson
-- Republic of Ireland MF Ollie Conmy
-- England MF Peter Dinsdale
-- Scotland MF Jim Kerray
-- England MF Kevin McHale
-- England MF John Milner
-- England MF Michael O'Grady
-- England FW Chris Balderstone
-- Scotland FW Les Massie
-- England FW Derek Stokes

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.

No. Position Player
-- England GK Harry Fearnley
-- England GK Ray Wood
-- England DF Denis Atkins
-- England DF John Coddington
-- England DF Brian Gibson
-- England DF Stewart Holden
-- England DF Bob Ledger
-- England DF Bob Parker
-- Republic of Ireland DF Pat Saward
-- England DF Ken Taylor
-- England DF Ray Wilson
No. Position Player
-- England MF John Bettany
-- Republic of Ireland MF Ollie Conmy
-- England MF Peter Dinsdale
-- Scotland MF Jim Kerray
-- Scotland MF John McCann
-- England MF Kevin McHale
-- England MF John Milner
-- England MF Michael O'Grady
-- England FW Chris Balderstone
-- Scotland FW Les Massie
-- England FW Derek Stokes

Results

Division Two

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

FA Cup

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

Football League Cup

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

Name Nation Position League Apps League Goals FA Cup Apps FA Cup Goals League Cup Apps League Cup Goals Total Apps Total Goals
Denis Atkins EnglandDF30000030
Chris Balderstone EnglandMF2963010336
John Bettany EnglandMF733000103
John Coddington EnglandDF4104110461
Ollie Conmy Republic of IrelandMF10000010
Jack Connor EnglandDF20000020
Peter Dinsdale EnglandDF2413000271
Harry Fearnley EnglandGK2304000270
Brian Gibson EnglandDF1600010170
Stewart Holden EnglandMF11000011
Jim Kerray ScotlandMF2840010294
Bob Ledger EnglandMF10000010
Gordon Low ScotlandDF71001081
Les Massie ScotlandFW421540104715
John McCann ScotlandMF1110000111
Bill McGarry EnglandDF1911000201
Kevin McHale EnglandMF3444000384
John Milner EnglandMF70001181
Michael O'Grady EnglandMF2344100275
Bob Parker EnglandDF3004010350
Pat Saward Republic of IrelandMF80000080
Derek Stokes EnglandFW331642103818
Ken Taylor EnglandDF2122010242
Ray Wilson EnglandDF3204000360
Ray Wood EnglandGK1900010200