1948–49 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season
Huddersfield Town's 1948–49 campaign is referred to in Town folklore as the original "Great Escape" season (the second being the 1997–98 season), when Arnold Rodgers scored the goal that saw Town maintain their 1st Division status. His goal against Manchester City, with 10 minutes of the last match of the season remaining saw Town keep their status and relegate Preston North End and Sheffield United in the process.
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
Town's fortunes during the season didn't seem to improve on the previous season. Even the 14 goals from veteran Peter Doherty didn't seem to pull Town away from almost certain relegation. Relegation seemed to be certain for 2 out of Town, Preston North End and Sheffield United. With 10 minutes of Town's last match at home against Manchester City seemed to be heading down the trapdoor to Division 2.
But, an uncharacteristic error by legendary goalkeeper Frank Swift gave Arnold Rodgers the chance to score, which he did. Town won 1–0 which relegated Preston & Sheffield and meant Town would live to fight another day.
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 |
21 August 1948 |
Arsenal |
H |
1–1 |
Whittingham |
30,620 |
7th |
25 August 1948 |
Derby County |
A |
1–4 |
Tanner |
31,236 |
19th |
28 August 1948 |
Charlton Athletic |
A |
1–3 |
Smith |
38,437 |
21st |
1 September 1948 |
Derby County |
H |
1–1 |
Doherty |
24,182 |
20th |
4 September 1948 |
Manchester United |
A |
1–4 |
Doherty |
57,714 |
21st |
6 September 1948 |
Bolton Wanderers |
A |
2–1 |
Hepplewhite, Metcalfe |
25,332 |
18th |
11 September 1948 |
Sheffield United |
H |
0–0 |
|
21,088 |
19th |
15 September 1948 |
Bolton Wanderers |
H |
0–2 |
|
16,046 |
20th |
18 September 1948 |
Aston Villa |
A |
3–3 |
Doherty (2), Smith |
44,523 |
20th |
25 September 1948 |
Sunderland |
H |
2–0 |
Smith, Nightingale |
23,035 |
17th |
2 October 1948 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
A |
1–7 |
Nightingale |
36,153 |
17th |
9 October 1948 |
Stoke City |
H |
1–3 |
Hassall |
19,385 |
18th |
16 October 1948 |
Burnley |
A |
2–1 |
Metcalfe (2) |
28,976 |
18th |
23 October 1948 |
Preston North End |
H |
0–2 |
|
20,819 |
19th |
30 October 1948 |
Everton |
A |
0–2 |
|
46,632 |
19th |
6 November 1948 |
Chelsea |
H |
3–4 |
Doherty (2, 1 pen), Nightingale |
18,963 |
20th |
13 November 1948 |
Birmingham City |
A |
0–1 |
|
35,207 |
20th |
20 November 1948 |
Middlesbrough |
H |
0–0 |
|
16,413 |
22nd |
27 November 1948 |
Newcastle United |
A |
4–2 |
Nightingale, Doherty (3) |
49,332 |
21st |
4 December 1948 |
Portsmouth |
H |
0–0 |
|
21,785 |
19th |
11 December 1948 |
Manchester City |
A |
1–3 |
Doherty |
31,717 |
21st |
18 December 1948 |
Arsenal |
A |
0–3 |
|
40,000 |
22nd |
25 December 1948 |
Blackpool |
A |
0–0 |
|
29,244 |
21st |
27 December 1948 |
Blackpool |
H |
1–0 |
Boot |
41,322 |
20th |
1 January 1949 |
Charlton Athletic |
H |
1–2 |
Smith |
20,937 |
21st |
22 January 1949 |
Sheffield United |
A |
0–0 |
|
37,126 |
22nd |
12 February 1949 |
Aston Villa |
H |
0–1 |
|
15,401 |
22nd |
19 February 1949 |
Sunderland |
A |
1–0 |
Doherty (pen) |
42,719 |
22nd |
5 March 1949 |
Stoke City |
A |
3–1 |
Hansen, McKenna, Doherty (pen) |
15,595 |
22nd |
12 March 1949 |
Burnley |
H |
1–0 |
McKenna |
23,136 |
20th |
19 March 1949 |
Middlesbrough |
A |
0–1 |
|
33,279 |
21st |
26 March 1949 |
Newcastle United |
H |
0–2 |
|
25,745 |
21st |
2 April 1949 |
Chelsea |
A |
0–5 |
|
48,136 |
22nd |
6 April 1949 |
Manchester United |
H |
2–1 |
Doherty (pen), Metcalfe |
17,256 |
21st |
9 April 1949 |
Birmingham City |
H |
0–0 |
|
18,856 |
21st |
15 April 1949 |
Liverpool |
A |
1–0 |
Glazzard |
47,319 |
19th |
16 April 1949 |
Preston North End |
A |
0–2 |
|
36,153 |
21st |
18 April 1949 |
Liverpool |
H |
0–4 |
|
22,158 |
22nd |
23 April 1949 |
Everton |
H |
1–1 |
McKenna |
19,051 |
22nd |
30 April 1949 |
Portsmouth |
A |
0–2 |
|
37,042 |
22nd |
5 May 1949 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
H |
4–0 |
McKenna, Rodgers (2), Hansen |
21,445 |
21st |
7 May 1949 |
Manchester City |
H |
1–0 |
Rodgers |
27,507 |
20th |
Date |
Round |
Opponents |
Home/
Away |
Result
F–A |
Scorers |
Attendance |
8 January 1949 |
Round 3 |
Queens Park Rangers |
A |
0 – 0 (aet: 90 mins: 0 – 0) |
|
25,000 |
15 January 1949 |
Round 3 Replay |
Queens Park Rangers |
H |
5–0 |
Glazzard (2), Nightingale, McKenna, Bateman |
31,075 |
29 January 1949 |
Round 4 |
Newport County |
A |
3 – 3 (aet: 90 mins: 3 – 3) |
Doherty, Glazzard (2) |
22,500 |
5 February 1949 |
Round 4 Replay |
Newport County |
H |
1–3 |
Metcalfe |
34,183 |
Appearances and goals
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| | | FA competitions | |
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| Football League | |
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| Lower leagues | |
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| Related to national team | |
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| Club seasons | | First Division | |
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| Second Division |
- Barnsley
- Birmingham City
- Blackburn Rovers
- Bradford Park Avenue
- Brentford
- Bury
- Cardiff City
- Chesterfield
- Coventry City
- Doncaster Rovers
- Fulham
- Leeds United
- Leicester City
- Luton Town
- Millwall
- Newcastle United
- Nottingham Forest
- Plymouth Argyle
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Southampton
- Tottenham Hotspur
- West Bromwich Albion
- West Ham United
|
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| Third Division | North |
- Accrington Stanley
- Barrow
- Bradford City
- Carlisle United
- Chester
- Crewe Alexandra
- Darlington
- Gateshead
- Halifax Town
- Hartlepools United
- Hull City
- Lincoln City
- Mansfield Town
- New Brighton
- Oldham Athletic
- Rochdale
- Rotherham United
- Southport
- Stockport County
- Tranmere Rovers
- Wrexham
- York City
|
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| South |
- Aldershot
- Bournemouth
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Bristol City
- Bristol Rovers
- Crystal Palace
- Exeter City
- Ipswich Town
- Leyton Orient
- Newport County
- Northampton Town
- Norwich City
- Notts County
- Port Vale
- Queens Park Rangers
- Reading
- Southend United
- Swansea Town
- Swindon Town
- Torquay United
- Walsall
- Watford
|
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| Other | |
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