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.

Huddersfield Town
1960–61 season
ChairmanEngland Stephen Lister
ManagerEngland Eddie Boot
Football League Second Division20th
FA CupFourth round
(knocked out by Barnsley)
Football League CupSecond round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
Top goalscorerLeague: Derek Stokes (16)
All: Derek Stokes (18)
Highest home attendance46,155 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (11 January 1961)
Lowest home attendance5,860 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (3 December 1960)
Biggest win4–0 vs Bristol Rovers (29 April 1961)
Biggest defeat1–5 vs Plymouth Argyle (24 September 1960)

Squad at the start of the season

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
-- GK   ENG Harry Fearnley
-- GK   ENG Ray Wood
-- DF   ENG Denis Atkins
-- DF   ENG John Coddington
-- DF   ENG Colin Howarth
-- DF   ENG Brian Gibson
-- DF   ENG Bob Ledger
-- DF   SCO Gordon Low
-- DF   ENG Bill McGarry
-- DF   ENG Bob Parker
-- DF   ENG Ken Taylor
No. Pos. Nation Player
-- DF   ENG Ray Wilson
-- MF   IRL Ollie Conmy
-- MF   ENG Peter Dinsdale
-- MF   SCO Jim Kerray
-- MF   ENG Kevin McHale
-- MF   ENG John Milner
-- MF   ENG Michael O'Grady
-- FW   ENG Chris Balderstone
-- FW   SCO Les Massie
-- FW   ENG Derek Stokes

Review

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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

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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

Results

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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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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   England DF 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Chris Balderstone   England MF 29 6 3 0 1 0 33 6
John Bettany   England MF 7 3 3 0 0 0 10 3
John Coddington   England DF 41 0 4 1 1 0 46 1
Ollie Conmy   Republic of Ireland MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Jack Connor   England DF 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Peter Dinsdale   England DF 24 1 3 0 0 0 27 1
Harry Fearnley   England GK 23 0 4 0 0 0 27 0
Brian Gibson   England DF 16 0 0 0 1 0 17 0
Stewart Holden   England MF 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
Jim Kerray   Scotland MF 28 4 0 0 1 0 29 4
Bob Ledger   England MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Gordon Low   Scotland DF 7 1 0 0 1 0 8 1
Les Massie   Scotland FW 42 15 4 0 1 0 47 15
John McCann   Scotland MF 11 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
Bill McGarry   England DF 19 1 1 0 0 0 20 1
Kevin McHale   England MF 34 4 4 0 0 0 38 4
John Milner   England MF 7 0 0 0 1 1 8 1
Michael O'Grady   England MF 23 4 4 1 0 0 27 5
Bob Parker   England DF 30 0 4 0 1 0 35 0
Pat Saward   Republic of Ireland MF 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Derek Stokes   England FW 33 16 4 2 1 0 38 18
Ken Taylor   England DF 21 2 2 0 1 0 24 2
Ray Wilson   England DF 32 0 4 0 0 0 36 0
Ray Wood   England GK 19 0 0 0 1 0 20 0