Huddersfield Town's 1994–95 campaign was Town's first season in their new stadium, the Alfred McAlpine Stadium. After playing at Leeds Road for 86 years, Town moved to the new stadium with a then capacity of around 20,000. Under the leadership of Neil Warnock, Town finished in 5th place, but after qualifying for the play-offs, Town beat 2nd placed Brentford, they beat 4th placed Bristol Rovers at Wembley Stadium.
| 1994–95 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman |  Terry Fisher Geoffrey Headey |
| Manager | Neil Warnock |
| Second Division | 5th (promoted via play-offs) |
| Play-offs | Winners |
| FA Cup | Second round (knocked out by Lincoln City) |
| League Cup | Second round (knocked out by Southampton) |
| League Trophy | Area quarter-final (knocked out by Bury) |
| Top goalscorer | League: Andy Booth (26) All: Andy Booth (30) |
| Highest home attendance | 17,959 vs Birmingham City (6 May 1995) |
| Lowest home attendance | 4,183 vs York City (17 October 1994) |
| Biggest win | 5–1 vs Cardiff City (18 February 1995) 5–1 vs Chester City (11 March 1995) |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vs Southampton (5 October 1994) |
Squad at the start of the season edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Review edit
Following a mediocre season the previous year, many were hoping the move to the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, many were hoping a charge up the Division 2 ladder.
In the summer of 1994, popular full-back Tom Cowan made his loan move from Sheffield United a permanent one, centre-back Kevin Gray arrived from Mansfield Town in a part exchange with Iffy Onuora, and midfielder Paul Reid made the switch from local rivals Bradford City. Phil Starbuck, despite speculation about a move to Notts County, signed a new deal that stipulated he was made new club captain. In addition to these signings, veteran striker Ronnie Jepson was revitalised and formed a potent strikeforce with the precocious Booth. A first-day 4–1 drubbing of Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, Reid and Jepson scoring twice, signalled that Town meant business.
A brilliant start to the season saw Town beat Blackpool 4–1 at Bloomfield Road, a 1–0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in their home league game followed, but they then went on a run of 13 league games without defeat, which was brought to an abrupt halt by a 3–0 defeat at York City. During Town's 2nd round match in the Auto Windscreens Shield, Iain Dunn became the first person in England to score a golden goal in first-class professional football.
In August 1994, the Terriers opened their new home with a 0–1 defeat to Martin O'Neill's recently promoted Wycombe Wanderers. However, things were soon to get much better for Warnock's team, Jepson and Booth amassing 53 goals between them in League and cup. Town soon reached the top of the league, where they would battle with Birmingham City and Brentford for the one automatic spot that season. But with Starbuck unable to find his form, the festive period saw a downturn in their fortunes. Starbuck had played his last game for the club and would move on loan to Sheffield United, later making his move permanent. Despite a substantial outlay on the Bradford City Lees (Sinnott and Duxbury) with Graham Mitchell going in the other direction, the first warning signs came with some poor results over the festive season, including defeats at Wycombe and Hull City. The Terriers challenge started to fade around Easter with solitary points gained in Yorkshire derbies against Hull City and Rotherham United and a defeat in a match played in farcical conditions at Shrewsbury Town signalled the end of Town's automatic hopes. Warnock's men limped over the finish line in 5th place (one of their lowest positions in months) and signed off with a home defeat by newly crowned champions Birmingham.
A two-legged play-off against 2nd placed Brentford then followed. After a 1–1 draw at the McAlpine, many thought Town blew it again, but a 1–1 draw at Griffin Park led to a penalty shoot-out. After Pat Scully missed, Steve Francis saved the penalties of both Denny Mundee and Jamie Bates, it was left to Darren Bullock to score the winner to send Town to Wembley for a match against 4th placed Bristol Rovers.
At Wembley, Town took the lead in the play-off final with a goal from Andy Booth one minute from half-time, but within a minute of the goal, future Town player Marcus Stewart levelled proceedings, but with less than 10 minutes remaining Huddersfield-born Chris Billy scored the winning goal which gained Town's promotion. Within a few days of winning promotion, Neil Warnock left to become manager of Plymouth Argyle.
Squad at the end of the season edit
Note: 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
Second Division edit
| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 August 1994 | Blackpool | A | 4–1 | Reid (2), Jepson (2) | 8,343 | 4th |
| 20 August 1994 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 0–1 | 13,334 | 12th | |
| 27 August 1994 | Chester City | A | 2–1 | Booth, Dunn | 2,895 | 8th |
| 30 August 1994 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–1 | Booth, Reid | 8,552 | 6th |
| 3 September 1994 | Oxford United | H | 3–3 | Booth, Starbuck (pen), Bullock | 10,122 | 5th |
| 10 September 1994 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 3–0 | Booth (3) | 5,464 | 4th |
| 13 September 1994 | Peterborough United | A | 2–2 | Dunn (2) | 5,316 | 4th |
| 17 September 1994 | Stockport County | H | 2–1 | Booth (2) | 9,526 | 2nd |
| 24 September 1994 | Bradford City | A | 4–3 | Booth (2), Jepson, Reid | 11,300 | 2nd |
| 1 October 1994 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 3–0 | Booth, Reid, Logan | 10,321 | 1st |
| 8 October 1994 | Birmingham City | A | 1–1 | Bullock | 15,265 | 1st |
| 15 October 1994 | Cambridge United | H | 3–1 | Jepson (2, 1 pen), Dunn | 10,742 | 1st |
| 22 October 1994 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 3–3 | Jepson, Billy, Booth | 5,352 | 1st |
| 29 October 1994 | Bournemouth | H | 3–1 | Booth, Jepson, Scully | 11,251 | 1st |
| 1 November 1994 | Wrexham | H | 2–1 | Bullock, Billy | 9,639 | 1st |
| 5 November 1994 | York City | A | 0–3 | 6,345 | 1st | |
| 19 November 1994 | Brentford | H | 1–0 | Jepson | 10,889 | 1st |
| 26 November 1994 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–1 | Jepson (pen) | 5,679 | 2nd |
| 10 December 1994 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 1–2 | Jepson | 6,790 | 4th |
| 17 December 1994 | Blackpool | H | 1–1 | Booth | 11,536 | 4th |
| 26 December 1994 | Hull City | A | 0–1 | 10,220 | 4th | |
| 27 December 1994 | Rotherham United | H | 1–0 | Booth | 15,557 | 4th |
| 31 December 1994 | Swansea City | A | 1–1 | Booth | 5,438 | 4th |
| 2 January 1995 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 2–1 | Jepson, Duxbury | 12,748 | 2nd |
| 7 January 1995 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–2 | Booth | 11,466 | 2nd |
| 14 January 1995 | Cardiff City | A | 0–0 | 3,808 | 2nd | |
| 28 January 1995 | Bournemouth | A | 2–0 | Jepson, Duxbury | 4,427 | 2nd |
| 4 February 1995 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–1 | Booth | 10,389 | 3rd |
| 11 February 1995 | Wrexham | A | 2–1 | Booth, Jepson | 5,894 | 2nd |
| 18 February 1995 | Cardiff City | H | 5–1 | Booth, Cowan, Jepson, Reid, Crosby | 10,035 | 2nd |
| 21 February 1995 | Brentford | A | 0–0 | 9,562 | 2nd | |
| 25 February 1995 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–0 | 7,751 | 3rd | |
| 28 February 1995 | York City | H | 3–0 | Jepson, Bullock, Crosby | 10,468 | 1st |
| 4 March 1995 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 | 17,404 | 1st | |
| 7 March 1995 | Oxford United | A | 1–3 | Dyson | 7,160 | 2nd |
| 11 March 1995 | Chester City | H | 5–1 | Cowan, Jepson, Booth (3) | 9,606 | 2nd |
| 18 March 1995 | Leyton Orient | A | 2–0 | Dunn, Jepson (pen) | 3,177 | 2nd |
| 21 March 1995 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–0 | Dyson, Booth | 12,099 | 1st |
| 25 March 1995 | Stockport County | H | 2–1 | Jepson (pen), Gannon (og) | 5,383 | 1st |
| 1 April 1995 | Peterborough United | H | 1–2 | Bullock | 11,324 | 2nd |
| 8 April 1995 | Swansea City | H | 2–0 | Crosby (2) | 10,105 | 1st |
| 15 April 1995 | Rotherham United | A | 1–1 | Booth | 6,687 | 1st |
| 17 April 1995 | Hull City | H | 1–1 | Sinnott | 12,402 | 2nd |
| 22 April 1995 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–2 | Jepson (pen) | 4,758 | 3rd |
| 29 April 1995 | Cambridge United | A | 1–1 | Booth | 5,188 | 3rd |
| 6 May 1995 | Birmingham City | H | 1–2 | Moulden | 17,959 | 5th |
Promotion play-offs edit
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May 1995 | Semi-final first Leg | Brentford | H | 1–1 | Billy | 14,160 |
| 17 May 1995 | Semi-final second Leg | Brentford | A | 1–1 | Booth | 11,161
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| Penalties | |||
Grainger  Taylor Mundee: Francis saved  Ratcliffe Bates: Francis saved
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3–4 | Jepson Scully: Dearden saved Duxbury Sinnott Bullock
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Play-off final edit
| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1995 | Bristol Rovers | N | 2–1 | Booth, Billy | 59,175 |
FA Cup edit
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 November 1994 | First round | Doncaster Rovers | A | 4–1 | Bullock, Booth, Jepson, Dunn | 6,626 |
| 3 December 1994 | Second round | Lincoln City | A | 0–1 | 4,143 |
League Cup edit
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 August 1994 | First round first leg | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–2 | Scully | 2,841 |
| 23 August 1994 | First round second leg | Scunthorpe United | H | 3–0 | Jepson (2), Reid | 6,445
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| 20 September 1994 | Second round first leg | Southampton | H | 0–1 | 13,765 | |
| 5 October 1994 | Second round second leg | Southampton | A | 0–4 | 12,032
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League Trophy edit
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 October 1994 | First round
Group 7 |
Bradford City | A | 2–1 | Baldry, Booth | 3,772 |
| 18 October 1994 | First round
Group 7 |
York City | H | 3–0 | Mitchell, Clayton, Starbuck (pen) | 4,183 |
| 30 November 1994 | Second round | Lincoln City | H | 3–2 (aet: 90 mins: 2–2) | Crosby, Jepson (pen), Dunn (gg) | 5,738 |
| 24 January 1995 | Area quarter-final | Bury | A | 1–2 | Clayton | 3,311 |
Appearances and goals edit
| Name | Nation | Position | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | League Cup Apps | League Cup Goals | FLT Apps | FLT Goals | Playoff Apps | Playoff Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Baldry | England |
MF | 8 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 (5) | 1 |
| Chris Billy | England |
MF | 30 (7) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 41 (9) | 4 |
| Kevin Blackwell | England |
GK | 3 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (2) | 0 |
| Andy Booth | England |
FW | 45 (1) | 26 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 (1) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 56 (2) | 30 |
| Darren Bullock | England |
MF | 39 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 7 |
| Gary Clayton | England |
MF | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 (3) | 2 |
| Simon Collins | England |
DF | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (3) | 0 |
| Tom Cowan |  Scotland |
DF | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 2 |
| Gary Crosby | England |
MF | 16 (3) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (2) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 23 (5) | 5 |
| Iain Dunn | England |
FW | 13 (26) | 5 | 0 (2) | 1 | 1 (2) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 (3) | 0 | 17 (33) | 7 |
| Lee Duxbury | England |
MF | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
| Jon Dyson | England |
DF | 23 (5) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 28 (7) | 2 |
| Steve Francis | England |
GK | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| Kevin Gray | England |
DF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Ronnie Jepson | England |
FW | 36 (5) | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 (1) | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 48 (6) | 23 |
| Richard Logan | England |
MF | 24 (3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 (3) | 1 |
| Graham Mitchell | England |
DF | 11 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 (1) | 1 |
| Paul Moulden | England |
FW | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 |
| Paul Reid | England |
MF | 42 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 7 |
| Pat Scully |  Republic of Ireland |
DF | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 3 |
| Chris Short | England |
DF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Lee Sinnott | England |
DF | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| Phil Starbuck | England |
FW | 4 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 (5) | 2 |
| Simon Trevitt | England |
DF | 20 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 (1) | 0 |
| Craig Whitington | England |
FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Paul Williams (1st Spell) | England |
DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Paul Williams (2nd Spell) | England |
DF | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |