1997–98 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was a disaster turned into a success for Huddersfield Town. After a closed season of little activity in the transfer market, Town started the 1997–98 season disastrously and, after some questionable signings and tactical decisions, Brian Horton was sacked in October 1997 as the club lay at the foot of Division One. Thirty-six-year-old former Huddersfield, Bradford City and Newcastle United central defender Peter Jackson was drafted in as Horton's replacement in October and turned the club's fortunes around drastically. He immediately installed the experienced former Wales manager Terry Yorath as his assistant. Given a generous transfer budget by the board, Jackson captured experienced pros such as former Welsh internationals Barry Horne and David Phillips in addition to powerful local-born striker Wayne Allison from Division 1 rivals Swindon Town. He also managed to rejuvenate players such as Marcus Stewart and, particularly, the previously inconsistent Paul Dalton to the extent that the club finished a respectable 16th in the final table.

Huddersfield Town
1997-98 season
ChairmanEngland Malcolm Asquith
ManagerEngland Brian Horton (until 5 October 1997)
England Peter Jackson (from 8 October 1997)
Division One16th
FA CupFourth round
(knocked out by Wimbledon)
League CupSecond round
(knocked out by West Ham United)
Top goalscorerLeague: Marcus Stewart (15)
All: Marcus Stewart (16)
Highest home attendance18,186 vs Middlesbrough (26 December 1997)
Lowest home attendance8,525 vs West Ham United (16 September 1997)
Biggest win5–1 vs Oxford United (10 January 1998)
Biggest defeat0–5 vs Norwich City (13 April 1998)

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 Steve Francis
-- GK   IRL Derek O'Connor
-- DF   ENG Sam Collins
-- DF   SCO Tom Cowan
-- DF   ENG Jon Dyson
-- DF   ENG Darren Edmondson
-- DF   ENG Rob Edwards
-- DF   ENG Kevin Gray
-- DF   IRL Thomas Heary
-- DF   ENG Sean Hessey
-- DF   WAL Steve Jenkins
-- DF   SCO Andy Morrison
-- DF   IRL Robbie Ryan
No. Pos. Nation Player
-- MF   ENG Simon Baldry
-- MF   ENG David Beresford
-- MF   WAL Marcus Browning
-- MF   ENG Wayne Burnett
-- MF   ENG Paul Dalton
-- MF   ENG Alex Dyer
-- MF   ENG Lee Makel
-- FW   GRN Delroy Facey
-- FW   ENG Ian Lawson
-- FW   ENG Michael Midwood
-- FW   ENG Andy Payton
-- FW   ENG Marcus Stewart

Review

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Peter Jackson

The start of the season was the worst in the entire history of Huddersfield Town. Town won none of their first 14 league games. In fact the only games they won were two League Cup ties against Bradford City and more surprisingly Premier League side West Ham United (they eventually lost 3–1 on aggregate against the Hammers) Manager Brian Horton dropped popular keeper Steve Francis for the televised game against Nottingham Forest. Town lost the game 2–0 and two days later Horton was shown the door.

Popular ex-player Peter Jackson was hired three days later, but Town lost four of Jackson's first 5 games and drew the other, conceding 14 goals and only scoring three. Then amazingly, Town beat Stoke City 3–1 on 1 November and the fightback began. Jackson brought in experienced players such as Barry Horne, Wayne Allison, David Phillips and Lee Richardson, as well as loan signing Steve Harper from Newcastle United. They then managed to beat Manchester City 1–0 in a televised game at Maine Road in November.

After another severe dip in form during February and March, in which Town lost five out of six, some thought that survival was a bridge too far for Jackson's side. But a six-match unbeaten run near the end of the season, followed by a win against West Bromwich Albion, confirmed Town's safety. They finished in 16th position and used a record 37 players during that season, including four goalkeepers. The season will always be remembered and referred to as "The Great Escape".

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 Steve Francis
-- GK   ENG Steve Harper (on loan from Newcastle United)
-- DF   ENG Sam Collins
-- DF   SCO Tom Cowan
-- DF   ENG Jon Dyson
-- DF   ENG Darren Edmondson
-- DF   ENG Rob Edwards
-- DF   ENG Kevin Gray
-- DF   IRL Thomas Heary
-- DF   ENG Sean Hessey
-- DF   WAL Steve Jenkins
-- DF   SCO Andy Morrison
-- MF   ENG Simon Baldry
No. Pos. Nation Player
-- MF   ENG David Beresford
-- MF   WAL Marcus Browning
-- MF   ENG Paul Dalton
-- MF   WAL Barry Horne
-- MF   ENG Chris Hurst
-- MF   SCO Grant Johnson
-- MF   WAL David Phillips
-- MF   ENG Lee Richardson
-- FW   ENG Wayne Allison
-- FW   ENG Paul Barnes
-- FW   GRN Delroy Facey
-- FW   ENG Ian Lawson
-- FW   ENG Marcus Stewart

Results

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Date Opponents Home/
Away
Result
F - A
Scorers Attendance Position
9 August 1997 Oxford United A 0 - 2 7,085 21st
23 August 1997 Swindon Town A 1 - 1 Stewart [43] 7,683 22nd
30 August 1997 Sheffield United H 0 - 0 14,268 23rd
2 September 1997 Bradford City H 1 - 2 Stewart [75] 13,159 23rd
9 September 1997 Birmingham City H 0 - 1 9,477 23rd
13 September 1997 Ipswich Town H 2 - 2 Jenkins [41], Dyer [88] 9,313 24th
20 September 1997 Stockport County A 0 - 3 6,995 24th
27 September 1997 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1 - 1 Stewart [32] 21,723 24th
3 October 1997 Nottingham Forest H 0 - 2 11,258 24th
14 October 1997 Charlton Athletic H 0 - 3 9,596 24th
18 October 1997 Sunderland A 1 - 3 Dalton [45] 24,782 24th
21 October 1997 Port Vale A 1 - 4 Stewart [86] 5,244 24th
25 October 1997 Portsmouth H 1 - 1 Dalton [80] 8,985 24th
28 October 1997 Middlesbrough A 0 - 3 29,965 24th
1 November 1997 Stoke City H 3 - 1 Richardson [46], Stewart [80], Dalton [90] 10,916 24th
4 November 1997 Tranmere Rovers A 0 - 1 5,127 24th
7 November 1997 Manchester City A 1 - 0 Edwards [76] 24,425 24th
15 November 1997 Reading H 1 - 0 Dalton [73] 12,617 24th
22 November 1997 Queens Park Rangers A 1 - 2 Morrison [89] 16,066 24th
29 November 1997 Bury H 2 - 0 Dalton [7, 83] 11,929 23rd
6 December 1997 Crewe Alexandra A 5 - 2 Stewart [24, 70], Dalton [40, 83 (pen)], Allison [89] 4,861 22nd
13 December 1997 Norwich City H 1 - 3 Stewart [58] 11,436 24th
20 December 1997 West Bromwich Albion A 2 - 0 Dalton [51, 72] 14,619 20th
26 December 1997 Middlesbrough H 0 - 1 18,186 23rd
28 December 1997 Bradford City A 1 - 1 Dalton [34] 17,842 22nd
10 January 1998 Oxford United H 5 - 1 Gray [21 (og)], Phillips [30], Stewart [41, 55], Allison [59] 10,378 19th
17 January 1998 Birmingham City A 0 - 0 17,850 19th
27 January 1998 Sheffield United A 1 - 1 Dalton [24] 16,535 19th
31 January 1998 Swindon Town H 0 - 0 10,028 19th
7 February 1998 Stockport County H 1 - 0 Allison [53] 11,121 18th
14 February 1998 Ipswich Town A 1 - 5 Stewart [37] 10,509 19th
17 February 1998 Nottingham Forest A 0 - 3 18,231 20th
21 February 1998 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1 - 0 Dyson [90] 12,633 18th
24 February 1998 Sunderland H 2 - 3 Allison [51], Phillips [57] 14,615 19th
28 February 1998 Charlton Athletic A 0 - 1 12,908 22nd
3 March 1998 Manchester City H 1 - 3 Dalton [38 (pen)] 15,694 22nd
7 March 1998 Stoke City A 2 - 1 Barnes [15], Stewart [18] 12,594 21st
14 March 1998 Tranmere Rovers H 3 - 0 Allison [10], Stewart [67], Hill [77 (og)] 10,844 17th
21 March 1998 Reading A 2 - 0 Stewart [73, 88] 8,593 15th
28 March 1998 Queens Park Rangers H 1 - 1 Gray [59] 13,681 15th
4 April 1998 Bury A 2 - 2 Richardson [34 (pen), 71] 8,042 15th
11 April 1998 Crewe Alexandra H 2 - 0 Allison [42], Johnson [44] 11,263 14th
13 April 1998 Norwich City A 0 - 5 16,550 16th
18 April 1998 West Bromwich Albion H 1 - 0 Baldry [12] 11,704 13th
25 April 1998 Portsmouth A 0 - 3 14,013 14th
3 May 1998 Port Vale H 0 - 4 15,610 16th
Date Round Opponents Home/
Away
Result
F - A
Scorers Attendance
13 January 1998 Round 3 Bournemouth A 1 - 0 Stewart [15] 7,385
24 January 1998 Round 4 Wimbledon H 0 - 1 14,533
Date Round Opponents Home/
Away
Result
F - A
Scorers Attendance
12 August 1997 Round 1 1st Leg Bradford City H 2 - 1 Payton [6], Dreyer [45 (og)] 8,735
26 August 1997 Round 1 2nd Leg Bradford City A 1 - 1 Burnett [77] 8,065
  • Huddersfield won 3–2 on aggregate
16 September 1997 Round 2 1st Leg West Ham United H 1 - 0 Dyer [75] 8,525
29 September 1997 Round 2 2nd Leg West Ham United A 0 - 3 16,137
  • Huddersfield lost 3–1 on aggregate

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
Wayne Allison   England FW 27 6 2 0 0 0 29 6
Simon Baldry   England MF 8 (3) 1 0 0 1 (1) 0 9 (4) 1
Paul Barnes   England FW 11 (4) 1 0 0 0 0 11 (4) 1
Vince Bartram   England GK 12 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
David Beresford   England MF 5 (3) 0 0 0 1 0 6 (3) 0
Marcus Browning   Wales MF 10 (4) 0 0 0 1 0 11 (4) 0
Wayne Burnett   England MF 11 (4) 0 0 0 3 (1) 1 14 (5) 1
Sam Collins   England DF 9 (1) 0 0 0 1 0 10 (1) 0
Paul Dalton   England MF 26 (5) 13 2 0 1 0 29 (5) 13
Alex Dyer   England MF 8 (4) 1 0 0 3 1 11 (4) 2
Jon Dyson   England DF 35 (1) 1 2 0 3 0 40 (1) 1
Darren Edmondson   England DF 15 (4) 0 0 (1) 0 2 0 17 (5) 0
Rob Edwards   England MF 26 (12) 1 0 (1) 0 2 0 28 (13) 1
Delroy Facey   Grenada FW 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (2) 0
Steve Francis   England GK 9 0 0 0 4 0 13 0
Kevin Gray   England DF 34 (1) 1 2 0 2 0 38 (1) 1
Steve Harper   England GK 24 0 2 0 0 0 26 0
Thomas Heary   Republic of Ireland DF 2 (1) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 2 (2) 0
Sean Hessey   England DF 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
Barry Horne   Wales MF 29 (1) 0 2 0 0 0 31 (1) 0
Chris Hurst   England MF 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 1 (3) 0
Steve Jenkins   Wales DF 28 (1) 1 2 0 4 0 34 (1) 1
Grant Johnson   Scotland MF 28 (1) 1 2 0 0 0 30 (1) 1
Ian Lawson   England FW 3 (15) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 3 (16) 0
Lee Makel   England MF 10 (3) 0 0 (1) 0 4 0 14 (4) 0
Lee Martin   England DF 2 (1) 0 0 0 1 0 3 (1) 0
Michael Midwood   England FW 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
Andy Morrison   Scotland DF 22 (1) 1 2 0 3 0 27 (1) 1
Martin Nielsen   Denmark MF 0 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (3) 0
Derek O'Connor   Republic of Ireland GK 1 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 1 (1) 0
Andy Payton   England FW 4 (1) 0 0 0 2 1 6 (1) 1
David Phillips   Wales MF 29 2 2 0 0 0 31 2
Lee Richardson   England MF 16 (5) 3 0 (2) 0 0 0 16 (7) 3
Robbie Ryan   Republic of Ireland DF 10 0 0 0 2 0 12 0
Alex Smith   England DF 4 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 4 (2) 0
Marcus Stewart   England FW 38 (3) 15 2 1 4 0 44 (3) 16
Julian Watts   England DF 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0

References

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