Huddersfield Town's 1973–74 campaign was a season of new beginnings for Huddersfield Town as they experienced life in the 3rd Division for the first time. The season was not spectacular as Town finished in 10th place, behind fellow West Yorkshire club Halifax Town. At the end of the season, Ian Greaves resigned after 6 years as manager. The alarming slide down the Football League was temporarily halted, but the following season would see Town continue their perilous freefall to the basement of the Football League.
Squad at the start of the season
Review Following Town's second relegation in 2 seasons, Town had reached a division not seen by any previous Town team in their history. Town would visit 13 grounds for the first time in league football, although 4 of them had hosted Town in cup matches before. Town's start to the season was pretty mediocre with Town drawing 6 of their opening 12 games, losing only 2 of them, but it was a far cry from 1st Division football they were playing just 2 seasons earlier. The previous season's top scorer, Alan Gowling, continued with his goalscoring form scoring 24 goals in the league campaign.
Town eventually finished the season in a disappointing 10th place with 47 points, 2 points behind local rivals Halifax Town. However, at the end of the season Ian Greaves resigned as manager of the side. He became Jimmy Armfield's assistant at Bolton Wanderers. The next season would see Town get even further down the league ladder, so even though Greaves had halted the slide, it was temporary, not permanent.
Squad at the end of the season
Results
Division Three DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF — AScorersAttendancePosition25 August 1973WatfordA1–1Hoy6,24612th1 September 1973Cambridge UnitedH2–1Gowling, Hoy5,5598th8 September 1973Port ValeA2–4Dolan, Gowling5,00312th11 September 1973ChesterfieldH1–0Fairclough6,1648th15 September 1973AldershotH1–0Gowling5,8497th17 September 1973WalsallA0–35,4918th22 September 1973WrexhamA0–06,6659th29 September 1973BournemouthH1–1Gowling (pen)5,36012th6 October 1973RochdaleA1–1Arnold (og)3,22012th9 October 1973WalsallH2–2S. Smith, Dolan4,43612th13 October 1973Plymouth ArgyleH2–1S. Smith, Summerill4,9278th19 October 1973Tranmere RoversA1–1Gowling (pen)4,7155th24 October 1973ChesterfieldA2–0Dolan, Gowling6,5896th27 October 1973Bristol RoversH1–2Dolan9,5329th3 November 1973Southend UnitedA2–5Gowling (2)7,25510th10 November 1973Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–2Dolan, Summerill6,05712th13 November 1973Shrewsbury TownH1–0Summerill4,1546th17 November 1973Hereford UnitedA1–0Gowling7,9256th1 December 1973SouthportA0–02,1096th8 December 1973Oldham AthleticH2–1Gowling (2)8,0745th22 December 1973BournemouthA0–19,1417th26 December 1973Halifax TownH4–0Lawson, Dolan, Gowling (2)11,5146th29 December 1973Port ValeH3–0Lawson (2), Gowling7,7026th1 January 1974Cambridge UnitedA2–2Chapman, Hoy5,6676th12 January 1974AldershotA0–15,0296th19 January 1974WatfordH1–2Gowling6,3016th26 January 1974Charlton AthleticA1–2Lawson5,3917th29 January 1974Blackburn RoversH1–0Lawson5,2045th2 February 1974Grimsby TownA1–2Gowling7,1886th16 February 1974Plymouth ArgyleA1–1Summerill7,29910th23 February 1974RochdaleH5–0Lawson (2), Gowling (2), Summerill5,6797th2 March 1974Halifax TownA0–08,1267th8 March 1974Bristol RoversA1–2Gowling13,5437th16 March 1974Tranmere RoversH0–04,7027th20 March 1974Grimsby TownH1–0Gray4,4737th23 March 1974Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–1Gowling (2)12,4447th27 March 1974Blackburn RoversA0–16,6717th30 March 1974Southend UnitedH0–14,4537th2 April 1974Charlton AthleticH2–0Gowling (2)3,1427th6 April 1974Shrewsbury TownA0–31,6757th12 April 1974York CityA1–2Dolan10,1898th13 April 1974Hereford UnitedH0–04,1489th16 April 1974York CityH0–17,73711th20 April 1974Oldham AthleticA0–616,46613th24 April 1974WrexhamH2–1Dolan, Summerill2,52213th27 April 1974SouthportH3–1Summerill, Dolan, Gowling3,3209th
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF — AScorersAttendance24 November 1973Round 1Wigan AthleticH2–0Newton (2)9,55715 December 1973Round 2ChesterA2–3Saunders, Gowling3,296
Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF — AScorersAttendance29 August 1973Round 1York CityA0–16,497
Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLes ChapmanMF31 (2)1101033 (2)1Dennis ClarkeDF40000040Terry DolanMF4382010468John DungworthFW1 (2)000001 (2)0Mick FaircloughFW31000031Franny FirthFW1 (1)000001 (1)0Martin FowlerMF1 (1)000001 (1)0Paul GarnerDF4302010460Alan GowlingFW452421104825Terry GrayFW9 (4)1200011 (4)1Peter HartMF10000010Bobby HoyMF26 (1)3201029 (1)3Geoff HuttDF2602000280Dick KrzywickiMF2 (1)000002 (1)0Jimmy LawsonMF31 (1)7000 (1)031 (2)7Dave LyonDF2 (1)000002 (1)0Brian MarshallDF24 (2)0000024 (2)0Grahame McGiffordDF1600010170Bob MountainMF10000010Bob NewtonFW40120052Jimmy NicholsonMF3 (1)000003 (1)0Terry PooleGK4102010440Graham PughMF2802000300John SaundersDF4302110461Dave SmithMF1 (1)000102 (1)0Paul SmithMF100 (1)0001 (1)0Steve SmithMF4131010433Phil SummerillFW29 (1)7101031 (1)7Dick TaylorGK50000050
References