Huddersfield Town's 1971–72 campaign was Town's last season in the Football League's top division. They finished bottom of the table with only 25 points, the same as Nottingham Forest. Town won only 6 matches in the league all season and did not win any games from December to the end of the season. The only bright spark came in the FA Cup campaign which saw Town reach the 6th round, before losing to Birmingham City. Town only scored 6 away goals in 1972, and 2 of those were own goals. This would be the start of Town's slump which would see Town relegated to Division 4 in 1975, and they would not return to the top flight, by then the Premier League, until 2017.

Squad at the start of the season

Review Following their first season back in Division 1 for 15 years, Town were hoping to try to reach the summit of English football. This season would be one of Town's worst in their history. Town were bottom of the table all season, with the exception of a small period in September. They had a run of 4 wins in 5 during that time including a 2–1 win over rivals Leeds United. Town's last league win on 27 November was a 2–1 win over Derby County, who would become champions at the end of the season.

Town never won another league game until the next season, but they put on an inspired run in the FA Cup. After beating Division 2 sides Burnley and Fulham, Town hosted West Ham United and put on a thrilling display culminating in a 4–2 win over the Hammers. They then lost to Birmingham City in the 6th round and were then promptly relegated to Division 2 with 25 points, the same as Nottingham Forest.

Squad at the end of the season

Results Division One DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendancePosition14 August 1971Leicester CityH2–2Worthington, Cherry16,2859th17 August 1971ArsenalH0–121,27915th21 August 1971Tottenham HotspurA1–4J. Lawson33,26020th25 August 1971Newcastle UnitedA0–040,88019th28 August 1971ChelseaH1–2Worthington15,30322nd31 August 1971Sheffield UnitedA1–3J. Lawson35,00722nd4 September 1971SouthamptonA2–1Chapman, J. Lawson17,37221st11 September 1971West Bromwich AlbionH1–0Chapman9,93818th18 September 1971Stoke CityA0–116,46321st25 September 1971Leeds UnitedH2–1J. Lawson, Ellam26,34016th2 October 1971Nottingham ForestA2–1Worthington, J. Lawson15,69314th9 October 1971Manchester UnitedH0–333,45816th16 October 1971Leicester CityA0–222,41218th23 October 1971LiverpoolA0–241,62718th26 October 1971Nottingham ForestH0–19,45918th30 October 1971Manchester CityH1–1D. Smith20,15319th6 November 1971Coventry CityA1–2D. Smith16,40019th13 November 1971West Ham UnitedH1–0D. Smith14,17718th20 November 1971Ipswich TownA0–116,16518th27 November 1971Derby CountyH2–1Worthington, J. Lawson15,32917th4 December 1971Wolverhampton WanderersA2–2J. Lawson, Dolan21,49817th11 December 1971Crystal PalaceH0–111,69219th18 December 1971SouthamptonH0–210,43619th27 December 1971EvertonA2–2Worthington, J. Lawson41,08819th1 January 1972Stoke CityH0–012,65519th8 January 1972ChelseaA2–2Chapman, S. Smith30,80119th22 January 1972ArsenalA0–136,67019th29 January 1972Newcastle UnitedH0–012,82919th12 February 1972LiverpoolH0–118,70220th19 February 1972Manchester CityA0–136,42121st4 March 1972West Ham UnitedA0–318,48121st11 March 1972Manchester UnitedA0–253,58121st21 March 1972Sheffield UnitedH0–017,72921st25 March 1972West Bromwich AlbionA1–1Robertson (og)18,50121st28 March 1972Tottenham HotspurH1–1J. Lawson16,12321st1 April 1972EvertonH0–017,26521st5 April 1972Leeds UnitedA1–3S. Smith46,14821st8 April 1972Ipswich TownH1–3Hunter (og)12,13921st11 April 1972Coventry CityH0–111,78221st15 April 1972Derby CountyA0–331,41421st22 April 1972Wolverhampton WanderersH0–111,67721st29 April 1972Crystal PalaceA0–018,12021st Town did not drop to 22nd until Nottingham Forest finished their matches at a later date.

FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance15 January 1972Round 3BurnleyA1–0Clarke21,5635 February 1972Round 4FulhamH3–0Chapman, J. Lawson (2)18,00026 February 1972Round 5West Ham UnitedH4–2J. Lawson, Dolan, D. Smith, Worthington27,08018 March 1972Round 6Birmingham CityA1–3Cherry52,500

Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance7 September 1971Round 2Bolton WanderersH0–210,131

Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMike BarryMF2 (3)000002 (3)0Les ChapmanMF38 (1)3411043 (1)4Trevor CherryDF4214110462Dennis ClarkeDF4103110451Terry DolanMF18 (2)1410022 (2)2Roy EllamDF4214010471Mick FaircloughFW5 (3)00 (1)0005 (4)0Bobby HoyMF2200010230Geoff HuttDF4204010470Alan JonesDF10 (2)01 (1)00011 (3)0Dick KrzywickiMF10 (3)01 (1)00011 (4)0David LawsonGK3204010370Jimmy LawsonMF40943104512Dave LyonDF20000020Brian MahoneyMF4 (1)010005 (1)0Jimmy McGillMF10 (1)0001011 (1)0Jimmy NicholsonMF50000050Gary PierceGK1000000100Dave SmithMF8 (2)3210010 (2)4Steve SmithMF4024010452Frank WorthingtonFW3954110446

References