The stadium's main stand - The Riverside

The Terriers remained in the top flight until 1952, though they never managed to win another League Championship. They bounced back from relegation the very next season, and finished 3rd in Division 1 a year later. By the end of the '55-'56 season they had returned to the Second Division however, where they stayed until 1970 when once again they were promoted, this time as Division Two champions. The year previously Huddersfield reached the semi-finals of the League Cup before being knocked out by Arsenal.

If the 1920's were sublime for The Terriers, then the 70's were surely the club's nadir. Relegation was followed by relegation which in turn was followed by relegation - only 5 years after being promoted up into Division One Huddersfield found themselves back in Division Four and playing in front of less than two thousand fans - from the sublime to the ridiculous in half a decade.

Into more recent times, and once again Town found themselves on the up - under Mick Buxton the club won the Fourth Division title and two years later won promotion from the Third Division. The yo-yoing continued with relegation back to Division Three two seasons later, where the club remained until league reorganisation saw it become the new Division Two in 1992. At the same time, with Leeds Road now very much looking its age and capacity forever being reduced in the name of safety, the new McAlpine Stadium started to be constructed, the club agreeing to groundshare with the local rugby league side. By 1994 the building was complete and The Terriers moved into the McAlpine, reaching the final of the Autoglass Trophy the same year.

Twelve months later and Huddersfield were back at Wembley, beating Bristol Rovers 2-1 to win the play-off final and promotion to Division One. Several years of consolidation followed, but yet again things went wrong. Steve Bruce was brought in to his first managerial post and though he started well results soon deteriorated and he was replaced by Lou Macari. The Scot couldn't rescue the situation however and Huddersfield found themselves back in the Second Division for 2002. Macari was himself fired at the end of the that season for failing to get the club out of the division, something managed with ease by his replacement Mick Wadsworth 12 months later - but unfortunately at the wrong end of the table.

Opposite the main stand is the Kilner Stand

To be fair to Wadsworth there was not much he could do at the McAlpine with money worries being the biggest barrier to progress. A new board took over after multi-millionaire owner Barry Ruberry withdrew his financial support from the club, and eventually put the club into administration. For a while the prospects looked extremely bleak, but with former owner Ruberry writing off the millions the club owed him personally, and a new consortium in charge, Huddersfield Town survived.

Peter Jackson returned as manager in 2003, the former Terriers boss a popular choice amongst fans. Cash was still tight however and although Huddersfield were undoubtedly one of the bigger clubs in the bottom division he did well to get them straight into the play-offs. A very tight semi-final against Lincoln City was won 4-3 on aggregate. The Final at the Millennium Stadium versus Mansfield Town ended 0-0 and it was penalties that took the Terriers up.

With the Alfred MacAlpine renamed after new sponsors the Galpharm Stadium Huddersfield had a solid season in the renamed League One in 2004-05. They were our prediction for the title in 2005-06, but in the end only made the play-offs. That they ended up slipping outside the automatics was in no small part due to ourselves. On the penultimate game of that season, the Glovers pulled back from 1-0 down at the Galpharm to win 1-2 and confirm our League One status and to condemn the Terriers to the play-off lottery. As with most teams who find entering the play-offs a disappointment rather than a bonus, they didn't make it through them.

In the 2006-07 season the wheels came well and truly off at the Galpharm. Again Huddersfield were expected to challenge. Few would have expected them to have finished 15th. The knives were out for both manager Peter Jackson and the Terriers board as early as our visit in September, with demonstrations outside the stadium after the game. After their season slipped away, Jackson got his marching orders and in came former Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie. He only oversaw the final four games of that season, but the performance the following term was deemed simply not good enough as they headed for a mid-table finish and the same pattern was replayed, with Ritchie out in the Spring and Stan Ternent brought in. We predicted he too would have one season to get them up or be out on his ear. In fact he got the boot in six months and Lee Clark entered the revolving mangerial door at the Galpharm. There's no doubt, from the statements issued by the board and some significant money spent in the transfer market over the summer, that Huddersfield are making a really big push for promotion this season. Clark will have to get them up this campaign or he too will doubtless fall victim to the impatience of the Galpharm boardroom sooner rather than later.

The South Stand - just about spacious enough for 347 on the weekday evening of this visit.

Given the relative size of the two clubs Yeovil have performed pretty decently at the Galpharm over the years, with a 2-1-2 record. However the Terriers have started like a house on fire at home this campaign and are 3 and 0, with 13 goals for and 3 against, so the Glovers can expect to come under a lot of pressure. In our favour is that Huddersfield have a tough fixture on Wednesday evening away to Newcastle United in the League Cup, while we are already out of that competition.

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RECENT RESULTS

16/02/2010	Carlisle United	Away	CCL1	W	2-1	5236		Novak 6, Rhodes 56
20/02/2010	Hartlepool United	Away	CCL1	W	2-0	4452		Roberts 17, Trotman 66
23/02/2010	Tranmere Rovers	Away	CCL1	W	2-0	5793		Novak 8, 48
27/02/2010	Leeds United	Home	CCL1	D	2-2	21764		Pilkington 13, Roberts 85
02/03/2010	Southampton	Away	CCL1	L	0-5	19821
06/03/2010	Gillingham	Away	CCL1	L	0-2	5388

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Jordan Rhodes	14	0	0	3	0	17
Lee Novak	9	0	0	0	0	9
Theo Robinson	6	0	0	3	0	9
Anthony Pilkington	6	0	0	2	0	8
Gary Roberts	5	0	0	0	0	5
Peter Clarke	4	0	0	1	0	5
Antony Kay	5	0	0	0	0	5
Nathan Clarke	1	1	0	1	0	3
Michael Collins	3	0	0	0	0	3
Robbie Williams	2	0	0	0	0	2
Neal Trotman	1	0	0	0	0	1
Daniel Drinkwater	1	0	0	0	0	1
Robbie Simpson	0	0	0	1	0	1
Nathan Eccleston	1	0	0	0	0	1
Own Goals	2	0	0	0	0	2

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 21764, vs Leeds United, 27/02/2010
Lowest League Attendance: 11269, vs Brighton and Hove Albion, 18/08/2009
Average League Attendance: 13847

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	3		Games Without A Home Win:	4
Games Without An Away Win:	2		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	17		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	2		Games Without A Score Draw:	2
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	7		Games Without Scoring:	2
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	WWDDDD
Away Results Sequence:	DWWWLL		Overall Results Sequence:	WWWDLL

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347 found the way for a mid-weeker

If coming from the East along M62 : you can carry on to Junction 24 (see directions from there above) or exit at Junction 25. If taking the J25 option take the A644 south (signed Huddersfield and Dewsbury) and after a mile and a half at the roundabout take the second exit (A62, signed Huddersfield). Follow the A62 into Huddersfield. This is Leeds Road and brings you within sight of the Stadium and car parking. Thistle Street (on your left) takes you towards the ground.

Coming up the M1 from the South : a possibility, to cut off the M1 / M62 loop, is to exit the M1 at Junction 38, following the A637 signs for Huddersfield. After about six miles turn right onto the A462. After another 3 miles this becomes the A629 after you've passed Fenay Bridge and are coming into the outskirts of Huddersfield. You should start picking up signs for the Stadium. Go onto Southgate Ring Road, then turn onto the A62 (Leeds Road). Thistle Street (on your right) takes you towards the ground.

The one time we tried to cut out the M1 / M62 loop and go 'cross country' - on a trip to The Shay as it happens, not Huddersfield - it wasn't a great success and we've subsequently just followed the motorways round. Longer in terms of mileage, but simpler, and just as quick if not quicker in terms of time.

Parking

There is a fair sized official car park at the ground which charges £5.00. There's also a number of 'unofficial' car parks around the stadium area. Charges seemed to be completely variable in these and made up randomly on the spot depending on who you were, what you looked like etc. It also wasn't entirely clear (at least to us) where the official car parking ended and unofficial operators began.
We have found this one of the best ever large stadiums to get out of and away from speedily on our previous visits.

By Coach

The Green & White Supporters' Club will depart Yeovil Bus Station at 4.45 a.m. and Huish Park at 5.00 a.m.

Bookings via Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 or Rich Rendell (evenings) on 01935 427072.

By Rail

As we have a 12.00 noon kick-off the rail option is, in the vast majority of cases except for a few Northern exiles and those in the South-East, only likely to be of use to Glovers who plan to go up the previous day.

For South-East Glovers there are services out of Kings Cross and Euston. The Euston line and Virgin, changing at Manchester Piccadilly on to the Transpennine, is the simplest and quickest for a later kick-off but not on this occasion, where the Kings Cross option is quicker and cheaper. However to be honest, both are something of a pain in the backside for a midday start, and there are no relevant special offers on currently, so we can't see many choosing the train.

From Yeovil the best route is probably the one out of Penn Mill via Bristol and Manchester.

The ground is a 15-20 minute walk from Huddersfield train station. After coming out of the Station, turn left past the front of the George Hotel. Go straight over the crossroads into Northumberland Street and walk down across the Ring Road straight on into Leeds Road. Turn right down Gasworks Street. Go straight over the crossroads and pass between the Spinners Arms and the Market Tavern towards the stadium.

By Bus

Buses Nos. 327 and 332 run along Leeds Road, five minutes walk from the stadium. There were additional 'Football Specials' running from Market Street in the town centre to the ground on matchdays at fifteen minute intervals. Quite what will be available for the early kick-off we're unsure.

By Taxi

A selection of Huddersfield taxi companies can be found here.

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Club Bar :

There is a concourse bar in the South Stand, serving Tetley's Bitter, Carlsberg Lager and Guinness.

Local Pubs :

Cherry Tree: Huddersfield's Wetherspoon outlet in the centre of town. One of the better examples of the ilk, with the usual house beers of that chain but also up to seven guest beers, often from local breweries, and two ciders: Weston's Vintage and Old Rosie. Very large pub that takes up most of the ground floor of a Seventies looking office block - and styled internally in a similar fashion. Opening Sunday – Thursday 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 midnight, Friday - Saturday 9.00 a.m. – 1.00 a.m. Nowhere to smoke except the street. Cherry Tree, Pearl Assurance House, 16-18, John William Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 1BA. Tel: 01484 448190. Map: Click Here.

Flyboat: Sort of on the way from the station to the stadium, and popular with football and rugby league fans on matchdays, it's a back street style public house. Drinking only - no food. Opening times were 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Friday & Saturday before the law change. The beer is Tetley's and there is pool, darts and Sky Sports. Flyboat, 6, Colne Street, Aspley, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 3BS. Tel: 01484 353494. Map: Click Here.

Excellent all-rounder of a pub - our choice on previous trips to Huddersfield © Hugh Gleave Head of Steam: The Head of Steam chain is a small pubco (currently five outlets, having sold the Euston Flyer a few years back to Fullers) that runs real ale establishments close to or even in railway stations. On visiting one can see the Wetherspoon influence, but they have a very different character - live music and comedy feature two or three times a week. The Huddersfield version has ten handpumps. The house regulars are three or so from Black Sheep Best Bitter, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Samuel Smith Old Brewery Bitter, Camerons Best Bitter or Twaites Mild, with the rest made up from guests, generally specialising in small independent breweries. For the 'lager boys' there's Stella Artois, Budweiser Budvar (the Czech stuff, not the American sh*te), Budweiser (ah, the American sh*te, brewed in the UK, rears its head for those who want to embarrass themselves), Kronenbourg, San Miguell, Heineken, Liefmans Kriek, Fosters; and even a real lager on occasion for those who can deny themselves their carbon dioxide fix: Harviestoun Schiehallion. Their Guinness is brought over from the Dublin brewery not up from the London one. The draught cider is the pretty bland Stowford Press, but if you ask they sometimes have something rather better in a cask behind the bar. For those into Belgian bottled beers, especially of the Trappist Monasteries, these pubs are a bit of a Mecca (to mix our religions). Opening times are 11 a.m - 12.30 a.m. Monday - Thursday, and 11 a.m. - 2.00 a.m. Friday & Saturday. Sunday is 12.00 noon to 10.30 p.m. There are four rooms : The Buffet is the actual station buffet bar; The Family Room - as it says; The Lounge - where the live acts perform; The Bar. The full food menu is served Monday – Saturday 11.00 a.m. – 9.00 p.m., Sunday 12.00 noon – 6.00 p.m. A 'snack' menu then continues in the evening through to closing time. Mini beer festivals are frequent, and at Huddersfield you can sit out and drink on an area of the station itself.......though why anyone would want to? Wheelchair friendly. Cash and games machines. If you haven't come across a Head of Steam pub before think a lively vibrant version of a Wetherspoon, before that chain became over large, dull and staid. However, although reasonable, don't expect Wetherspoon prices. Thoroughly recommended. Head of Steam, St. George's Square, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 1JB. Tel: 01484 454533. Fax: 01484 451701. Email: huddersfield@theheadofsteam.co.uk. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

One of two pubs at the station © Hugh Gleave King's Head: Not one but two pubs can be found in Huddersfield station - see Head of Steam above. This one was previously called the Station Tavern but reverted to an earlier name in 2008. Open 11.30 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Beers vary continuously, with up ten real ales on at any one time. There is wheelchair access, very limited parking, TV and a piano. It doesn't have any 'decor' whatsoever - lino on the floor and what look like chairs and tables snatched out of a skip randomly scattered about. It's a place to go to drink beer, and none the worse for that. Huddersfield station is a 15 minute walk away from the Galpharm Stadium. King's Head, St. George's Square, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 1JB. Tel: 01484 511058. Map: Click Here.

Lord Wilson: Previously simply carrying the generic 'Lloyds No.1' name, which is for the part of the Wetherspoon chain supposedly aimed at a slightly younger market, though in all honesty the differences between these and ordinary Wetherspoon pubs are minimal, it has now been given its own distinctive handle: The Lord Wilson. This one has a child certificate. Sunday – Wednesday 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 midnight, Thursday – Saturday 9.00 a.m. – 1.00 a.m. Nowhere to smoke except out in the street. Lord Wilson, 27, Kingsgate Centre, King Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 2PZ. Tel: 01484 411020. Map: Click Here.

Right next to The Spinners Arms © Hugh Gleave Market Tavern: One of a pair of pubs (the other is the Spinners Arms, below) you are likely to walk past or between on the approach to the stadium. As one would expect from its location very much a home fans pub. Open 'all day'. No further details. Market Tavern, 98, Leeds Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 6NN. Tel: 01484 420452. Map: Click Here.

Had the largest selection of real ales in town but this crown has passed to the Grove. © Rat and Ratchet: This was a brew pub, but in 2004 the brewing plant was sold off separately to a pub in Nuneaton, and the pub itself bought by the local independent Ossett Brewery as one of its seven tied outlets. No longer the biggest choice of real ales in the area but still an impressive dozen hand pumps, it carries up to five of Ossett's own beers, Timothy Taylor Landlord, and around six guests. A real cider, porter and mild are always on. To be found on the south side of the town centre, close to the railway station and with its own parking. Food is lunchtimes only, Wednesday - Saturday. Opening: 3.00 p.m. - 12.00 midnight Monday & Tuesday; 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight Wednesday & Thursday; 12.00 noon - 12.30 a.m. Friday & Saturday; 12.00 - 11.00 p.m. Sunday. There's a rear outside terrace with seating where smokers can sup their drinks. Rat and Ratchet, 40, Chapel Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 3EB. Tel: 01484 542400. Map: Click Here.

Slubber's Arms: Only tied Timothy Taylor house in town it naturally features their beers, with Landlord, Best Bitter and Golden Best as well as a guest. Hot and cold meals available lunchtimes. Five or so minutes walk from the stadium on the edge of the town centre. Beer garden for smoking on the premises. Live music on occasion. Slubber's Arms, 1, Halifax Old Road, Hillhouse, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 6HW. Tel: 01484 429032. Map: Click Here.

Star Inn: Traditional back-street drinkers pub (no food) south of the town centre about a mile and a half from the stadium. Opening is 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Regular beers are Timothy Taylor Landlord and Best, and Pictish Brewers Gold. There are a regularly changing and wide ranging selection of four guests on each week, with one always a mild or stout or porter. Lagers are Hoegaarden, Lindeboom and Carling, and there's Guinness and Strongbow. Three festivals a year. Beer garden for smokers and others. Star Inn, 7, Albert Street, Lockwood, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 3PJ. Tel: 01484 545443. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

The Gas Sports & Social Club: Dellboy at an away game? That's rare. Dellboy full of the joys of spring? That's even rarer. He couldn't stop talking about the Gas Club when we ran into him at half-time at the Galpharm ~ so we promised it a mention to shut him up. There was some band on........ but by this time we'd stopped listening. Fortunately some other people said it was a good venue as well - so we actually have listed it. Small entrance charge of a few quid. The Gas Sports & Social Club, Gasworks Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 6NA. Map: Click Here.

The Grove: This outlet has come from nowhere in the last few years to now be one of the premier real ale pubs in the area, if not the country, with a dazzling array of beers. There are six regular ales: College Green Molly's Chocolate Stout, Empire Brewing Grove Grog, Fullers ESB or Chiswick, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Golden Best and Thornbridge Jaipur IPA. Then throw in around ten British real ale guests at any one time, Thatcher's excellent Cheddar Valley as the cider, Saxon Cherry Perry, a range of ten (eight on at a time) draught continental beers - Anchor Liberty Ale, Budweiser Budvar Original (Czech Pilsner), Budweiser Budvar Dark (Czech Dark Lager), De Koninck, Erdinger Weiss (Wheat Beer), Früli Strawberry, Kwak (at 8.0% and sold by the half), Jever Pilsner, Moravka Kvasnicové (unfiltered), and Moravka Pilsner - just to show what 'lager' style beers can taste like, and over 230 bottled beers and ciders from around the World, and rare spirits from the likes of Ireland (Poteens), Latvia, Lithuania (Meads), France and Belgium, and you are close to pub heaven. This place is for serious drinkers - lined glasses, no 'pub fayre', no alcopops or jugs of brightly coloured garbage, no 'cocktails' sporting names of oh so amusing sexual innuendo. Opening times are: 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Sunday - Thursday; 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight Friday - Saturday. Enjoy. The Grove, 2, Spring Grove Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 4BP. Tel: 01484 430113. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

White Cross Inn: North-eastern outskirts of Huddersfield, on the juction of the Leeds Road (A62) and Bradley Road for those who prefer venues out of town. If leaving the M62 at Junction 25 you'll pass this pub on the journey in to the ground. There is parking and wheelchair access. Opening 11.45 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday - Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Food is served lunchtimes. There is pool, and house beers are Copper Dragon Black Gold and Taylor Golden Best, with up to four additional guests. Has an annual beer festival, but unfortunately in February. Dedicated smoking area outside. White Cross Inn, 2, Bradley Road, Bradley, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD2 1XD. Tel: 01484 425728. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Generally I've preferred the trips oop North on the Lancashire side of the Pennines to those on the Yorkshire side since we've been in the Football League - nicer towns and friendlier people. However Huddersfield is a bit on an exception. It won't win any beauty contests, but hasn't the blatant aggressiveness of a Leeds, the sullen threat of a Barnsley, the decaying seediness of a Rotherham or the chip-on-the-shoulder of a Doncaster. The locals have the gloomy resignation that if something can go wrong it will go wrong one finds amongst football supporters everywhere - but seems to be cultivated to perfection as a way of life by those from the North.

Top-Tip :

If you're not one to be up with the lark you may decide it's best to give this one a miss.

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