2001–02 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town's 2001–02 campaign was their first competitive campaign in the third tier since the 1994–95 season. Huddersfield finished 6th that season, before losing in the play-offs to 3rd place Brentford, who Town beat in the play-off semi-finals in the 1994–95 season.

Huddersfield Town
2001–02 season
ChairmanEngland Barry Rubery
ManagerScotland Lou Macari
Division Two6th
Play-offsSemi-finals
(knocked out by Brentford)
FA CupSecond round
(knocked out by Mansfield Town)
League CupFirst round
(knocked out by Rochdale)
League TrophyArea Final
(knocked out by Blackpool)
Top goalscorerLeague: Leon Knight (16)
All: Leon Knight (17)
Highest home attendance16,523 vs Brentford (28 April 2002)
Lowest home attendance3,570 vs Halifax Town (16 October 2001)
Biggest win5–1 vs Wrexham (27 October 2001)
Biggest defeat0–4 vs Mansfield Town (8 December 2001)

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   WAL Steve Jenkins
3 DF   ENG Gareth Evans
4 DF   ENG Craig Armstrong
5 DF   ENG Chris Lucketti
8 MF   ENG Kenny Irons
9 FW   ENG Martin Smith
11 FW   SUR Clyde Wijnhard
12 DF   ENG Kevin Gray
13 GK   WAL Martyn Margetson
16 FW   GRN Delroy Facey
17 MF   ENG Simon Baldry
18 FW   SCO Chris Hay
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF   IRL Thomas Heary
21 DF   ENG Jon Dyson
22 MF   ENG Chris Beech
23 MF   ENG Chris Holland
24 MF   ENG Danny Schofield
26 DF   ENG Adie Moses
29 MF   USA John Thorrington
31 FW   SCO Paul Macari
32 FW   ENG Andy Booth
33 MF   IRL Dwayne Mattis
34 MF   ENG Michael Senior

Review

edit

Macari remained in charge for the 2001–02 season. At the start of the season he sold Chris Lucketti to Preston North End in a £750,000 deal, after 76 appearances for Town. Macari promoted the then 18-year-old Nathan Clarke to the first team, who would go on to be a mainstay at the heart of the Terriers defence. Huddersfield had a good start to the season, with the exception of the Worthington Cup loss to Rochdale. They continued a steady progress up the table and Lou Macari was on course to send Town back up to Division 1.

As the top six challenge faded, he made a canny loan signing, gifted young striker Leon Knight (from Chelsea). He scored 16 league goals in 31 appearances and also became the only loan player to date to win the Player of the Year award. However, Knight received a red card during a league game with near neighbours Oldham Athletic and ended up missing the Play-Offs he had been largely responsible for getting the team to. Without him, Town battled well but lacked a cutting edge and ended up being defeated by Brentford at the semi-final stage.

The season also saw a good campaign in the LDV Vans Trophy. After beating Halifax Town, Wrexham, Scunthorpe United and Hull City, Town played Blackpool in a 2-leg Northern Area Final. After losing the first leg 3–1 at Bloomfield Road, Town took a 2–0 lead in the reverse at the McAlpine Stadium, the match went to extra time, but their party was spoiled by Martin Bullock's golden goal.

So, Town looked on course for automatic promotion until a run of 4 games without a win in late March and early April, only the play-offs seemed to be likely to give the promotion that Town craved. They eventually finished 6th, six behind 2nd placed Reading.

The Play-off semi-final saw Town play 3rd placed Brentford. After the first leg ended 0–0 at the McAlpine, Andy Booth gave Town an early lead in the second leg at Griffin Park, before Darren Powell and Lloyd Owusu gave Brentford their 2–1 win.

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   WAL Steve Jenkins
3 DF   ENG Gareth Evans
8 MF   ENG Kenny Irons
9 FW   ENG Martin Smith
11 FW   SUR Clyde Wijnhard
12 DF   ENG Kevin Gray
13 GK   WAL Martyn Margetson
16 FW   GRN Delroy Facey
17 MF   ENG Simon Baldry
18 FW   SCO Chris Hay
20 DF   IRL Thomas Heary
21 DF   ENG Jon Dyson
22 MF   ENG Chris Beech
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF   ENG Chris Holland
24 MF   ENG Danny Schofield
26 DF   ENG Adie Moses
29 MF   USA John Thorrington
30 FW   ENG Leon Knight (on loan from Chelsea)
31 FW   SCO Paul Macari
32 FW   ENG Andy Booth
33 MF   IRL Dwayne Mattis
34 MF   ENG Michael Senior
35 GK   RSA Paul Evans (on loan from Leeds United)
36 DF   ENG Nathan Clarke
37 MF   IRL Damien Delaney (on loan from Leicester City)
38 DF   ENG Jerel Ifil (on loan from Watford)

Results

edit
Date Opponents Home/Away Result F - A Scorers Attendance League position
11 August 2001 Bournemouth H 1 - 0 Irons [50] 10,137 7th
18 August 2001 Reading A 0 - 1 11,915 12th
25 August 2001 Bury H 2 - 0 Schofield [82, 88] 8,684 8th
27 August 2001 Peterborough United A 2 - 1 Booth [52], Beech [71] 5,253 4th
2 September 2001 Wycombe Wanderers H 2 - 1 Thorrington [38], Brown [70 (og)] 9,741 1st
8 September 2001 Stoke City A 1 - 1 Schofield [32] 13,319 3rd
15 September 2001 Blackpool H 2 - 4 Clarke [18], Thorrington [87] 10,691 6th
18 September 2001 Wigan Athletic A 0 - 1 5,717 7th
22 September 2001 Cardiff City A 2 - 1 Mattis [20], Schofield [56] 12,280 6th
25 September 2001 Chesterfield H 0 - 0 9,399 5th
29 September 2001 Bristol City H 1 - 0 Thorrington [71] 10,652 3rd
7 October 2001 Queens Park Rangers A 2 - 3 Hay [33], Ben Askar [90 (og)] 10,668 7th
13 October 2001 Brighton & Hove Albion H 1 - 2 Irons [74] 10,727 9th
20 October 2001 Tranmere Rovers A 0 - 1 8,632 12th
23 October 2001 Northampton Town A 3 - 0 Booth [30, 45, 70] 5,926 7th
27 October 2001 Wrexham H 5 - 1 Thorrington [29 (pen)], Holland [48], Knight [64, 66], Booth [87] 9,888 6th
3 November 2001 Oldham Athletic A 1 - 1 Schofield [23] 8,859 10th
9 November 2001 Notts County H 2 - 2 Jenkins [37], Knight [63] 10,168 6th
20 November 2001 Brentford H 1 - 1 Knight [56] 8,518 6th
24 November 2001 Port Vale A 1 - 1 Knight [67] 5,026 7th
1 December 2001 Cambridge United H 2 - 1 Hay [76], Booth [88] 9,513 7th
22 December 2001 Colchester United A 3 - 3 Booth [40, 61], Schofield [59] 3,543 10th
26 December 2001 Peterborough United H 3 - 1 Thorrington [34, 52], Irons [66] 11,446 8th
29 December 2001 Stoke City H 0 - 0 16,041 9th
12 January 2002 Reading H 0 - 1 10,775 11th
15 January 2002 Bury A 0 - 0 3,462 9th
19 January 2002 Bournemouth A 3 - 2 Booth [3], Hay [24], Knight [37] 5,307 9th
22 January 2002 Colchester United H 2 - 1 Schofield [5, 25] 7,179 9th
26 January 2002 Queens Park Rangers H 1 - 0 Booth [37] 9,433 6th
2 February 2002 Bristol City A 1 - 1 Knight [90] 10,643 7th
5 February 2002 Swindon Town A 1 - 0 Hay [54] 5,094 5th
9 February 2002 Tranmere Rovers H 2 - 1 Armstrong [78], Wijnhard [81] 15,784 5th
16 February 2002 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0 - 1 14,045 6th
23 February 2002 Blackpool A 2 - 1 Knight [70, 90] 8,981 6th
2 March 2002 Wigan Athletic H 0 - 0 12,844 7th
5 March 2002 Chesterfield A 1 - 1 Knight [83] 4,740 7th
9 March 2002 Swindon Town H 2 - 0 Irons [21], Knight [52] 9,569 6th
12 March 2002 Wycombe Wanderers A 4 - 2 Knight [28, 90], Gray [36], Irons [90] 5,546 5th
16 March 2002 Cambridge United A 1 - 0 Knight [64] 3,728 5th
23 March 2002 Northampton Town H 2 - 0 Knight [27, 33] 10,783 5th
30 March 2002 Wrexham A 1 - 1 Facey [53] 4,448 5th
1 April 2002 Oldham Athletic H 0 - 0 14,343 5th
6 April 2002 Brentford A 0 - 3 7,393 6th
9 April 2002 Cardiff City H 2 - 2 Irons [79 (pen)], Hay [82] 11,660 6th
13 April 2002 Port Vale H 2 - 1 Facey [42], Booth [65] 12,270 6th
20 April 2002 Notts County A 1 - 2 Irons [83 (pen)] 15,618 6th
Date Round Opponents Home/Away Result F - A Scorers Attendance
28 April 2002 Semi-Final 1st Leg Brentford H 0 - 0 16,523
1 May 2002 Semi-Final 2nd Leg Brentford A 1 - 2 Booth [2] 11,191
  • Huddersfield lost 2–1 on aggregate.
Date Round Opponents Home/Away Result F - A Scorers Attendance
17 November 2001 Round 1 Gravesend & Northfleet H 2 - 1 Moses [63], Knight [90] 6,112
8 December 2001 Round 2 Mansfield Town A 0 - 4 6,836
Date Round Opponents Home/Away Result F - A Scorers Attendance
21 August 2001 Round 1 Rochdale H 0 - 1 3,995
Date Round Opponents Home/Away Result F - A Scorers Attendance
16 October 2001 Round 1

North

Halifax Town H 0 - 0 (aet: 90 mins: 0 - 0) 3,570
  • Huddersfield won 4–3 on penalties
    Penalties  
Hay  
Thorrington  
Clarke  
Irons  
4 – 3   ?
  ?
  ?
  Stoneman: Margetson saved
  Smith: over crossbar
 
Date Round Opponents Home/Away Result F - A Scorers Attendance
30 October 2001 Round 2

North

Wrexham A 1 - 0 Holland [5] 1,725
4 December 2001 Quarter-Final

North

Scunthorpe United H 4 - 1 Schofield [23, 65], Hay [76], Booth [85] 3,587
8 January 2002 Semi-Final

North

Hull City A 1 - 0 Booth [39] 7,248
29 January 2002 Final First Leg

North

Blackpool A 1 - 3 Schofield [56] 4,573
12 February 2002 Final Second Leg

North

Blackpool H 2 - 1 (Golden goal aet: 90 mins: 2 - 0) Wijnhard [5 (pen)], Schofield [33] 7,736
  • Huddersfield lost 4–3 on aggregate

Appearances and goals

edit
Squad No. 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
2 Steve Jenkins   Wales DF 40 1 1 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 47 1
3 Gareth Evans   England DF 35 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 41 0
4 Craig Armstrong   England MF 7 (4) 1 0 0 1 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 9 (5) 1
5 Chris Lucketti   England DF 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
8 Kenny Irons   England MF 34 (7) 7 2 0 1 0 5 0 2 0 44 (7) 7
11 Clyde Wijnhard   Suriname FW 2 (11) 1 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 1 0 0 3 (12) 2
12 Kevin Gray   England DF 44 1 2 0 1 0 6 0 2 0 55 1
13 Martyn Margetson   Wales GK 46 0 2 0 1 0 6 0 2 0 57 0
16 Delroy Facey   Grenada FW 11 (2) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 13 (2) 2
17 Simon Baldry   England MF 3 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 4 (3) 0
18 Chris Hay   Scotland FW 19 (12) 5 0 (1) 0 1 0 2 (2) 1 0 (2) 0 22 (17) 6
20 Thomas Heary   Republic of Ireland DF 21 (11) 0 2 0 1 0 6 0 2 0 32 (11) 0
21 Jon Dyson   England DF 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
22 Chris Beech   England MF 6 (3) 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 (3) 1
23 Chris Holland   England MF 35 (2) 1 2 0 1 0 5 (1) 1 2 0 45 (3) 2
24 Danny Schofield   England MF 39 (1) 8 2 0 0 0 6 4 0 0 47 (1) 12
26 Adie Moses   England DF 13 (4) 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 18 (4) 1
29 John Thorrington   United States MF 29 (2) 6 0 0 0 (1) 0 1 0 2 0 32 (3) 6
30 Leon Knight   England FW 31 16 2 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 37 17
31 Paul Macari   England FW 0 (6) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 (2) 0 0 0 0 (9) 0
32 Andy Booth   England FW 30 (6) 11 2 0 1 0 5 2 2 1 40 (6) 14
33 Dwayne Mattis   Republic of Ireland MF 21 (8) 1 2 0 0 (1) 0 3 0 0 0 26 (9) 1
34 Michael Senior   England MF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
36 Nathan Clarke   England DF 36 1 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 41 1
37 Damien Delaney   Republic of Ireland DF 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0
38 Jerel Ifil   England DF 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 (1) 0