# 1978–79 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town's 1978-79 campaign was Town's penultimate season in their 5-year stint in the Football League's basement division. It also saw the arrival of Mick Buxton at the club, he would be Town's second longest manager in the club's history. After replacing Tom Johnston, Town gained a resurgence in their form and then finished in 9th place. It would be a precursor to Town's championship winning team the next season.

## Squad at the start of the season

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 | Alan Starling |
| -- | GK | ENG | Dick Taylor |
| -- | DF | ENG | Jim Branagan |
| -- | DF | ENG | Malcolm Brown |
| -- | DF | ENG | Paul Gartland |
| -- | DF | ENG | Phil Sandercock |
| -- | DF | ENG | Dave Sutton |
| -- | DF | ENG | Chris Topping |
| -- | MF | ENG | Terry Armstrong |
| -- | MF | ENG | Paul Bielby |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | David Cowling |
| -- | MF | ENG | Keith Hanvey |
| -- | MF | ENG | Peter Hart |
| -- | MF | ENG | Ian Holmes |
| -- | MF | ENG | Keith Ripley |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Fletcher |
| -- | FW | ENG | Terry Gray |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Howey |
| -- | FW | ENG | Mark Lillis |
| -- | FW | SCO | Frank McGrellis (on loan from Coventry City) |

## Review

Following on from the previous season's disappointments and the early season's poor form, Tom Johnston resigned and following a spell as caretaker, Mick Buxton became the new manager and helped Town recover their form mainly from the signing from Bury and the conversion of Keith Hanvey from midfield to defence to partner Dave Sutton in the centre.
Town would finish the season in 9th place with just 47 points, but the following season would see Town return to Division 3 in style.

## Squad at the end of the season

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 | Alan Starling |
| -- | GK | ENG | Dick Taylor |
| -- | DF | ENG | Jim Branagan |
| -- | DF | ENG | Malcolm Brown |
| -- | DF | ENG | Paul Gartland |
| -- | DF | ENG | Keith Hanvey |
| -- | DF | ENG | Phil Sandercock |
| -- | DF | ENG | Dave Sutton |
| -- | DF | ENG | Chris Topping |
| -- | MF | ENG | Terry Armstrong |
| -- | MF | ENG | Paul Bielby |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | David Cowling |
| -- | MF | ENG | Peter Hart |
| -- | MF | ENG | Ian Holmes |
| -- | MF | ENG | Keith Ripley |
| -- | FW | ENG | Daryl Brook |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Fletcher |
| -- | FW | ENG | Terry Gray |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Howey |
| -- | FW | ENG | Mark Lillis |
| -- | FW | ENG | Ian Robins |
| -- | FW | ENG | Tommy Smith |

## Results
### Division Four

| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F - A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
| 19 August 1978 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0 - 0 | | 2,838 | 13th |
| 22 August 1978 | Darlington | A | 0 - 1 | | 2,549 | 18th |
| 25 August 1978 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1 - 3 | Hanvey | 3,200 | 19th |
| 2 September 1978 | Reading | H | 1 - 1 | Bielby (pen) | 2,951 | 21st |
| 9 September 1978 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 2 - 1 | Hanvey, Bielby | 4,038 | 16th |
| 12 September 1978 | Bournemouth | A | 0 - 2 | | 2,416 | 18th |
| 16 September 1978 | Barnsley | A | 0 - 1 | | 11,794 | 20th |
| 23 September 1978 | Northampton Town | H | 1 - 0 | Holmes | 3,320 | 17th |
| 26 September 1978 | Grimsby Town | H | 2 - 0 | Brolly (og), Campbell (pen) | 4,238 | 16th |
| 29 September 1978 | Stockport County | A | 1 - 3 | Bielby (pen) | 5,554 | 17th |
| 7 October 1978 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1 - 1 | Bielby (pen) | 5,150 | 16th |
| 14 October 1978 | Newport County | A | 1 - 2 | Robins | 3,624 | 22nd |
| 17 October 1978 | Hereford United | H | 2 - 3 | Campbell (2) | 2,565 | 22nd |
| 21 October 1978 | Wimbledon | H | 3 - 0 | Robins (2), Bielby | 3,374 | 18th |
| 28 October 1978 | Bradford City | A | 1 - 1 | Fletcher | 5,478 | 19th |
| 4 November 1978 | York City | H | 1 - 0 | Sutton | 3,696 | 16th |
| 11 November 1978 | Reading | A | 1 - 1 | Robins | 6,870 | 15th |
| 18 November 1978 | Scunthorpe United | H | 3 - 2 | Topping, Gray, Fletcher | 3,375 | 15th |
| 2 December 1978 | Aldershot | H | 0 - 0 | | 3,138 | 13th |
| 9 December 1978 | Portsmouth | A | 0 - 1 | | 11,615 | 15th |
| 26 December 1978 | Halifax Town | H | 2 - 0 | Fletcher, Robins | 5,341 | 16th |
| 1 January 1979 | Port Vale | A | 0 - 1 | | 4,021 | 17th |
| 3 February 1979 | Grimsby Town | A | 1 - 2 | Robins | 4,921 | 17th |
| 17 February 1979 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1 - 2 | Robins | 7,420 | 18th |
| 24 February 1979 | Newport County | H | 0 - 1 | | 3,361 | 20th |
| 27 February 1979 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2 - 0 | Holmes, Howey | 3,419 | 18th |
| 3 March 1979 | Wimbledon | A | 1 - 2 | Holmes | 3,265 | 18th |
| 6 March 1979 | Northampton Town | A | 3 - 2 | Holmes (2), Robins | 1,823 | 18th |
| 10 March 1979 | Bradford City | H | 0 - 0 | | 6,188 | 18th |
| 13 March 1979 | Bournemouth | H | 2 - 1 | Fletcher, Armstrong | 2,268 | 18th |
| 24 March 1979 | Darlington | H | 2 - 2 | Robins (2) | 2,862 | 18th |
| 28 March 1979 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 3 - 3 | Fletcher (2), Holmes | 1,382 | 18th |
| 31 March 1979 | Hartlepool United | H | 2 - 0 | Robins, Holmes | 2,420 | 16th |
| 4 April 1979 | Stockport County | H | 0 - 0 | | 2,267 | 14th |
| 7 April 1979 | Aldershot | A | 0 - 1 | | 4,215 | 16th |
| 10 April 1979 | Rochdale | A | 2 - 0 | Fletcher, Robins | 2,020 | 13th |
| 14 April 1979 | Halifax Town | A | 3 - 2 | Fletcher (2), Holmes | 4,027 | 12th |
| 16 April 1979 | Port Vale | H | 3 - 2 | Robins, Fletcher, Holmes | 3,236 | 10th |
| 17 April 1979 | Rochdale | H | 1 - 0 | Fletcher | 3,346 | 9th |
| 21 April 1979 | Torquay United | A | 1 - 2 | Holmes | 2,478 | 9th |
| 25 April 1979 | Hereford United | A | 0 - 3 | | 2,635 | 11th |
| 28 April 1979 | Portsmouth | H | 2 - 0 | Robins, Fletcher (pen) | 2,895 | 10th |
| 30 April 1979 | Torquay United | H | 1 - 1 | Hart | 1,680 | 10th |
| 2 May 1979 | Barnsley | H | 1 - 0 | Robins | 9,382 | 9th |
| 5 May 1979 | Hartlepool United | A | 0 - 2 | | 2,207 | 10th |
| 19 May 1979 | York City | A | 3 - 1 | Holmes, Cowling, Robins | 2,664 | 9th |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F - A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 25 November 1978 | Round 1 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 1 - 2 | Fletcher | 4,330 |

### Football League Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F - A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 12 August 1978 | Round 1 1st Leg | Preston North End | A | 0 - 3 | | 6,841 |
| 15 August 1978 | Round 1 2nd Leg | Preston North End | H | 2 - 2 | Holmes, Ripley (pen) | 3,435 Huddersfield lost 5-2 on aggregate. |

## Appearances and goals

| Name | Nation | Position | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | League Cup Apps | League Cup Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
| Terry Armstrong | England | FW | 15 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 (2) | 1 |
| Paul Bielby | England | MF | 29 (2) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 (2) | 5 |
| Jim Branagan | England | DF | 13 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 (1) | 0 |
| Daryl Brook | England | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Malcolm Brown | England | DF | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| Bobby Campbell | Northern Ireland | FW | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| David Cowling | England | MF | 25 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 (1) | 1 |
| Peter Fletcher | England | FW | 31 (4) | 12 | 0 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33 (5) | 13 |
| Paul Gartland | England | DF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Terry Gray | England | FW | 22 (4) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 (4) | 1 |
| Keith Hanvey | England | DF | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
| Peter Hart | England | MF | 46 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 1 |
| Ian Holmes | England | MF | 31 (3) | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33 (3) | 12 |
| Peter Howey | England | MF | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Mark Lillis | England | MF | 11 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 (1) | 0 |
| Frank McGrellis | Scotland | FW | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 (1) | 0 |
| Keith Ripley | England | MF | 2 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 1 | 2 (4) | 1 |
| Ian Robins | England | FW | 37 (1) | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 (1) | 16 |
| Phil Sandercock | England | DF | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Tommy Smith | England | FW | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| Alan Starling | England | GK | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| Dave Sutton | England | DF | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| Dick Taylor | England | GK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Chris Topping | England | DF | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 1 |