# 1948–49 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town's 1948–49 campaign is referred to in Town folklore as the original "Great Escape" season (the second being the 1997–98 season), when Arnold Rodgers scored the goal that saw Town maintain their 1st Division status. His goal against Manchester City, with 10 minutes of the last match of the season remaining saw Town keep their status and relegate Preston North End and Sheffield United in the process.

## 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 | Bob Hesford |
| -- | GK | ENG | Harry Mills |
| -- | DF | ENG | Eddie Boot |
| -- | DF | ENG | Tom Briggs |
| -- | DF | IRL | Bill Hayes |
| -- | DF | ENG | George Hepplewhite |
| -- | DF | ENG | George Howe |
| -- | DF | ENG | Jack Percival |
| -- | DF | ENG | Alan Stewart |
| -- | DF | ENG | Henry Stewart |
| -- | MF | ENG | Albert Bateman |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | Vic Metcalfe |
| -- | FW | EIR | Peter Doherty |
| -- | FW | ENG | Jimmy Glazzard |
| -- | FW | ENG | Harold Hassall |
| -- | FW | ENG | Albert Nightingale |
| -- | FW | SCO | Frank Reid |
| -- | FW | ENG | Arnold Rodgers |
| -- | FW | ENG | Conway Smith |
| -- | FW | ENG | John Tanner |
| -- | FW | ENG | Arthur Thompson |
| -- | FW | ENG | Alf Whittingham |

## Review

Town's fortunes during the season didn't seem to improve on the previous season. Even the 14 goals from veteran Peter Doherty didn't seem to pull Town away from almost certain relegation. Relegation seemed to be certain for 2 out of Town, Preston North End and Sheffield United. With 10 minutes of Town's last match at home against Manchester City seemed to be heading down the trapdoor to Division 2.
But, an uncharacteristic error by legendary goalkeeper Frank Swift gave Arnold Rodgers the chance to score, which he did. Town won 1–0 which relegated Preston & Sheffield United and meant Town would live to fight another day.

## 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 | Bob Hesford |
| -- | GK | ENG | Harry Mills |
| -- | GK | ENG | Jack Wheeler |
| -- | DF | ENG | Eddie Boot |
| -- | DF | ENG | Tom Briggs |
| -- | DF | IRL | Bill Hayes |
| -- | DF | ENG | George Hepplewhite |
| -- | DF | ENG | George Howe |
| -- | DF | ENG | Donald Hunter |
| -- | DF | ENG | Jack Percival |
| -- | DF | ENG | Alan Stewart |
| -- | DF | ENG | Henry Stewart |
| -- | DF | ENG | Bill Whittaker |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | Albert Bateman |
| -- | MF | DEN | Karl Aage Hansen |
| -- | MF | EIR | Johnny McKenna |
| -- | MF | ENG | Vic Metcalfe |
| -- | FW | EIR | Peter Doherty |
| -- | FW | ENG | Jimmy Glazzard |
| -- | FW | ENG | Harold Hassall |
| -- | FW | ENG | Albert Nightingale |
| -- | FW | SCO | Frank Reid |
| -- | FW | ENG | Arnold Rodgers |
| -- | FW | ENG | Conway Smith |
| -- | FW | ENG | Arthur Thompson |

## Results
### Division One

| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
| 21 August 1948 | Arsenal | H | 1–1 | Whittingham | 30,620 | 7th |
| 25 August 1948 | Derby County | A | 1–4 | Tanner | 31,236 | 19th |
| 28 August 1948 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–3 | Smith | 38,437 | 21st |
| 1 September 1948 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | Doherty | 24,182 | 20th |
| 4 September 1948 | Manchester United | A | 1–4 | Doherty | 57,714 | 21st |
| 6 September 1948 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–1 | Hepplewhite, Metcalfe | 25,332 | 18th |
| 11 September 1948 | Sheffield United | H | 0–0 | | 21,088 | 19th |
| 15 September 1948 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0–2 | | 16,046 | 20th |
| 18 September 1948 | Aston Villa | A | 3–3 | Doherty (2), Smith | 44,523 | 20th |
| 25 September 1948 | Sunderland | H | 2–0 | Smith, Nightingale | 23,035 | 17th |
| 2 October 1948 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–7 | Nightingale | 36,153 | 17th |
| 9 October 1948 | Stoke City | H | 1–3 | Hassall | 19,385 | 18th |
| 16 October 1948 | Burnley | A | 2–1 | Metcalfe (2) | 28,976 | 18th |
| 23 October 1948 | Preston North End | H | 0–2 | | 20,819 | 19th |
| 30 October 1948 | Everton | A | 0–2 | | 46,632 | 19th |
| 6 November 1948 | Chelsea | H | 3–4 | Doherty (2, 1 pen), Nightingale | 18,963 | 20th |
| 13 November 1948 | Birmingham City | A | 0–1 | | 35,207 | 20th |
| 20 November 1948 | Middlesbrough | H | 0–0 | | 16,413 | 22nd |
| 27 November 1948 | Newcastle United | A | 4–2 | Nightingale, Doherty (3) | 49,332 | 21st |
| 4 December 1948 | Portsmouth | H | 0–0 | | 21,785 | 19th |
| 11 December 1948 | Manchester City | A | 1–3 | Doherty | 31,717 | 21st |
| 18 December 1948 | Arsenal | A | 0–3 | | 40,000 | 22nd |
| 25 December 1948 | Blackpool | A | 0–0 | | 29,244 | 21st |
| 27 December 1948 | Blackpool | H | 1–0 | Boot | 41,322 | 20th |
| 1 January 1949 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–2 | Smith | 20,937 | 21st |
| 22 January 1949 | Sheffield United | A | 0–0 | | 37,126 | 22nd |
| 12 February 1949 | Aston Villa | H | 0–1 | | 15,401 | 22nd |
| 19 February 1949 | Sunderland | A | 1–0 | Doherty (pen) | 42,719 | 22nd |
| 5 March 1949 | Stoke City | A | 3–1 | Hansen, McKenna, Doherty (pen) | 15,595 | 22nd |
| 12 March 1949 | Burnley | H | 1–0 | McKenna | 23,136 | 20th |
| 19 March 1949 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–1 | | 33,279 | 21st |
| 26 March 1949 | Newcastle United | H | 0–2 | | 25,745 | 21st |
| 2 April 1949 | Chelsea | A | 0–5 | | 48,136 | 22nd |
| 6 April 1949 | Manchester United | H | 2–1 | Doherty (pen), Metcalfe | 17,256 | 21st |
| 9 April 1949 | Birmingham City | H | 0–0 | | 18,856 | 21st |
| 15 April 1949 | Liverpool | A | 1–0 | Glazzard | 47,319 | 19th |
| 16 April 1949 | Preston North End | A | 0–2 | | 36,153 | 21st |
| 18 April 1949 | Liverpool | H | 0–4 | | 22,158 | 22nd |
| 23 April 1949 | Everton | H | 1–1 | McKenna | 19,051 | 22nd |
| 30 April 1949 | Portsmouth | A | 0–2 | | 37,042 | 22nd |
| 5 May 1949 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 4–0 | McKenna, Rodgers (2), Hansen | 21,445 | 21st |
| 7 May 1949 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | Rodgers | 27,507 | 20th |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 January 1949 | Round 3 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0 – 0 (aet: 90 mins: 0 – 0) | | 25,000 |
| 15 January 1949 | Round 3 Replay | Queens Park Rangers | H | 5–0 | Glazzard (2), Nightingale, McKenna, Bateman | 31,075 |
| 29 January 1949 | Round 4 | Newport County | A | 3 – 3 (aet: 90 mins: 3 – 3) | Doherty, Glazzard (2) | 22,500 |
| 5 February 1949 | Round 4 Replay | Newport County | H | 1–3 | Metcalfe | 34,183 |

## Appearances and goals

| Name | Nation | Position | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
| Albert Bateman | England | MF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Eddie Boot | England | DF | 41 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Tom Briggs | England | DF | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Peter Doherty | Ireland | FW | 26 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 14 |
| Jimmy Glazzard | England | FW | 30 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 5 |
| Karl Hansen | Denmark | MF | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Harold Hassall | England | FW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Bill Hayes | Republic of Ireland | DF | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| George Hepplewhite | England | DF | 39 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 1 |
| George Howe | England | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Donald Hunter | England | DF | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Johnny McKenna | Ireland | MF | 39 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 43 | 5 |
| Vic Metcalfe | England | MF | 37 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 39 | 5 |
| Harry Mills | England | GK | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Albert Nightingale | England | MF | 28 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 5 |
| Frank Reid | Scotland | FW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Arnold Rodgers | England | FW | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Conway Smith | England | MF | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| Alan Stewart | England | DF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Henry Stewart | England | DF | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| John Tanner | England | MF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Arthur Thompson | England | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jack Wheeler | England | GK | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Bill Whittaker | England | DF | 27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| Alf Whittingham | England | FW | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |