# 1952–53 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town's 1952–53 campaign was Town's first season back in the 2nd Division since the 1919–20 season. Under the leadership of Andy Beattie, Town returned to the top flight at the first attempt. They finished in 2nd place behind Sheffield United by 2 points, with 58 points. The main reasons for Town's success during the season were the 45 goals between Jimmy Glazzard and Vic Metcalfe. Also, 7 of Town's players (Jack Wheeler, Ron Staniforth, Laurie Kelly, Bill McGarry, Don McEvoy, Len Quested and Vic Metcalfe) played every game in the season, while Jimmy Glazzard missed just the last game of the 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 | Harry Mills |
| -- | GK | ENG | Jack Wheeler |
| -- | DF | ENG | John Battye |
| -- | DF | ENG | Brian Gibson |
| -- | DF | ENG | George Howe |
| -- | DF | ENG | Laurie Kelly |
| -- | DF | ENG | Don McEvoy |
| -- | DF | ENG | Bill McGarry |
| -- | DF | ENG | Len Quested |
| -- | DF | ENG | Ron Staniforth |
| -- | MF | SCO | Willie Davie |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | SCO | Ian Duthie |
| -- | MF | SCO | Alistair Gunn |
| -- | MF | NIR | Johnny McKenna |
| -- | MF | ENG | Vic Metcalfe |
| -- | FW | ENG | Tommy Cavanagh |
| -- | FW | ENG | Bryan Frear |
| -- | FW | ENG | Jimmy Glazzard |
| -- | FW | ENG | Roy Shiner |
| -- | FW | ENG | Ron Simpson |
| -- | FW | SCO | Jimmy Watson |

## Review

Andy Beattie's first full season in charge of the Terriers had one simple objective – return Town to the top flight as soon as possible. The start of the season saw Town go on a 10-match unbeaten run, abruptly ended by a defeat at home to Nottingham Forest in early October. This was then followed by 5 consecutive wins, followed swiftly by 2 consecutive losses to Leicester City and West Ham United. Town's form continued to improve with Town only losing 5 more matches between December and the end of the season on 1 May.
The main reason for Town's success was their defence which remained unchanged all season. The 6-man defence of Jack Wheeler in goal, protected by Ron Staniforth, Laurie Kelly, Bill McGarry, Don McEvoy and Len Quested only let in 33 league goals all season, 22 less than champions Sheffield United. Vic Metcalfe played every game as well, while 30-goal Jimmy Glazzard just missed the final game against Plymouth Argyle. His replacement, Roy Shiner, scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win, which cemented Town's second-place finish and guaranteed their return to Division 1 after one season out.

## 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 | Harry Mills |
| -- | GK | ENG | Jack Wheeler |
| -- | DF | ENG | John Battye |
| -- | DF | ENG | Brian Gibson |
| -- | DF | ENG | George Howe |
| -- | DF | ENG | Laurie Kelly |
| -- | DF | ENG | Don McEvoy |
| -- | DF | ENG | Bill McGarry |
| -- | DF | ENG | Len Quested |
| -- | DF | ENG | Ron Staniforth |
| -- | MF | SCO | Willie Davie |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | SCO | Ian Duthie |
| -- | MF | SCO | Alistair Gunn |
| -- | MF | NIR | Johnny McKenna |
| -- | MF | ENG | Vic Metcalfe |
| -- | FW | ENG | Tommy Cavanagh |
| -- | FW | ENG | Bryan Frear |
| -- | FW | ENG | Jimmy Glazzard |
| -- | FW | ENG | Roy Shiner |
| -- | FW | ENG | Ron Simpson |
| -- | FW | SCO | Jimmy Watson |

## Results
### Division Two

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
| 23 August 1952 | Leeds United | H | 1–0 | Glazzard | 35,230 | 1st |
| 27 August 1952 | Brentford | H | 0–0 | | 21,358 | 5th |
| 30 August 1952 | Sheffield United | A | 2–0 | Watson, Glazzard | 34,872 | 1st |
| 3 September 1952 | Brentford | A | 3–1 | Glazzard (2), Metcalfe | 21,733 | 1st |
| 6 September 1952 | Barnsley | H | 6–0 | Glazzard (2), Metcalfe (2, 1 pen), Davie, Quested | 33,157 | 1st |
| 9 September 1952 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 1–1 | Watson | 27,614 | 1st |
| 13 September 1952 | Lincoln City | A | 2–2 | Glazzard, Metcalfe | 21,884 | 1st |
| 17 September 1952 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 3–1 | Watson, Glazzard, Gunn | 26,504 | 1st |
| 20 September 1952 | Hull City | H | 1–1 | Metcalfe (pen) | 34,411 | 1st |
| 27 September 1952 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–1 | Glazzard | 29,429 | 1st |
| 4 October 1952 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–2 | Gunn | 27,813 | 2nd |
| 11 October 1952 | Luton Town | H | 3–0 | Watson, Glazzard, Gunn | 26,345 | 2nd |
| 18 October 1952 | Birmingham City | A | 2–0 | Watson, Glazzard | 26,484 | 1st |
| 25 October 1952 | Bury | H | 2–0 | Metcalfe, Glazzard | 28,870 | 1st |
| 1 November 1952 | Southampton | A | 2–0 | Cavanagh, Glazzard | 20,867 | 1st |
| 8 November 1952 | Notts County | H | 1–0 | Metcalfe | 28,205 | 1st |
| 15 November 1952 | Leicester City | A | 1–2 | Glazzard | 39,908 | 1st |
| 22 November 1952 | West Ham United | H | 0–1 | | 22,267 | 2nd |
| 29 November 1952 | Fulham | A | 2–0 | Davie, Metcalfe | 25,000 | 2nd |
| 6 December 1952 | Rotherham United | H | 1–0 | Metcalfe | 31,312 | 2nd |
| 13 December 1952 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 2–0 | McGarry, Glazzard | 33,228 | 2nd |
| 20 December 1952 | Leeds United | A | 1–2 | Glazzard | 34,365 | 2nd |
| 25 December 1952 | Swansea Town | H | 3–0 | Davie, Metcalfe, Glazzard | 28,510 | 2nd |
| 27 December 1952 | Swansea Town | A | 3–3 | Glazzard, Dunn, Davie | 24,978 | 2nd |
| 3 January 1953 | Sheffield United | H | 1–1 | Furniss (og) | 43,339 | 2nd |
| 17 January 1953 | Barnsley | A | 4–2 | Cavanagh (3), Glazzard | 28,728 | 2nd |
| 24 January 1953 | Lincoln City | H | 5–0 | Glazzard (2), Watson, Cavanagh (2) | 26,512 | 2nd |
| 7 February 1953 | Hull City | A | 2–0 | Glazzard (2) | 26,081 | 2nd |
| 14 February 1953 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–3 | | 18,023 | 2nd |
| 21 February 1953 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–1 | | 25,074 | 2nd |
| 28 February 1953 | Luton Town | A | 2–0 | Glazzard, Shiner | 25,831 | 2nd |
| 7 March 1953 | Birmingham City | H | 1–1 | Glazzard | 28,636 | 2nd |
| 14 March 1953 | Bury | A | 1–1 | Quested | 19,334 | 2nd |
| 24 March 1953 | Southampton | H | 5–0 | Metcalfe (2), Cavanagh, Glazzard, Quested | 21,797 | 2nd |
| 28 March 1953 | Notts County | A | 0–1 | | 15,810 | 2nd |
| 4 April 1953 | Leicester City | H | 1–0 | Shiner | 26,822 | 2nd |
| 6 April 1953 | Everton | A | 1–2 | Lindsay (og) | 48,221 | 2nd |
| 7 April 1953 | Everton | H | 8–2 | Davie, Glazzard (4), Metcalfe, Gunn, Cavanagh | 30,721 | 2nd |
| 11 April 1953 | West Ham United | A | 1–0 | Cavanagh | 22,801 | 2nd |
| 18 April 1953 | Fulham | H | 4–2 | Cavanagh, Gunn, Metcalfe (2) | 23,950 | 2nd |
| 25 April 1953 | Rotherham United | A | 0–0 | | 19,777 | 2nd |
| 1 May 1953 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 4–0 | Shiner (3), Gunn | 19,624 | 2nd |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 10 January 1953 | Round 3 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | Glazzard, Watson | 34,967 |
| 31 January 1953 | Round 4 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | | 29,239 |

## Appearances and goals

| Name | Nation | Position | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
| Tommy Cavanagh | England | FW | 21 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 10 |
| Willie Davie | Scotland | FW | 31 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 5 |
| Ian Duthie | Scotland | MF | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Jimmy Glazzard | England | FW | 41 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 43 | 31 |
| Alistair Gunn | Scotland | MF | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 7 |
| Laurie Kelly | England | DF | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Don McEvoy | England | DF | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Bill McGarry | England | DF | 42 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| Johnny McKenna | Northern Ireland | MF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Vic Metcalfe | England | MF | 42 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 15 |
| Len Quested | England | DF | 42 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 3 |
| Roy Shiner | England | FW | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| Ron Staniforth | England | DF | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Jimmy Watson | Scotland | MF | 28 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 7 |
| Jack Wheeler | England | GK | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 |