INTRODUCING 'FLYING HIGH' (for HTFC publicity, Nov/ Dec 2023) 'ONE FOR THE XMAS STOCKING'?
Season 2023/4 marks the centenary of a landmark event in English football, when Huddersfield Town won the the first of three successive League Championship titles; a feat equalled only four times since (by Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City). But never exceeded.
Andrew Pearce's book 'Flying High with Huddersfield Town' examines how a club from a small Yorkshire mill town became so all-powerful that it ended six successive seasons 3rd, 1st 1st, 1st, 2nd and 2nd in England's top division: and in 10 seasons out of 12 would finish in a top six position, including 7 times in either 1st or 2nd spot. As for the FA Cup, the 20 years between the two wars saw Town reach 7 semi-finals, 5 finals and, in '22, bring the famous trophy back to Huddersfield. Yes, in these two decades HTFC was DEFINITELY the greatest club in England; and therefore in the World !
The popular explanation for Town's success has always centred on the wonderful management skills of Herbert Chapman, the man at the helm for our first two titles who would go on to replicate this success with Arsenal. (Andrew speculates that maybe 'Erbert took pity on the Gunners because, in his 8 Town fixtures versus his future club, the scores were 2-0, 3-1, 1-1, 4-0, 3-1, 6-1, 4-0 and 5-0 ; ie Town 28 Arsenal 4 !)
'Erbert managed at Leeds Road for just 4 years and the book recalls a less famous Town hero; solicitor Amos Brook Hirst. For 35 years after Town's formation, in 1906, this Boardroom maestro's magnificent efforts were rightly acknowledged 48 years later when he became 'Sir Amos'.
Andrew, a life-long Town fan, began writing his 'labour of love' in 2006 and later extended coverage to Post War events; with stories about club legends like Jimmy Glazzard, Denis Law, Ray Wilson, Les Massie, Bill Shankly, Jimmy Nicholson, Frank Worthington, Mick Buxton, Andy Booth, Peter Jackson, Marcus Stewart, 'Deano', Jordan Rhodes, David Wagner, Chris Schindler, Jonny Hogg and more.
And the book's new edition brings Town history up to date via chapters that include Neil Warnock's epic effort, earlier this year, to clinch our Terrier-like escape from seemingly certain relegation.
Product code: 2300402
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