A Personal History of Huddersfield Town

My name is Steven Downes and I’d like to give you an insight into the most interesting and volatile period in the club's history.  

As a sports fan and child growing up, I always watched football on TV. My first memory is watching the ball sail over David Seaman's head at the 2002 World Cup. I was 6 years old at the time and whilst upset that England lost, I wasn’t quite aware that my love affair with football had only just began.  

At the age of 14, I kept asking my parents to take me to a live football game. Leeds United? Not at £39 a ticket. What about Bradford City? There was a pull towards them as I already played for the club’s disability team. However, we finally settled on the Terriers being the team for us. 

Our first game was against Yeovil Town at the then Galpharm Stadium. Walking up to the ground and going inside it, I was so excited, and it looked huge. We sat in the Fantastic Media Lower tier behind the goal. Town eventually won the game 2-1 in front of 12,000 fans.  

And so it began, the journey from League 1 to the Premier League and back to the Championship, all within a decade.  

I have seen over 150 players play for the club and can name pretty much all of them.  

The highest of highs came in 2017 when Christopher Schindler scored the winning penalty against Reading in the Championship Playoff Final—a day I shall never forget. I woke up at 6 AM with excitement in my heart. I couldn't believe we were just a few hours away from seeing my team earn their place in England's topflight. I never for one second thought I would see my team on Match of the Day. 

As Schindler took his chance and scored the winning kick I cried at Wembley, and again on the bus home. What a feeling that was, surrounded by people who were just as delirious.  

That summer went quickly as I had graduated from University, too. Then, in August 2017, we travelled down to Crystal Palace. A team befitting our first game back in the topflight. That day is as vivid as Wembley, a hot afternoon with the stadium in South London soaked in sunshine. Steve Mounie scored a brace and we eventually won 3-0. Our first game back in 45 years could not have gone better.  

Another notable game was our 2-1 win over Manchester United. Working in the press area you could get up close and personal with players and managers. Seeing Pogba, De Gea, and Jose Mourinho trudging out of a cold and wind-swept John Smiths Stadium was unreal.

As I sat down at home to watch Chelsea take on Huddersfield, all we needed was a point to stay up. Laurent Depoitre scored a goal I'm sure we'll all remember to the day we die. 

The final game of the season was against Arsenal, and it was Arsene Wenger's last game in charge of the Gunners. A no pressure game and whilst Town lost, it was one we all enjoyed. 

The following season was one to forget. We were eventually relegated and nearly went down again. But former Lincoln boss Danny Cowley kept us up. 

A surprise to many, we moved him on and now we have a Spanish head coach in the form of Carlos Corberán, who we can all get behind with his style of play. 

With a global pandemic hitting in the year 2020, general life changed, and football fans could only stay at home to watch their team. 

Supporters sadly passed away and we'll remember those who died forever. 

So, to sum up my time supporting Town, I've been through blood, sweat, and tiers in my 12 years so far, and I expect a lot more in the future.  

Only time will tell whether there will be a more tumultuous time supporting the club I love.