An Open Letter to Huddersfield Town’s 1,000th Player

On 28th September, Josh Ruffels became the one thousandth player to pull on the famous blue and white stripes in a competitive fixture. To mark the occasion, we’ve written an open letter to congratulate and introduce him to those who’ve gone before.

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Dear Josh,

To begin with, we’d like to congratulate you on your debut for the club.

We don’t usually make a habit of writing to new players, but by a sheer stroke of luck, you happen to be the one thousandth person to wear the famous blue and white stripes in a competitive fixture. That seems as good a milestone as any to celebrate. 

The 999 who came before you are a diverse bunch, hailing from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe. 

Their number includes F.A. Cup, Charity Shield, First Division, Second Division, Fourth Division, and even World Cup winners, not to mention the first ‘Thrice Champions’. 

They’ve given their all for the home crowd at two iconic stadia in a town that prides itself on treading its own path. Sometimes they were watched by 50 or 60 thousand, and at other times a lot less.

But the one thing that unites them is that they’ve all played their own unique part in a remarkable story that, at the time of writing, is 113 years old. 

So, if you ever fall on hard times or begin to doubt yourself, remember that you stand squarely on the shoulders of giants. Remember, too, that you’re part of the club now—part of the story—which means that you’ll have the support of everybody, from your coaches and teammates to the staff and fans.

Keep the faith.

Yours Sincerely,

The Huddersfield Town Supporters' Association (HTSA) 

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To find out who the previous 999 players were, visit our Player Database collection, which exists thanks to the hard work of Town historian John M. Ward.