Key details regarding the Terriers ahead of the upcoming Sky Bet Championship campaign
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Home ground: John Smith’s Stadium
Capacity: 24,500
Manager: Chris Powell
2014/15 league position: 16th
2014/15 top goalscorer: Nahki Wells (14 in all competitions)
Starting the 2014/15 season with the departure of manager Mark Robins after just one game, the Terriers’ faithful will be hoping for a less dramatic beginning to the new campaign this time around.
With Robins leaving the Yorkshire outfit following their opening day 4-0 defeat at the hands of AFC Bournemouth at the John Smith’s Stadium, it would be three further weeks until the installment of Chris Powell in the Town hotseat.
Following the former Charlton Athletic boss’ arrival at the club, the Terriers embarked on a seven-game unbeaten run between late September and early November to pull themselves away from the relegation mire.
For Huddersfield however, the remainder of their domestic season was solid if not spectacular, with just one defeat in their last ten games ensuring that they finished a respectable 16th in the Sky Bet Championship league standings with 55 points from their 46 games.
With Powell now able to stamp his own mark on the team in his first full season in charge, the Huddersfield manager wasted no time in releasing Anthony Gerrard, Jonathan Stead, Martin Paterson, Jake Carroll and Daniel Carr alongside the sale of Conor Coady to Wolves.
Strengthening his squad with the acquisitions of Kyle Dempsey, Jason Davison and Dean Whitehead though, Powell will be hoping that his efforts in the close season will be enough to ensure success on the field for the Terriers this term.
MEDIA VIEW
Doug Thomson, Football Writer for the Huddersfield Examiner, offers his thoughts on the season ahead for Huddersfield Town.
“Town fans are hoping the feel good factor created by a seven-match unbeaten run at the end of last season will continue into the new campaign. But there are concerns after the £2m sale of midfielder Conor Coady to Wolves.
“Much will depend on Chris Powell’s close-season recruitment as Town try to establish themselves as a top-half Championship team.
“So far he has brought in experienced midfielder Dean Whitehead from Middlesbrough and Australian international Jason Davidson has arrived from West Brom to fill the left-back vacancy.
“Powell, going through his fist pre-season as Town boss, still wants to bring in three or four more.
“Much is expected of former Bolton loan midfielder Jacob Butterfield, who was the fans’ Player of the Season last time and keeping striker James Vaughan fit for a full campaign would be a big bonus.
“Meanwhile Nahki Wells, last season’s 14-goal top scorer, has spoken of his desire to top 20 this time, but Town also need to tighten up defensively after shipping 75 goal in 46 league games in 2014/15.”
FIXTURES V BOLTON IN 2015/16:
Saturday 19 September 2015 – 3pm kick-off at John Smith’s Stadium
Saturday 2 January 2016 – 3pm kick-off at Macron Stadium
RESULTS V BOLTON IN 2014/15:
Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Huddersfield Town – 29/11/2014 (CLICK HERE for highlights)
Huddersfield Town 2-1 Bolton Wanderers – 28/12/2014 (CLICK HERE for highlights)