1988–89 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season
# 1988–89 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town's 1988–89 campaign was a fairly unsuccessful campaign following the disastrous relegation the previous season. Under the leadership of former Ireland manager Eoin Hand, a disastrous end to the season saw Town finish 14th, just 6 points and 7 places above the relegation zone, despited the 33 goals from Craig Maskell.

## 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 | Steve Hardwick |
| -- | GK | ENG | Lee Martin |
| -- | DF | WAL | Ian Bray |
| -- | DF | ENG | Malcolm Brown |
| -- | DF | ENG | Chris Hutchings |
| -- | DF | ENG | Graham Mitchell |
| -- | DF | IRL | Ken O'Doherty |
| -- | DF | ENG | Malcolm Shotton |
| -- | DF | ENG | Simon Trevitt |
| -- | DF | ENG | Gordon Tucker |
| -- | MF | ENG | Mark Barham |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | Junior Bent |
| -- | MF | ENG | Paul France |
| -- | MF | ENG | Micky Holmes |
| -- | MF | ENG | Chris Marsden |
| -- | MF | ENG | Andy May |
| -- | MF | ENG | Ian McInerney |
| -- | MF | IRL | Kieran O'Regan |
| -- | MF | ENG | Julian Winter |
| -- | FW | ENG | Craig Maskell |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Ward |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Withe |

## Review

Following the disastrous campaign orchestrated by Steve Smith and Malcolm Macdonald the previous season, it was up to former Ireland manager Eoin Hand and assistant Peter Withe to try to recover Town's perilous position in the 3rd tier of English football. At the start of the season, Town seemed to register a loss and a win every alternate week. Although new signing Craig Maskell (bought using the money funded by the sale of Duncan Shearer during the close-season.) started to score the goals that would try to bring Town up to the play-off spots.

The season did not bring much joy to the Town fans probably still reeling from relegation the previous season, although Town did bring some joy with some good results during January and February, as well as a narrow defeat by soon-to-be promoted Sheffield United in the FA Cup restored some pride to the beleaguered fans.

Also during the season Town recorded their biggest ever away league victory – a 6–0 thrashing of Bury at Gigg Lane. Bizarrely, Town would lose 6–0 at Bury the following season. In the last 7 games, Town lost 5 of them and drew the other 2. But, on a positive note, Craig Maskell broke a post-war goalscoring record of 32 goals set by Jimmy Glazzard in the 1954–55 season, by scoring his 33rd goal of the season in the last game of the season at home to Wigan Athletic.

## 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 | Steve Hardwick |
| -- | GK | ENG | Lee Martin |
| -- | DF | WAL | Ian Bray |
| -- | DF | ENG | Andy Duggan |
| -- | DF | ENG | Chris Hutchings |
| -- | DF | ENG | Graham Mitchell |
| -- | DF | IRL | Ken O'Doherty |
| -- | DF | ENG | Simon Trevitt |
| -- | DF | ENG | Gordon Tucker |
| -- | MF | ENG | Junior Bent |
| -- | MF | ENG | Paul France |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | Chris Marsden |
| -- | MF | ENG | Andy May |
| -- | MF | ENG | Ian McInerney |
| -- | MF | IRL | Kieran O'Regan |
| -- | MF | ENG | Mark Smith |
| -- | MF | ENG | Julian Winter |
| -- | FW | IRL | Mick Byrne |
| -- | FW | ENG | Mike Cecere |
| -- | FW | ENG | Craig Maskell |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Withe |

## Results

### Division Three

| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 27 August 1988 | Brentford | A | 0–1 | | 5,632 | 20th |
| 3 September 1988 | Preston North End | H | 2–0 | Maskell, Shotton | 5,622 | 12th |
| 10 September 1988 | Cardiff City | A | 0–3 | | 3,891 | 18th |
| 17 September 1988 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | Hutchings | 4,688 | 18th |
| 20 September 1988 | Notts County | H | 3–1 | Byrne (2), Maskell (pen) | 5,655 | 11th |
| 24 September 1988 | Chester City | A | 0–3 | | 3,319 | 14th |
| 1 October 1988 | Fulham | H | 2–0 | Maskell (2) | 4,576 | 10th |
| 3 October 1988 | Port Vale | A | 0–2 | | 5,938 | 11th |
| 8 October 1988 | Northampton Town | A | 3–1 | Bent, Hutchings, Maskell (pen) | 3,975 | 10th |
| 15 October 1988 | Bristol City | H | 0–1 | | 5,952 | 16th |
| 22 October 1988 | Aldershot | A | 1–0 | Hutchings | 2,155 | 12th |
| 25 October 1988 | Swansea City | H | 1–1 | Hutchings | 5,711 | 12th |
| 29 October 1988 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–5 | Hutchings | 4,460 | 15th |
| 5 November 1988 | Sheffield United | H | 3–2 | Byrne, Maskell (2) | 10,400 | 14th |
| 8 November 1988 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0–1 | | 7,802 | 15th |
| 12 November 1988 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–4 | Maskell | 12,697 | 16th |
| 26 November 1988 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–0 | Maskell, Cecere | 2,779 | 14th |
| 3 December 1988 | Blackpool | H | 1–1 | Maskell | 5,738 | 15th |
| 17 December 1988 | Bury | H | 3–2 | Bent, O'Regan, Maskell | 5,150 | 12th |
| 26 December 1988 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | Bent | 5,539 | 13th |
| 31 December 1988 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–1 | | 4,628 | 14th |
| 2 January 1989 | Southend United | H | 3–2 | Maskell, Bent, Byrne | 6,403 | 14th |
| 14 January 1989 | Preston North End | A | 0–1 | | 6,959 | 14th |
| 21 January 1989 | Cardiff City | H | 1–0 | Bent | 4,869 | 11th |
| 28 January 1989 | Gillingham | A | 2–1 | Maskell, O'Regan | 3,530 | 10th |
| 4 February 1989 | Fulham | A | 2–1 | O'Doherty, Cecere | 4,081 | 9th |
| 11 February 1989 | Port Vale | H | 0–0 | | 8,004 | 9th |
| 18 February 1989 | Northampton Town | H | 1–2 | Maskell (pen) | 5,802 | 10th |
| 28 February 1989 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 | Match abandoned due to floodlight failure. | ? | |
| 4 March 1989 | Aldershot | H | 2–1 | Winter, Byrne | 4,709 | 10th |
| 7 March 1989 | Reading | H | 2–2 | Duggan, Maskell | 4,933 | 10th |
| 11 March 1989 | Sheffield United | A | 1–5 | Marsden | 13,680 | 10th |
| 14 March 1989 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–3 | Cecere, Maskell | 4,105 | 10th |
| 22 March 1989 | Swansea City | A | 0–1 | | 4,075 | 12th |
| 25 March 1989 | Southend United | A | 4–2 | Duggan, Byrne, Maskell (2, 1 pen) | 3,582 | 10th |
| 27 March 1989 | Chesterfield | H | 1–1 | Maskell | 5,819 | 11th |
| 1 April 1989 | Bury | A | 6–0 | Cecere, Maskell (3), Smith, Byrne | 4,145 | 10th |
| 5 April 1989 | Reading | A | 1–2 | May | 3,802 | 12th |
| 8 April 1989 | Mansfield Town | H | 2–0 | Maskell, McInerney | 5,327 | 9th |
| 15 April 1989 | Chester City | H | 3–1 | Winter, Smith, May | 6,109 | 9th |
| 18 April 1989 | Bristol City | A | 1–6 | Maskell | 4,542 | 9th |
| 22 April 1989 | Notts County | A | 0–3 | | 5,499 | 12th |
| 25 April 1989 | Brentford | H | 1–2 | Maskell | 3,538 | 12th |
| 29 April 1989 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–0 | | 8,757 | 12th |
| 1 May 1989 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–3 | Maskell (pen) | 5,511 | 12th |
| 6 May 1989 | Blackpool | A | 1–2 | Maskell | 4,070 | 14th |
| 13 May 1989 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | Maskell | 4,225 | 14th |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 19 November 1988 | Round 1 | Rochdale | H | 1–1 | May | 6,178 |
| 28 November 1988 | Round 1 Replay | Rochdale | A | 4–3 | Withe, O'Shaughnessy (og), Maskell, Bent | 5,645 |
| 10 December 1988 | Round 2 | Chester City | H | 1–0 | O'Regan | 6,295 |
| 7 January 1989 | Round 3 | Sheffield United | H | 0–1 | | 15,543 |

### League Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 30 August 1988 | Round 1 1st Leg | Scunthorpe United | A | 2–3 | Maskell, Mitchell | 3,820 |
| 6 September 1988 | Round 1 2nd Leg | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–2 | Maskell, Trevitt | 4,237 Huddersfield lost 5–4 on aggregate. |

### League Trophy

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 13 December 1988 | Preliminary Round Group 6 | Scunthorpe United | H | 1–0 | Byrne | 2,216 |
| 19 December 1988 | Preliminary Round Group 6 | Halifax Town | A | 0–1 | | 2,437 |
| 17 January 1989 | Round 1 | Grimsby Town | A | 3–1 | Cecere, Maskell, Withe | 2,116 |
| 21 February 1989 | Area Quarter-Final | Scarborough | H | 1–2 | Maskell | 4,665 |

## Appearances and goals

| Name | Nation | Position | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | League Cup Apps | League Cup Goals | FLT Apps | FLT Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mark Barham | England | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Junior Bent | England | MF | 14 (8) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 (8) | 6 |
| Malcolm Brown | England | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 |
| Mick Byrne | Republic of Ireland | FW | 29 (8) | 7 | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13 (10) | 8 |
| Mike Cecere | England | FW | 28 (3) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 36 (3) | 5 |
| Andy Duggan | England | DF | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| Paul France | England | DF | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 |
| Steve Hardwick | England | GK | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| Micky Holmes | England | MF | 3 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (4) | 0 |
| Chris Hutchings | England | DF | 41 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 5 |
| Chris Marsden | England | MF | 10 (4) | 1 | 0 (2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 (6) | 1 |
| Lee Martin | England | GK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| Craig Maskell | England | FW | 46 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 56 | 33 |
| Andy May | England | MF | 45 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 54 | 3 |
| Ian McInerney | England | MF | 5 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (6) | 1 |
| Graham Mitchell | England | DF | 33 (1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 42 (1) | 1 |
| Ken O'Doherty | Republic of Ireland | DF | 37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Kieran O'Regan | Republic of Ireland | MF | 36 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 3 |
| Malcolm Shotton | England | DF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Mark Smith | England | Fw | 17 (3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 (3) | 2 |
| Simon Trevitt | England | DF | 35 (4) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 39 (4) | 1 |
| Gordon Tucker | England | DF | 11 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 13 (4) | 0 |
| Peter Ward | England | FW | 1 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (4) | 0 |
| Julian Winter | England | MF | 35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| Peter Withe | England | FW | 14 (12) | 0 | 2 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 (2) | 1 | 18 (15) | 2 |
