1987–88 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season
# 1987–88 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town's 1987–88 campaign is statistically Town's worst ever season in their league history. Town won only 6 league games all season, had their heaviest ever defeat in their history, conceded 100 league goals in the season and finished 19 points adrift of safety and even 14 points behind 2nd-bottom team Reading. Both of the two managers during the season, Steve Smith and Malcolm Macdonald failed miserably and Macdonald is regarded as one of the worst managers in Town's history.

## 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 | Brian Cox |
| -- | GK | ENG | Lee Martin |
| -- | DF | WAL | Ian Bray |
| -- | DF | ENG | Malcolm Brown |
| -- | DF | ENG | David Burke |
| -- | DF | SCO | Willie McStay |
| -- | DF | ENG | Graham Mitchell |
| -- | DF | ENG | Simon Trevitt |
| -- | DF | ENG | Gordon Tucker |
| -- | DF | ENG | Simon Webster |
| -- | MF | ENG | Ian Banks |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | Mark Barham |
| -- | MF | ENG | Junior Bent |
| -- | MF | ENG | David Cowling |
| -- | MF | ENG | Paul France |
| -- | MF | ENG | Carl Madrick |
| -- | MF | ENG | Andy May |
| -- | MF | ENG | Julian Winter |
| -- | FW | ENG | Graham Cooper |
| -- | FW | ENG | David Cork |
| -- | FW | SCO | Duncan Shearer |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Ward |

## Review

The start of the season was at the time, the worst in Town's history. The team lost most of their early games and Steve Smith, a hero during his playing days at Leeds Road, was shown the door on 6 October, after the 2–0 defeat at Birmingham City. Malcolm Macdonald replaced Smith a week later, but it wasn't until the end of the month that Town registered their first win, a 2–1 victory at the end-of-season champions Millwall.

However, a week later, Town recorded their biggest ever loss in their history, going down 10–1 against Manchester City at Maine Road. After that embarrassment, Town recovered slightly going on a run of only 1 defeat in 6 matches. However, this proved to be nothing more than a false dawn and Town's chances of survival would shortly become non-existent.

Following their 2–1 win over Plymouth Argyle on 12 December, Town would only win 2 matches for the remaining 5 months of the season, they were a 1–0 win at Bradford City and amazingly a 1–0 win against a Manchester City side, who 4 months earlier beat them 10–1. They were officially relegated with four games remaining, after a 2-2 draw at home to near neighbours Oldham Athletic, and Town ended up with only 28 points, finishing 14 points behind Reading in 23rd place and a further 5 behind the safety zone of 21st placed West Bromwich Albion. Macdonald was sacked just before the last game of the season against Sheffield United. Eoin Hand would replace Macdonald for the new season in the Third Division.

## 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 | Brian Cox |
| -- | GK | ENG | Lee Martin |
| -- | DF | WAL | Ian Bray |
| -- | DF | ENG | Malcolm Brown |
| -- | DF | ENG | Vince Chapman |
| -- | DF | ENG | Chris Hutchings |
| -- | DF | ENG | Graham Mitchell |
| -- | DF | ENG | Malcolm Shotton |
| -- | DF | ENG | Simon Trevitt |
| -- | DF | ENG | Gordon Tucker |
| -- | MF | ENG | Ian Banks |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| -- | MF | ENG | Mark Barham |
| -- | MF | ENG | Junior Bent |
| -- | MF | ENG | Paul France |
| -- | MF | ENG | Carl Madrick |
| -- | MF | ENG | Andy May |
| -- | MF | ENG | Julian Winter |
| -- | FW | ENG | Graham Cooper |
| -- | FW | ENG | David Cork |
| -- | FW | ENG | Paul Kirkham |
| -- | FW | SCO | Duncan Shearer |
| -- | FW | ENG | Peter Ward |

## Results

### Division Two

| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 August 1987 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–2 | Trevitt, Shearer | 6,132 | 6th |
| 22 August 1987 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–6 | Ward | 8,811 | 21st |
| 29 August 1987 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 0–0 | | 4,478 | 20th |
| 31 August 1987 | Oldham Athletic | A | 2–3 | Shearer, Banks | 7,410 | 21st |
| 12 September 1987 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–2 | May, Cooper | 7,109 | 23rd |
| 15 September 1987 | Leeds United | H | 0–0 | | 9,085 | 22nd |
| 19 September 1987 | Aston Villa | H | 0–1 | | 6,884 | 23rd |
| 26 September 1987 | Stoke City | A | 1–1 | Cooper | 8,665 | 23rd |
| 29 September 1987 | Bradford City | H | 1–2 | Shearer | 11,671 | 23rd |
| 3 October 1987 | Birmingham City | A | 0–2 | | 6,282 | 23rd |
| 10 October 1987 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–4 | Shearer | 6,169 | 23rd |
| 17 October 1987 | Reading | A | 2–3 | Shearer (2) | 4,678 | 23rd |
| 20 October 1987 | Hull City | H | 0–2 | | 8,033 | 23rd |
| 24 October 1987 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–3 | Cork, Shearer | 8,450 | 23rd |
| 31 October 1987 | Millwall | H | 2–1 | Banks, Cork | 5,504 | 23rd |
| 3 November 1987 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–3 | | 9,984 | 23rd |
| 7 November 1987 | Manchester City | A | 1–10 | May (pen) | 19,583 | 23rd |
| 14 November 1987 | Barnsley | H | 2–2 | Ward, Banks | 8,629 | 23rd |
| 21 November 1987 | Bournemouth | A | 2–0 | Cork, Banks | 6,419 | 23rd |
| 28 November 1987 | Leicester City | H | 1–0 | Cooper | 6,704 | 22nd |
| 1 December 1987 | Swindon Town | A | 1–4 | Cooper | 6,963 | 22nd |
| 5 December 1987 | Sheffield United | A | 2–2 | Banks, Cooper | 9,269 | 22nd |
| 12 December 1987 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–1 | Cork (2) | 5,747 | 21st |
| 19 December 1987 | Leeds United | A | 0–3 | | 20,111 | 21st |
| 26 December 1987 | Stoke City | H | 0–3 | | 9,500 | 21st |
| 28 December 1987 | Aston Villa | A | 1–1 | Shearer | 20,948 | 21st |
| 1 January 1988 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–3 | Cork | 5,448 | 23rd |
| 2 January 1988 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–2 | May (pen) | 10,735 | 23rd |
| 16 January 1988 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–2 | Shearer | 9,013 | 23rd |
| 13 February 1988 | Swindon Town | H | 0–3 | | 5,458 | 23rd |
| 27 February 1988 | Birmingham City | H | 2–2 | Banks, Barham | 5,441 | 23rd |
| 1 March 1988 | Bradford City | A | 1–0 | Banks | 12,782 | 23rd |
| 5 March 1988 | Reading | H | 0–2 | | 6,094 | 23rd |
| 12 March 1988 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–2 | | 13,866 | 23rd |
| 19 March 1988 | Millwall | A | 1–4 | Mitchell | 6,181 | 23rd |
| 26 March 1988 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–3 | Cork | 4,503 | 23rd |
| 2 April 1988 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | Madrick | 7,835 | 23rd |
| 4 April 1988 | Barnsley | A | 0–1 | | 7,950 | 23rd |
| 8 April 1988 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–2 | Banks | 4,023 | 23rd |
| 19 April 1988 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–2 | Shearer, Banks | 5,547 | 23rd |
| 23 April 1988 | Hull City | A | 0–4 | | 5,221 | 23rd |
| 30 April 1988 | Bournemouth | H | 1–2 | Cork | 2,794 | 23rd |
| 2 May 1988 | Leicester City | A | 0–3 | | 9,803 | 23rd |
| 7 May 1988 | Sheffield United | H | 0–2 | | 8,644 | 23rd |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 January 1988 | Round 3 | Manchester City | H | 2–2 | Shearer (2) | 18,102 |
| 12 January 1988 | Round 3 replay | Manchester City | A | 0–0 | | 24,565 |
| 25 January 1988 | Round 3 2nd replay | Manchester City | H | 0–3 | | 21,510 |

### League Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 18 August 1987 | Round 1 1st Leg | Rotherham United | A | 4–4 | Shearer (3), Barham | 3,353 |
| 25 August 1987 | Round 1 2nd Leg | Rotherham United | H | 1–3 | Shearer | 4,528 Huddersfield lost 7–5 on aggregate. |

### Full Members Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 November 1987 | Round 1 | Leicester City | A | 0–1 | | 3,440 |

## 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ian Banks | England | MF | 41 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 9 |
| Mark Barham | England | MF | 24 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 26 (3) | 2 |
| Junior Bent | England | MF | 5 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (3) | 0 |
| Ian Bray | Wales | DF | 29 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 (1) | 0 |
| Malcolm Brown | England | DF | 23 (2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 (2) | 0 |
| David Burke | England | DF | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Vince Chapman | England | DF | 4 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (2) | 0 |
| Graham Cooper | England | FW | 20 (5) | 5 | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 (8) | 5 |
| David Cork | England | FW | 36 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 8 |
| David Cowling | England | MF | 5 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (1) | 0 |
| Brian Cox | England | GK | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Paul France | England | DF | 5 (3) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 (3) | 0 |
| Chris Hutchings | England | DF | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Paul Kirkham | England | FW | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| Carl Madrick | England | FW | 3 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (5) | 1 |
| Lee Martin | England | GK | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Andy May | England | MF | 27 (1) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 (1) | 3 |
| Seamus McDonagh | Republic of Ireland | GK | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Willie McStay | Scotland | DF | 4 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 (4) | 0 |
| Graham Mitchell | England | DF | 28 (1) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 (1) | 1 |
| Duncan Shearer | Scotland | FW | 31 (2) | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 37 (2) | 16 |
| Malcolm Shotton | England | DF | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Simon Trevitt | England | DF | 31 (6) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 (6) | 1 |
| Gordon Tucker | England | DF | 19 (4) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 21 (6) | 0 |
| Steve Walford | England | DF | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Peter Ward | England | FW | 19 (7) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 (7) | 2 |
| Simon Webster | England | DF | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Julian Winter | England | MF | 5 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 5 (3) | 0 |
