With fixture release day less than fortnight away, City fans will be eager to get planning their season – with new opponents, new stadiums and new cities to visit. We’re taking a look at the seven new teams who we will be facing in League One next season.
A Brief History
Adapted from htafc.com/club/about-town
Formed in 1908, Huddersfield Town has one of the proudest histories of any club in English football.
Recognised as one of the most successful English clubs of all time, we were the first to win the English League title three times in a row in 1924, 1925 and 1926. This is a feat that has only been repeated by four other teams; Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Those three titles were won under Herbert Chapman, who would later move on to manage Arsenal. The success continued as they reached FA Cup finals in 1928, 1930 and 1938, though they did lose all three. They were relegated after 32 years in the First Division in 1952, and again in 1956. After winning the Second Division in 1969-70, they were relegated three times in four years by 1975. Between 1979-83 they returned to the Second Division but went down again in 1988, and beaten in the EFL Trophy final in 1994. Division Three promotion came in 2004, before another promotion in 2012 took Town back into the Championship.
The Terriers reached the Premier League in 2017 after beating Reading in a play-off final penalty shoot-out to reach the top tier for the first time since 1972. They survived for two seasons in the Premier League – finishing 16th first time round in a campaign that saw them beat Manchester United, before finishing bottom the following year.
A 3rd place finish in 2022 saw Huddersfield return to Wembley, but were beaten by Nottingham Forest for a place back in the top tier. The Terriers failed to recover from the play-off final defeat and after an 18th place finish in 2022/23, they were relegated last season after a season of three different managers.
The Manager
Following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, Michael Duff was the man handed the task of returning the Terriers to the Championship.
Having taken Cheltenham Town into League One as champions 2020-21, Duff then led them to their highest ever EFL finish – 15th – the following campaign, before being poached by fellow League One side Barnsley. In his only season with the Tykes he led them to the play-off final where they were ultimately beaten by Sheffield Wednesday. He took over at Swansea City in June 2023, but he was sacked in December after a run of one win in eight.
He was appointed at Huddersfield in May 2024.
The Stadium
The John Smith’s Stadium is one of the most eye-catching grounds in the Football League and is shared with the Huddersfield Giants rugby league team. Built by Alfred McAlpine in 1994 to replace Leeds Road, it was awarded the RIBA Building of the Year award in 1995.
The four sloping-roofed stands blend neatly into the hillside on which it is built next to, with the main stand – the Riverside – capable of accommodating over 10,000 people in two tiers. Opposite is the East Stand – Kilner Bank – and is built under and partially into the hill above. The North Stand is another two tiered affair which houses 16 executive boxes with a removable bottom tier, which can be adapted for concerts. Away fans share the South Stand with home fans, with up 2,500 visitors able to be accommodated.
The stadium has hosted several England age group matches, Rugby League World Cup matches, and has seen concerts by the likes of Take That, Elton John, Girls Aloud and Bon Jovi.
Head To Head Record
City’s record with Huddersfield stretches back to the first match in December 1975, which the Grecians won 1-0 in Division Four. The last meeting came in 2012, when the Terriers were 2-0 winners at home in League One. City have won eight of the previous meetings, with 11 for Huddersfield and five draws.
Biggest Exeter win: 4-1 (1975/76 – Division Four)
Biggest Huddersfield win: 5-0 (1980/81 – Division Three)
Previous Fixture
Jamie McCombe and Jordan Rhodes were on the scoresheet on 25 February 2012, as Huddersfield were 2-0 victors in new manager Simon Grayson’s first game in charge.
Played for Both
Former City striker Marcus Stewart is one of the most famous names to have played for both City and the Terriers – he played for the West Yorkshire side between 1996-2000. Ronnie Jepson made the move from St James Park to Huddersfield in 1993, while City signed left-back Jaden Brown on loan from Town in January 2019.
Kieran Phillips, who scored the crucial equaliser in City’s promotion winning win against Barrow, also joined the club on loan from Huddersfield. Andy Watson made the move from Yorkshire to Devon in 1986.
Did You Know?
Huddersfield Town are the only team ever to have won a play-off final penalty shoot-out after missing their first three penalties. In 2012, they beat Sheffield United 8-7 in an incredibly shoot-out after a goalless draw in the League One final.