| 1960–61 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman |  Stephen Lister |
| Manager | Eddie Boot |
| Football League Second Division | 20th |
| FA Cup | Fourth round (knocked out by Barnsley) |
| Football League Cup | Second round (knocked out by Aston Villa) |
| Top goalscorer | League: Derek Stokes (16) All: Derek Stokes (18) |
| Highest home attendance | 46,155 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (11 January 1961) |
| Lowest home attendance | 5,860 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (3 December 1960) |
| Biggest win | 4–0 vs Bristol Rovers (29 April 1961) |
| Biggest defeat | 1–5 vs Plymouth Argyle (24 September 1960) |
Huddersfield Town's 1960–61 campaign was Town's worst ever season to date. They missed out on relegation to Division Three for the first time in their history. They finished the season in 20th place, just two points ahead of relegated Portsmouth. Their main high point of the season was the defeat of FA Cup holders Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the FA Cup.
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.
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Review
Following Denis Law's record-breaking departure to Manchester City the previous season, Town's strikeforce was severely depleted, despite the purchase of Derek Stokes from neighbours Bradford City. Town's start was OK in the strike department, but the defence department was leaking goals leading Town down the table to the relegation trapdoor to Division Three. Not even a 4–1 win over rivals Leeds United at Elland Road gave Town much joy during the season. As Town were dropping rapidly down the table Aston Villa's Pat Saward was brought in to stop the slide. Les Massie & Derek Stokes' 31 league goals helped Town survive the drop by just two points from Portsmouth. They finished 20th with just 35 points, their closest shave with relegation in their history.
Their season will be best remembered for their exploits in the FA Cup. Their 3rd round match was against the holders and Division One leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers. At the time, Town were bottom of Division Two and travelled to Molineux Stadium with virtually no chance of victory expected. They managed a 1–1 draw thanks to a goal by Stokes. The replay at Leeds Road was the first match to use the newly erected "Denis Law Lights" and saw Town victorious by the score of 2–1 with goals from Stokes and Michael O'Grady. They eventually lost to Barnsley in the next round.
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.
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Results
Division Two
| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 August 1960 | Luton Town | H | 1–1 | Stokes | 18,156 | 9th |
| 23 August 1960 | Swansea Town | A | 0–2 | 15,295 | 15th | |
| 27 August 1960 | Lincoln City | A | 0–0 | 8,639 | 19th | |
| 31 August 1960 | Swansea Town | H | 3–1 | Stokes, Massie, McHale | 12,913 | 10th |
| 3 September 1960 | Portsmouth | H | 3–3 | Massie, Stokes (2) | 15,237 | 11th |
| 6 September 1960 | Sheffield United | A | 1–3 | Stokes (pen) | 14,258 | 15th |
| 10 September 1960 | Leeds United | A | 4–1 | Stokes (2, 1 pen), Charlton (og), Balderstonw | 22,146 | 11th |
| 14 September 1960 | Sheffield United | H | 0–1 | 12,346 | 15th | |
| 17 September 1960 | Sunderland | A | 2–1 | McGarry, Stokes | 21,336 | 10th |
| 24 September 1960 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–5 | Holden | 14,154 | 14th |
| 1 October 1960 | Norwich City | A | 0–2 | 25,304 | 16th | |
| 8 October 1960 | Southampton | H | 3–1 | Massie, McCann, Stokes | 11,220 | 12th |
| 15 October 1960 | Rotherham United | A | 2–2 | Massie, Taylor | 10,961 | 13th |
| 22 October 1960 | Liverpool | H | 2–4 | Massie, Taylor | 15,719 | 15th |
| 29 October 1960 | Bristol Rovers | A | 2–1 | Stokes (2) | 15,381 | 13th |
| 5 November 1960 | Derby County | H | 1–3 | Stokes (pen) | 11,770 | 14th |
| 19 November 1960 | Scunthorpe United | H | 1–2 | John (og) | 8,617 | 17th |
| 26 November 1960 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–4 | Stokes, Low | 11,056 | 18th |
| 3 December 1960 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 0–1 | 5,860 | 20th | |
| 10 December 1960 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–2 | McNeil (og) | 9,948 | 21st |
| 17 December 1960 | Luton Town | A | 0–1 | 11,219 | 21st | |
| 24 December 1960 | Stoke City | A | 2–2 | O'Grady, Massie | 12,029 | 21st |
| 26 December 1960 | Stoke City | H | 0–0 | 13,783 | 19th | |
| 31 December 1960 | Lincoln City | H | 4–1 | Massie, Stokes, Bettany, O'Grady | 11,564 | 19th |
| 14 January 1961 | Portsmouth | A | 3–1 | Massie, McHale, Balderstone | 11,243 | 18th |
| 21 January 1961 | Leeds United | H | 0–1 | 18,938 | 18th | |
| 4 February 1961 | Sunderland | H | 4–2 | Bettany (2), Balderstone (2) | 16,341 | 17th |
| 11 February 1961 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–2 | Kerray | 12,876 | 18th |
| 21 February 1961 | Norwich City | H | 1–1 | Kerray | 16,984 | 16th |
| 25 February 1961 | Southampton | A | 2–4 | Kerray, McHale | 14,368 | 18th |
| 4 March 1961 | Rotherham United | H | 0–1 | 15,144 | 19th | |
| 11 March 1961 | Liverpool | A | 1–3 | Kerray | 29,733 | 20th |
| 18 March 1961 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | Massie | 11,788 | 20th |
| 21 March 1961 | Leyton Orient | A | 0–2 | 10,099 | 20th | |
| 25 March 1961 | Derby County | A | 1–1 | Dinsdale | 9,524 | 20th |
| 31 March 1961 | Charlton Athletic | A | 3–2 | Massie (2), Balderstone | 12,980 | 20th |
| 1 April 1961 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–3 | McHale | 16,459 | 20th |
| 3 April 1961 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2–2 | Balderstone, Massie | 12,542 | 20th |
| 8 April 1961 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–0 | Massie | 8,352 | 20th |
| 15 April 1961 | Leyton Orient | H | 1–0 | Massie | 12,247 | 19th |
| 22 April 1961 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 1–2 | O'Grady | 13,088 | 20th |
| 29 April 1961 | Bristol Rovers | H | 4–0 | Stokes (2), O'Grady, Massie | 10,322 | 19th |
FA Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January 1961 | Round 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | Stokes | 31,403 |
| 11 January 1961 | Round 3 Replay | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–1 | Stokes, O'Grady | 46,155 |
| 1 February 1961 | Round 4 | Barnsley | H | 1–1 | Coddington (pen) | 44,761 |
| 6 February 1961 | Round 4 Replay | Barnsley | A | 0–1 | 29,149 |
Football League Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away |
Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 October 1960 | Round 2 | Aston Villa | A | 1–4 | Milner | 17,057 |
Appearances and goals
| Name | Nation | Position | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | League Cup Apps | League Cup Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denis Atkins | England | DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Chris Balderstone | England | MF | 29 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 6 |
| John Bettany | England | MF | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| John Coddington | England | DF | 41 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 |
| Ollie Conmy |  Republic of Ireland | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jack Connor | England | DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Peter Dinsdale | England | DF | 24 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| Harry Fearnley | England | GK | 23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Brian Gibson | England | DF | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Stewart Holden | England | MF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jim Kerray |  Scotland | MF | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 4 |
| Bob Ledger | England | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Gordon Low | Scotland | DF | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Les Massie | Scotland | FW | 42 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 15 |
| John McCann | Scotland | MF | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Bill McGarry | England | DF | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Kevin McHale | England | MF | 34 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 4 |
| John Milner | England | MF | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Michael O'Grady | England | MF | 23 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 5 |
| Bob Parker | England | DF | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Pat Saward | Republic of Ireland | MF | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Derek Stokes | England | FW | 33 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 18 |
| Ken Taylor | England | DF | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| Ray Wilson | England | DF | 32 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Ray Wood | England | GK | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 |