Deja-vu as Town’s Premier League campaign picks up where it left off
- Town travel to Crystal Palace on opening day
- Game at Selhurst Park was Town's most recent in the top flight
- Full fixture list confirmed today
Town faces an away trip to Crystal Palace to open the 2017/18 Premier League season on the weekend of 12 August – a fixture that has special relevance to the Terriers in the top flight.
The Club’s most recent top flight fixture happened to be at Crystal Palace too, over 45 years ago in the ill-fated 1971/72 Division One relegation season.
On that day – 29 April 1972 – Ian Greaves’ Terriers actually drew 0-0 at Selhurst Park, bringing a five game losing streak to a close.
Amazingly, despite not winning a league game after November, the team only finished four points clear of safety with 25 points, with the Eagles finishing safe in 20th.
On that day, 18,120 fans watched the final game of the season in London, with Town’s team featuring familiar names such as Geoff Hutt, Steve Smith, Roy Ellam and Trevor Cherry.
Prior to the Palace game, Club Captain Cherry had submitted an official transfer request, which spurred Ellam and mercurial forward Frank Worthington follow suit as relegation became reality.
Happily, Town’s most recent visit to Selhurst Park came in happier circumstances! The Club’s first season back in the Sky Bet Championship – 2012/13 – featured a trip to London to face the Eagles.
One-time Town loanee Damien Delaney got sent off quite early on, but the Eagles still took the lead through a rasping drive on the angle from Wilfried Zaha; a fantastic strike from the homegrown winger.
Thankfully, Town earned a share of the spoils in the second-half, with battling midfielder Keith Southern the unusual source of the goal via a scruffy set piece.
There was still time for centre back Anthony Gerrard to receive his marching orders, with both teams finishing the game with 10 men.
Click HERE for a full list of Town's 2017/18 Premier League fixtures!
