Lee Clark has been manager of Huddersfield Town for exactly one year today!

It was December 11^th 2008 when Lee Clark was officially announced as the next manager of the Club, succeeding Stan Ternent in the hotseat following his ill-fated spell in charge of the Terriers.

Lee watched the next game - a 1-0 win at Southend United - from the stands with Caretaker Manager Graham Mitchell on the touchline through Gerry Murphy's enforced absence through illness before taking charge of the side in the following game; a 2-0 victory at home to Hereford on December 20^th.

The former Newcastle United midfielder enjoyed a long and successful playing career spanning 17 years. However, after returning to Newcastle following spells at both Fulham and Sunderland, Clark decided to hang up his boots and pull on his tracksuit, beginning his career in coaching.

His appointment as Town boss captured the imagination of media outlets up and down the country:

BBC Sport:

"Lee Clark is the new manager of Huddersfield Town after agreeing a three-and-a-half year contract...Town chairman-elect Dean Hoyle will formally introduce the former Norwich assistant manager on Friday morning"

Sky Sports:

"Lee Clark is set to become Huddersfield Town's new manager after a compensation package for his services was agreed with Norwich City...speculation has been rife of late that the 36-year-old former Newcastle United midfielder would replace Stan Ternent as the club's permanent manager"

Glenn Roeder (December 2008):

"I knew from day one, when I first appointed Lee as reserve team coach at Newcastle, how ambitious he was to become a manager one day, probably sooner rather than later...I feel he has enough experience to be his own man now. He has been an integral part of my backroom staff and I have been preparing for this day for a period of time now. I can confirm that Lee will be going to Huddersfield."

During his time in management Clark has turned Town into an attractive attacking side; under his stewardship, Town are currently the highest scorers in the Football League. As a result, he has received plenty of plaudits from fellow managers, players and ex-professionals of the game.

The recent superb 6-0 home win over Wycombe Wanderers, shown live on Sky Sports, saw Clark and his side received plenty of plaudits from many areas of the sporting media.

Sky Sports:

"Lee Clark's free-scoring promotion chasers put six past Dagenham last week in the FA Cup and before that both Leyton Orient and Exeter had been dispatched 4-0 in successive league matches"

Sportingo:

"But after Huddersfield Town v Wycombe Wanderers went out on Sky Sports last month, the nation has been converted... it is testament to the style of play that young manager Lee Clark has adopted at the club, reminiscent of his old mentor at Newcastle United, Kevin Keegan"

During his year in charge, Lee has added some of the brightest young stars in the country to his squad and has turned his side into arguably one of the best footballing teams in the division.

"Its flown by, and for me, that's a reflection of how much I have enjoyed the job so far," says the focused Geordie, who made now secret of his target this season.

"Sure there is pressure, but a lot of it I bring on myself, becuase I'm an ambitious person," explained Clark, who celebrated his 37th birthday in October.

"I want to progress as the manager, and one of the attractions of the job at Huddersfield Town was that the owner (Dean Hoyle) is as ambitious as I am. We both want to take the club as far as we can, and the support I'v had from Dean and (chief executive) Nigel Clibbens has been first class."

A win on Saturday against visitors Gillingham will be the perfect way to round off his first year in charge, and also a brilliant way to start the next!