Busy scenes and success continues to build off the field
While Town suffered what has been a rare setback in the early days of the npower Championship against Watford on Saturday, the off the field buzz continued to build this weekend!
‘Go Kart Challenge’
The visit of the Hertfordshire club was billed as the ‘Go Kart Challenge’ fixture, with Town re-launching the community scheme alongside Club Partner David Brown. Led by Town Club Ambassador Andy Booth, the competition challenges local school children to build a Go Kart throughout the course of their school year ahead of a special day held at the Stadium – scheduled for 26 June 2013 this term (click HERE for more info).
Throughout the last school year students from 16 participating schools were supported by David Brown engineers as they built their Go Karts ahead of a finals day held at the Stadium.
A judging panel consisting of Huddersfield Town Chairman Dean Hoyle, Commercial Director Sean Jarvis and representatives from David Brown judged the Go Karts on criteria such as the sustainability, manoeuvrability and nimbleness of their Go-Karts.
Moorend Technology College – now known as Moorend Academy – were the 2012 winners, following in the footsteps of inaugural winners Holmfirth High School, and they paraded their winning Go Kart during the half-time interval on Saturday.
Their award-winning Go Kart was also on view in the Gazebo outside the Direct Golf UK Stand ahead of the game and the winning team from Moorend Academy dined with the Town Directors ahead of the 3pm kick-off!
Canalside Q&A
The day kicked off with a bumper crowd of Town fans descending on Canalside Sports Complex to quiz the Club’s new Head of Football Operations Ross Wilson, who was the latest guest for the pre-match ‘Q&A’ session. The former Watford man gave a series of honest answers as he explained his day to day role at the Club and his work alongside Simon Grayson and Nigel Clibbens, whilst he passionately explained his passion to help the Club’s Academy play a pivotal role in Town’s future success.
Wilson – who also appeared as an on-stage guest in the White Rose Club at the Stadium later that day – was also asked about the money from the sale of Jordan Rhodes, explaining that money has always been available to the Manager if he feels the squad needs strengthening and the move is the right one for the Club.
Radio Leeds
Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens was also a pre-match guest of BBC Radio Leeds, telling Match Day Commentator Paul Ogden about the stages of Jermaine Beckford’s loan move to Huddersfield Town after a busy week off the field. His interview is being run on Radio Leeds sports news today bulletins highlighting the part Jermaine played in making the deal happenBBC
Club Partners and Sponsors
Thanks must also go to Match Sponsor Eavesway Travel, Man of the Match Sponsor Absolute Warehouse Services and Heritage Suite visitors Compass Costs Consultants for their support of the game whereas Club Partners Rocar Moores joined in the fun, bringing a Freelander to the match – adorned in in Town colours of course! That vehicle joined the Huddersfield Town Foundation Mini outside the Direct Golf UK Stand, which will be won by one lucky fan come the end of the season through a season-long raffle designed to raise money for the charity (click HERE for full info).
Main Club Sponsor Rekorderlig also gave a debut to their new-look box in the Direct Golf UK Stand, as you can see below!
Lewis James Suite
The Lewis James Suite continued togo from strength to strengthat Saturday’s match and was awash with high profile guests and business influencers ranging fromleading Kirklees Councilrepresentatives and two local MPs, through tonumerous existing Club partners,such as Virgin and Rekorderlig.
Our“Enterprise Scouts”were also out in force for Saturday’s match to ensure those wanting to network in an informal style were given the chance to do so, and early feedback indicates that there will be a lot of business taking place in thisroomover the season!
Ian Butterworth, theFootball Association’s Senior Scout,wasalso present in the loungebeforecasting their eye over potential future England stars in the makingon the field
Lee Walker from the Business Desk won two tickets to the X-Factor live shows and can now cheer on local singer, and previous HTAFC guest, Carolynn Poole in the first of the final shows this weekend.
Children of Courage
Brave Meltham youngster Matthew Merritt was a guest of Huddersfield Town in the Boardroom on the afternoon. A winner at the 2012 WellChild Awards, the pupil at St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Dalton has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a condition which causes muscle weakness.
Despite battling his own problems, each week Matthew takes part in a clinical drug trial to help doctors at the famous Great Ormond Street Hospital understand the condition and help others like him.
Mascots
Town had three local kids as match day mascots on the day thanks to the Blue & White Foundation; 11 year-old Thomas Firth, 12 year-old Nahum Hendricks and seven year-old Emma Turner. If you want your child or grandchild to be a mascot at one of Town’s games you need to be a Blue & White Foundation member – click HERE to join online now!
Golden Gamble
One lucky fan won a massive £3,750 thanks to Town’s Golden Gamble half-time draw too – click HERE for full details!
Private Thomas Wroe
In a show of respect and support, Town and the community also paid its respects to the two fallen soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment – Sergeant Gareth Thursby and Private Thomas Wroe – ahead of kick-off, with both sets of supporters in the 14,000 gate impeccably observing a minute’s silence in their honour.
There’s plenty more in store at Town’s game against Leicester City on Tuesday evening – check out htafc.com for previews!
