Reunion event just around the corner
Its 20 years today since Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield Town team gained promotion at Wembley Stadium against Bristol Rovers!
The memorable Play-Off victory – a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers – is one of the most iconic days in the Club’s recent history and will be commemorated when the team and staff come together for a special reunion event at the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday 5 June.
Tickets are still available for the evening; click HERE for full information!
The 1994/95 season not only finished with a bang, but started with one too. It was the first season that the Terriers played home games in the new McAlpine Stadium and despite an opening defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, Warnock’s men started well – netting 32 goals in just 13 games.
However, a mid-season slump then ensued, with just 14 goals scored in the next 13 fixtures.
Warnock didn’t hesitate, giving his squad a timely boost with the December arrival of centre back Lee Sinnott and midfielder Lee Duxbury from Bradford City. ‘Sinbad’ went on to captain the team and with five games left to play, Town still stood a chance of gaining automatic promotion by winning the Endsleigh League Division 2 title.
It wasn’t to be, with a fifth placed finish setting up a two legged semi-final against Brentford. That second leg at Griffin Park is one of the biggest games in recent Town folklore, with fan favourite Darren Bullock netting the winning penalty in a dramatic sudden death shootout in a backdrop famously set to Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’.
Then followed the Play-Off Final against Bristol Rovers at Wembley, with the attendance of 59,175 the biggest for a match involving Town since November 1947 – and the biggest ever for the division’s showpiece game at the time.
It was a back and forth game against the Gas, who were inspired by future Town legend Marcus Stewart, but in the end goals from the Huddersfield born and bred duo of Andy Booth and Chris Billy sealing promotion to the league now known as the Sky Bet Championship. It was a first Town win at Wembley at the fifth time of asking!
Boothy ended the season as the Club’s top scorer with 26 goals, with strike partner Ronnie Jepson netting 19.
The Play-Off Final ended up being Warnock’s final game in charge of the Terriers.
Town’s Play-Off Final team:
Steve Francis, Simon Trevitt (Jon Dyson), Tom Cowan, Darren Bullock, Pat Scully, Lee Sinnott (c), Chris Billy, Lee Duxbury, Andy Booth, Ronnie Jepson, Gary Crosby (Iain Dunn)
Enjoyed reminiscing? Join the 1995 team at the Reunion Event – click HERE!
The Club has just ordered a rerun of 'A New Beginning', the 1994/95 season review - click HERE for more info and to buy.
There'a also a special edition 500 piece jigsaw of the picture above of Lee Sinnott lifting the Play-Off Trophy. A limited run of 100 is available in store and online now for just £10.99; click HERE to buy!
