101 Club Book talk being held at the John Smith’s Stadium
- Huddersfield Town holds special talk during Huddersfield Literature Festival
- Takes place at the John Smith’s Stadium at 7pm on Tuesday 26 March
- 101 Club is available for purchase at Town’s Retail Outlets
Huddersfield Town fans are being invited to roll back the years at the John Smith’s Stadium next week as part of the Huddersfield Literature Festival.
Terriers can re-live the Club’s momentous 1979/80 campaign, which will be under the spotlight on Tuesday (26 March 2019 at 7pm) at Town’s home ground thanks to Huddersfield-born author Rob Stewart.
The former Moor End High School and Greenhead College student’s debut book, the 101 Club, documented all the stories behind that celebrated season – when Town scored 101 goals on their way to the old Fourth Division title.
And Terriers are being invited to attend a special event at the Fantastic Media Suite when Rob will reveal all about the story behind the book and his own journey from the Walpole estate where he grew up to the Waterstone’s book store where Town greats launched the 101 Club.
Rob, a freelance journalist who spent 10 years as a football reporter with the Daily Telegraph, said:
“The 101 Club was a true labour of love for me and the day I saw the book on sale at the Town shop and Waterstone’s is right up there with seeing my team win promotion to the Premier League.
“It was a privilege to work with the Town legends who really lifted my hometown, which was down in the dumps, thanks to their exciting brand of football and I’m looking forward to telling the inside story of the book’s production.
“There’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to The 101 Club. I’m keen to shine a light on the local heroes and sharing all the good and not-so-good bits with Town fans as part of the Huddersfield Literature Festival so Tuesday’s event will be very special me.”
Rob was among the Town fans in the Cowshed who were treated to a thrill-a-minute as Mick Buxton’s swashbuckling side timed their run to glory to perfection.
Two Ian Robins goals clinched a 2-1 win over Hartlepool at Town’s Leeds Road ground on May 3, 1980, to pip Walsall to the title on the last day of the season and cement the team’s place in club folklore.
They also indirectly paved the way for Town fans’ Premier League dreams to be realised as that team got Dean Hoyle hooked on the Terriers – rather than Leeds - as a schoolboy.
The Town Chairman paid tribute to Buxton’s entertainers in a foreword to the 101 Club, which was published by Bradford-based Great Northern Books.
As well as a series of never-seen-before photos, the book features in-depth interviews with Buxton and every single one of the 16-man squad that played their way into the hearts of Town fans.
The book has won the seal of approval from Buxton and his former players.
Buxton said: “It was a pleasure working with Rob on the 101 Club because the 1979/80 season was truly extraordinary, and our story makes for fascinating reading.
“We achieved success because the players were a fabulous group of characters. The way the town got behind the team was hugely important and together we created memories that I know will last a lifetime.”
Star midfielder Brian Stanton added: “I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I was reading the book and all those memories came flooding back seeing so many amazing photos reminded me what a great season that was both on and off the field.
“The 101 Club shows how much football has changed over the years but there are factors that are as true then as they were now. We did Huddersfield proud because we had a spirit that was similar to the bond that helped Town win promotion to the Premier League two seasons ago.”
