Phil Hodgkinson on continuing Dean Hoyle’s legacy
- Phil Hodgkinson’s first interview with Huddersfield Town
- Incoming Chairman discusses his first memories of watching the Terriers
- Watch part one of the interview below on #HTTV
Incoming Huddersfield Town Chairman Phil Hodgkinson is determined to take the Club on the next part of its journey and to continue the legacy of Dean Hoyle when he takes control of the Terriers.
Once the deal has been ratified by the EFL, Phil will own 75% of Huddersfield Town with Dean Hoyle ending his 10-year tenure as the Club’s Chairman.
Like Dean, Phil is also a life-long Huddersfield Town fan and explained when speaking to #HTTV what his earliest memories are of watching the Terriers.
“I’ve loved this Football Club for the last 40 years and continued to do so.
“To have and been given opportunity to become Owner and Chairman of something that means so much to me is something I can’t put into words; it’s indescribable.
“My mum brought me to my first game at Leeds Road on my birthday, 31 March 1979, we played Hartlepool and won 2-0.
“I also found out two or three weeks ago having a conversation with Dean that it was his first game too, which is quite surreal!
“I remember being sat on the front row, to the right-hand side of the old Main Stand at Leeds Road, with my feet on the wall; that’s my only memory of that particular game.
“Thereafter, my mum took me to quite a few home games and as I got older I joined the Young Terriers! I was in the Ray Wilson Team, went to every home game and a lot of away games, until I was in my mid-teens when I could start going to games myself, then I went home and away with my mates.
“That continued, Season Cards every season before becoming a Box Holder and a sponsor.
“There hasn’t been a year in the last 40 years where I haven’t watched Huddersfield Town passionately.”
Whilst supporting Huddersfield Town, Phil – who is CEO and Founder of the PURE Business Group – became an Owner and Director at National League North side Southport.
Although Town and Southport operate at different levels, Town’s incoming Chairman detailed why he purchased the Club in 2017 and how that experience will help him with the Terriers.
“Why Southport? Huddersfield Town wasn’t for sale; it’s as simple as that. It was a project and I’d like to think what I did at Southport is leave them in a much better position.
“Last season alone, I personally invested over £2 million into the Football Club, re-developing the main stand and increasing the budgets. We had a successful season.
“I learnt a lot from that, even though it’s on a much, much smaller scale than Huddersfield Town, but everything is the same, just on a smaller scale. It was a really good learning curve.
“When this opportunity came up it was impossible to turn down. If I hadn’t have taken the opportunity when Dean approached me it would’ve been something I’d have regretted for the rest of my life and I’m not someone who likes to live in regret.”
When asked if he had to think twice about taking responsibility for a Sky Bet Championship Club, Phil didn’t hesitate in answering.
“The reality is I wouldn’t be doing this if I couldn’t afford to do it. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have the personal wealth to invest in the Football Club at this level.
“I know exactly how much money I’ll need to put in in the next 10 years; it doesn’t worry me, it’s not daunting or a concern.
“I’m not doing this because Dean’s approached me, and I’ve got the opportunity. I’m doing it to be successful.
“Anybody who knows me, knows I don’t like losing at anything. I don’t like losing football matches, and I’m not doing this so Huddersfield Town can be average.
“I’m doing this because I believe I can take us on the next part of the journey, continue Dean’s legacy and continue all the amazing work Dean, Janet, Josh and Danny have done with the Football Club.
“I also believe that this Football Club will be successful, and I will help with that.”
You can watch part one of Phil Hodgkinson’s interview below on #HTTV!
Part Two of the interview will follow in due course.
