Overseas supporters tell us their favourite Town memories
- International fan group members tell us about their connection with HTAFC
- Today’s blog is from Stateside Terrier, Mark Pritchard
- Get in touch if you would like to feature in future blogs
My name is Mark Pritchard and I’m a Town supporter living in Madison, Connecticut in the USA (it’s halfway between New York City and Boston).
In the 1979/1980 promotion season, my Dad took me to see Town beat York City 4-0 away. I lived in York, although I was born in Milnsbridge and my grandparents still lived in Huddersfield. I was immediately hooked on Town and was the only one in my school who had a Central Mirfield shirt.
As a kid I loved Mark Lillis. I’m pretty sure that the most gifted player we’ve ever had was Aaron Mooy. Dean Gorré oozed class. But my favourite player must be Marcus Stewart.
From the day he signed he was a hero. I never tired of watching him, a true goal machine. I saw his first game and was at Palace away (anyone who went will remember the “Oh Barry Horne” chant going for the whole second half) for his last game, then at Ipswich when he played against us two weeks later. I bumped into in him a pub in Somerset a few years ago; he confessed how much love he still had for Huddersfield, and I confessed how much love we all still have for him!
I have a very fond memory of beating Bradford City 6-3 on New Year’s Day 1983. My Dad made us leave early and I heard the roar from the Cowshed as we walked away while our sixth went in. I never left a game early again. But I’d say my overall favourite memory was the Bournemouth Play-Off game in May 2011. The tension and inability to predict the outcome of that game was unreal. I remember getting extra-time texts from non-Town fan friends who were watching on TV, saying “what a game”.
I also moved to the USA a month later so that marked the end of me watching Town in person regularly (well, I went to Old Trafford - but best forget that one!)
For the Play-Off Final in 2017 I couldn’t get to Wembley, so I invited 25 soccer-loving friends to watch the match with me. The Premier League is very popular here and everyone has adopted a top six team. They all left with an appreciation of what it means to fans of smaller clubs, and now all have Town as their second team.
I’m currently working in Pennsylvania, 200 miles away from my home for an essential manufacturing business, so traveling through three locked down states is very weird. There’s no traffic on the GW Bridge in New York City at all.
If you’re a Town fan living in the USA, feel free to get in touch with us. You can find our group on Facebook by searching Stateside Terriers, or on twitter by searching @HTAFCintheUSA. Otherwise, you can email me on pritchardmark70@gmail.com.
If you’re part of an overseas fan group and would like to contribute to the Guest Blog, please get in touch on supporterservices@htafc.com.
