Huddersfield Town's 1974–75 campaign saw Town relegated to the 4th Division for the first time in the club's history. Following Ian Greaves' resignation at the end of the previous season, Bobby Collins took charge at Leeds Road, but couldn't stop Town's alarming slide to Division 4. Town finished bottom of the table, 6 points from safety and 5 points from 2nd bottom team Watford.
| 1974–75 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman |  Stanley Kinder Keith Longbottom | |
| Manager |  Bobby Collins | |
| Football League Third Division | 24th (relegated) | |
| FA Cup | First round (knocked out by Grimsby Town) | |
| Football League Cup | Second round (knocked out by Leeds United) | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Alan Gowling (17) All: Alan Gowling (19) | |
| Highest home attendance | 15,013 vs Leeds United (10 September 1974) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 2,455 vs Aldershot (22 April 1975) | |
| Biggest win | 4–1 vs Southend United (4 March 1975) | |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vs Preston North End (30 November 1974) 0–4 vs Port Vale (14 December 1974) | |
Squad at the start of the season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| -- | MF | ENG | Lloyd Maitland |
| -- | MF | ENG | Graham Pugh |
| -- | MF | ENG | Steve Smith |
| -- | MF | ENG | Steve Spriggs |
| -- | FW | ENG | John Dungworth |
| -- | FW |  IRL | Mick Fairclough |
| -- | FW | ENG | Franny Firth |
| -- | FW | ENG | Alan Gowling |
| -- | FW | ENG | Terry Gray |
| -- | FW | ENG | Jimmy Lawson |
| -- | FW | ENG | Bob Newton |
| -- | FW | ENG | Phil Summerill |
Review
Following Ian Greaves' resignation at the end of the previous season, Town hired ex-Leeds United player and Scotland international Bobby Collins in his first managerial post. Following mid-table mediocrity the previous season, Town were hoping for a good start to mount a serious promotion challenge. But the start of the season saw Town lose 6 of their opening 8 league games. They then went on a 6-match unbeaten run, but that would be as good as it got for Town for the rest of the season. Even the 17 goals of Alan Gowling, the top scorer from the previous 2 seasons couldn't help Town's alarming slide.
In January 1975, ex-manager Tom Johnston was brought in as General Manager to help his fellow countryman, but even he couldn't change Town's fortunes as the team only won 4 out of their 22 games in 1975. Therefore, Town got relegated to Division 4 for the first time in their history. They also became the first team to win the 1st Division and play in the bottom tier of the Football League. They finished 24th with only 32 points, 5 behind Watford and Tranmere Rovers. 33 different players were used during the season, a record that would stand until the 1996–97 season.
Squad at the end of the season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| -- | MF | ENG | Brian O'Neil |
| -- | MF | ENG | Steve Smith |
| -- | MF | ENG | Steve Spriggs |
| -- | FW | ENG | John Dungworth |
| -- | FW | ENG | Barry Endean |
| -- | FW | IRL | Mick Fairclough |
| -- | FW | ENG | Franny Firth |
| -- | FW | ENG | Colin Garwood |
| -- | FW | ENG | Alan Gowling |
| -- | FW | ENG | Terry Gray |
| -- | FW | ENG | Jimmy Lawson |
| -- | FW | SCO | Billy McGinley |
| -- | FW | ENG | Bob Newton |
Results
| Date | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1974 | Peterborough United | H | 1–2 | Summerill | 7,334 | 17th |
| 24 August 1974 | Aldershot | A | 0–1 | 3,909 | 23rd | |
| 31 August 1974 | Watford | H | 3–1 | Chapman, Hoy, Dolan | 5,007 | 15th |
| 7 September 1974 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–1 | 6,551 | 23rd | |
| 14 September 1974 | Chesterfield | H | 2–0 | Hoy (2) | 5,962 | 16th |
| 21 September 1974 | Bury | A | 0–3 | 5,956 | 22nd | |
| 28 September 1974 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–1 | 6,524 | 23rd | |
| 1 October 1974 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | 5,324 | 23rd | |
| 5 October 1974 | Grimsby Town | A | 2–1 | Gowling, MacLeod | 4,901 | 24th |
| 12 October 1974 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | Garner | 6,544 | 21st |
| 19 October 1974 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–1 | Gray, Gowling | 2,833 | 21st |
| 22 October 1974 | Wrexham | H | 0–0 | 5,873 | 20th | |
| 26 October 1974 | Swindon Town | H | 2–2 | Gowling (2) | 5,792 | 19th |
| 2 November 1974 | Hereford United | A | 1–1 | Gowling | 7,471 | 19th |
| 4 November 1974 | Wrexham | A | 0–3 | 4,777 | 19th | |
| 9 November 1974 | Colchester United | H | 3–2 | Gowling (pen), Gray, Dolan | 5,233 | 17th |
| 16 November 1974 | Halifax Town | A | 1–2 | Ellam | 6,827 | 19th |
| 30 November 1974 | Preston North End | A | 0–4 | 7,958 | 22nd | |
| 3 December 1974 | Bournemouth | H | 2–2 | McGinley, Lawson | 3,804 | 21st |
| 7 December 1974 | Gillingham | H | 0–2 | 4,761 | 21st | |
| 14 December 1974 | Port Vale | A | 0–4 | 3,986 | 22nd | |
| 21 December 1974 | Walsall | H | 3–2 | Gowling (3) | 3,627 | 19th |
| 26 December 1974 | Chesterfield | A | 0–3 | 4,593 | 23rd | |
| 28 December 1974 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–2 | O'Neil | 8,122 | 23rd |
| 4 January 1975 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | O'Neil | 5,078 | 22nd |
| 11 January 1975 | Gillingham | A | 2–3 | Garwood (2) | 7,960 | 23rd |
| 18 January 1975 | Preston North End | H | 0–1 | 7,654 | 23rd | |
| 1 February 1975 | Colchester United | A | 2–3 | Gowling (2 pens) | 3,921 | 24th |
| 8 February 1975 | Hereford United | H | 2–1 | Fowler, Lawson | 4,893 | 24th |
| 15 February 1975 | Southend United | A | 0–1 | 4,316 | 24th | |
| 22 February 1975 | Halifax Town | H | 1–2 | Gowling (pen) | 7,931 | 24th |
| 28 February 1975 | Watford | A | 0–1 | 4,345 | 24th | |
| 4 March 1975 | Southend United | H | 4–1 | Gowling, Maitland, Ellam, Belfitt | 4,538 | 24th |
| 8 March 1975 | Port Vale | H | 3–1 | Garner, Gowling (pen), Dolan | 6,705 | 23rd |
| 15 March 1975 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | Lawson | 15,043 | 23rd |
| 19 March 1975 | Peterborough United | A | 1–2 | Endean | 4,894 | 23rd |
| 22 March 1975 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–3 | Belfitt | 6,546 | 23rd |
| 28 March 1975 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–1 | Dolan | 16,746 | 24th |
| 29 March 1975 | Walsall | A | 0–2 | 4,140 | 24th | |
| 1 April 1975 | Bury | H | 0–0 | 5,666 | 23rd | |
| 5 April 1975 | Swindon Town | A | 1–4 | Gray | 7,009 | 23rd |
| 8 April 1975 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–2 | 2,947 | 23rd | |
| 12 April 1975 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–0 | Gowling | 3,961 | 24th |
| 19 April 1975 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–2 | 10,822 | 24th | |
| 22 April 1975 | Aldershot | H | 2–2 | Gowling (2) | 2,455 | 24th |
| 26 April 1975 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 0–0 | 2,960 | 24th |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 November 1974 | Round 1 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–1 | 5,541 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Home/ Away | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 August 1974 | Round 1 | York City | A | 2–0 | Saunders, Summerill | 5,570 |
| 10 September 1974 | Round 2 | Leeds United | H | 1–1 | Gowling | 15,013 |
| 24 September 1974 | Round 2 Replay | Leeds United | A | 1–1 | Gowling | 18,496 |
| 7 October 1974 | Round 2 2nd Replay | Leeds United | A | 1–2 | McGinley | 14,599 |