1948–49 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

March 2026 February 2015 February 2015 Huddersfield Town 1948–49 George Stephenson Haydn Battye Leeds Road Football League First Division 20th FA Cup Fourth round(eliminated by Newport County) Peter Doherty (13) Peter Doherty (14) 41,322 vs Blackpool (27 December 1948) 15,401 vs Aston Villa (12 February 1949) _blue_stripes _bluestripes _blue_stripes _hoops_blue 5–0 vs Queens Park Rangers (15 January 1949) 1–7 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (2 October 1948) 1947–48 1949–50 Huddersfield Town's 1948–49 campaign is referred to in Town folklore as the original "Great Escape" season (the second being the 1997–98 season), when Arnold Rodgers scored the goal that saw Town maintain their 1st Division status. His goal against Manchester City, with 10 minutes of the last match of the season remaining saw Town keep their status and relegate Preston North End and Sheffield United in the process. Squad at the start of the season yes yes England GK Bob Hesford yes England GK Harry Mills yes England DF Eddie Boot yes England DF Tom Briggs yes Republic of Ireland DF Bill Hayes yes England DF George Hepplewhite yes England DF George Howe yes England DF Jack Percival yes England DF Alan Stewart yes England DF Henry Stewart yes England MF Albert Bateman yes yes England MF Vic Metcalfe yes Ireland FW Peter Doherty yes England FW Jimmy Glazzard yes England FW Harold Hassall yes England FW Albert Nightingale yes Scotland FW Frank Reid yes England FW Arnold Rodgers yes England FW Conway Smith yes England FW John Tanner yes England FW Arthur Thompson yes England FW Alf Whittingham Review Town's fortunes during the season didn't seem to improve on the previous season. Even the 14 goals from veteran Peter Doherty didn't seem to pull Town away from almost certain relegation. Relegation seemed to be certain for 2 out of Town, Preston North End and Sheffield United. With 10 minutes of Town's last match at home against Manchester City seemed to be heading down the trapdoor to Division 2. But, an uncharacteristic error by legendary goalkeeper Frank Swift gave Arnold Rodgers the chance to score, which he did. Town won 1–0 which relegated Preston & Sheffield United and meant Town would live to fight another day. Squad at the end of the season yes yes England GK Bob Hesford yes England GK Harry Mills yes England GK Jack Wheeler yes England DF Eddie Boot yes England DF Tom Briggs yes Republic of Ireland DF Bill Hayes yes England DF George Hepplewhite yes England DF George Howe yes England DF Donald Hunter yes England DF Jack Percival yes England DF Alan Stewart yes England DF Henry Stewart yes England DF Bill Whittaker yes yes England MF Albert Bateman yes Denmark MF Karl Aage Hansen yes Ireland MF Johnny McKenna yes England MF Vic Metcalfe yes Ireland FW Peter Doherty yes England FW Jimmy Glazzard yes England FW Harold Hassall yes England FW Albert Nightingale yes Scotland FW Frank Reid yes England FW Arnold Rodgers yes England FW Conway Smith yes England FW Arthur Thompson Results Division One DateHuddersfield Town match record: League Division One 1949 https://www.11v11.com/teams/huddersfield-town/tab/matches/season/1949/comp/200/ 2026-03-16 11v11.comOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendancePosition21 August 1948ArsenalH1–1Whittingham30,6207th25 August 1948Derby CountyA1–4Tanner31,23619th28 August 1948Charlton AthleticA1–3Smith38,43721st1 September 1948Derby CountyH1–1Doherty24,18220th4 September 1948Manchester UnitedA1–4Doherty57,71421st6 September 1948Bolton WanderersA2–1Hepplewhite, Metcalfe25,33218th11 September 1948Sheffield UnitedH0–021,08819th15 September 1948Bolton WanderersH0–216,04620th18 September 1948Aston VillaA3–3Doherty (2), Smith44,52320th25 September 1948SunderlandH2–0Smith, Nightingale23,03517th2 October 1948Wolverhampton WanderersA1–7Nightingale36,15317th9 October 1948Stoke CityH1–3Hassall19,38518th16 October 1948BurnleyA2–1Metcalfe (2)28,97618th23 October 1948Preston North EndH0–220,81919th30 October 1948EvertonA0–246,63219th6 November 1948ChelseaH3–4Doherty (2, 1 pen), Nightingale18,96320th13 November 1948Birmingham CityA0–135,20720th20 November 1948MiddlesbroughH0–016,41322nd27 November 1948Newcastle UnitedA4–2Nightingale, Doherty (3)49,33221st4 December 1948PortsmouthH0–021,78519th11 December 1948Manchester CityA1–3Doherty31,71721st18 December 1948ArsenalA0–340,00022nd25 December 1948BlackpoolA0–029,24421st27 December 1948BlackpoolH1–0Boot41,32220th1 January 1949Charlton AthleticH1–2Smith20,93721st22 January 1949Sheffield UnitedA0–037,12622nd12 February 1949Aston VillaH0–115,40122nd19 February 1949SunderlandA1–0Doherty (pen)42,71922nd5 March 1949Stoke CityA3–1Hansen, McKenna, Doherty (pen)15,59522nd12 March 1949BurnleyH1–0McKenna23,13620th19 March 1949MiddlesbroughA0–133,27921st26 March 1949Newcastle UnitedH0–225,74521st2 April 1949ChelseaA0–548,13622nd6 April 1949Manchester UnitedH2–1Doherty (pen), Metcalfe17,25621st9 April 1949Birmingham CityH0–018,85621st15 April 1949LiverpoolA1–0Glazzard47,31919th16 April 1949Preston North EndA0–236,15321st18 April 1949LiverpoolH0–422,15822nd23 April 1949EvertonH1–1McKenna19,05122nd30 April 1949PortsmouthA0–237,04222nd5 May 1949Wolverhampton WanderersH4–0McKenna, Rodgers (2), Hansen21,44521st7 May 1949Manchester CityH1–0Rodgers27,50720th FA Cup DateHuddersfield Town match record: FA Cup 1949 https://www.11v11.com/teams/huddersfield-town/tab/matches/season/1949/comp/7/ 2026-03-16 11v11.comRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF–AScorersAttendance8 January 1949Round 3Queens Park RangersA0 – 0 (aet: 90 mins: 0 – 0)25,00015 January 1949Round 3 ReplayQueens Park RangersH5–0Glazzard (2), Nightingale, McKenna, Bateman31,07529 January 1949Round 4Newport CountyA3 – 3 (aet: 90 mins: 3 – 3)Doherty, Glazzard (2)22,5005 February 1949Round 4 ReplayNewport CountyH1–3Metcalfe34,183 Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAlbert BatemanENGMF202141Eddie BootENGDF41140451Tom BriggsENGDF18040220Peter DohertyEIRFW2613212814Jimmy GlazzardENGFW30144345Karl HansenDENMF15200152Harold HassallENGFW310031Bill HayesIRLDF37040410George HepplewhiteENGDF39140431George HoweENGDF100010Donald HunterENGDF13000130Johnny McKennaEIRMF39441435Vic MetcalfeENGMF37421395Harry MillsENGGK26000260Albert NightingaleENGMF28441325Frank ReidSCOFW200020Arnold RodgersENGFW530053Conway SmithENGMF16400164Alan StewartENGDF500050Henry StewartENGDF23000230John TannerENGMF110011Arthur ThompsonENGFW100010Jack WheelerENGGK16040200Bill WhittakerENGDF27040310Alf WhittinghamENGFW11100111 References 1948-49 Category:English football clubs 1948–49 season