[Lord Snooty]

August 19:

Let's all meet up in the year 2000. By the fountain down the road? No, at Hillsborough.

On this date, Town played Sheffield Wednesday away and following a disappointing opening day defeat to Watford at home, we went and gave a barnstorming performance against them there Owls and pulped them.

Town, you may recall, had just failed, miserably, to make the Play Offs in the previous season, losing at Fulham on the last day to finish 8th after being in the top 6 all season. Wendy had just been relegated from the Premier League. They still had some of their star names in this line up. Kevin Pressman in goal, Des Walker, gobby Sky pundit Andy Hinchcliffe, future Town boss Simon Grayson and Bob's brother Gilles De Bilde.

They also had one of our own. The legend himself, Andy Booth, in what I think was his only match against us. He was given a rousing reception by all the Town fans behind the goal, who watched in disbelief as we raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half, with all goals up the other end. Martin Smith scored first, Kevin Gallen added a second and then Smith got his second with a glancing header.

Three nil up is always a dangerous scoreline for Huddersfield Town. So what did manager Steve Bruce do? Took off exciting playmaker Dean Gorré and brought on useless ex Leeds man, Scott Sellars. Within three minutes, Wendy had pulled one back. It was Boothy with the goal, a header, reacting quickest after a free kick had been brilliantly saved by Nico Vaesen. He leapt and punched the air in front of the Town fans, who greeted him with the respect he deserves.

That was in the 45th minute and so we had another 45 to hang on. Gobby Hinchcliffe made it 3-2 from the penalty spot after 64 and so it was game on. Luckily we held on and it was three points to the boys in blue, er red sorry. Classic Panasonic strip.

So the season was up and running. Three points from two games. Here we go.

Well it was a false dawn. We didn't win again until December, by which time Bruce had been sacked and replaced by Lou Macari.

Town were relegated in 1951/52, but bounced straight back up again and on this date in 1953, we played our first match back in Division One. It was against Preston North End at Deepdale. And we won. Yes. A win away at Preston. What a team we must've had back then. 

It was a 2-1 win and Jimmy Watson scored them both, as Town manager Andy Beattie beat his old club, for whom he had played in the 1938 FA Cup Final.

Happy birthday, begrudgingly today to Nottingham Forest's Harry Toffolo. He's 27 today, having been born in 1995.