[Lord Snooty]

August 30:

On this date in 1919, Huddersfield Town played the first game of the post war era. It was also the first game of what would turn out to be our first ever promotion season. And it would also be the first game of the season that saw us almost go under, first through lack of interest and bad finances, but then from a hostile take over bid from the people of Leeds, looking for a new team to become known as Leeds United, following the expulsion of Leeds City.

This first game was against Clapton Orient, who would become known as Leyton Orient following a move in 1937. Nine of the starting XI were players who had been with the club pre war. Sandy Mutch in goal, James Wood, skipper Fred Bullock, Jim Baker, Billy Watson, George Richardson, Charlie Slade, Jack Cock and Billy Smith were all still with the club, all with varying stories to tell from their war experiences.

Cock and Bullock had been in the Footballer's Battalion and both had played for Brentford in the last wartime league season, winning the London Wartime Combination League. Bullock had got injured at the Somme and Cock earned the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field.

So Town, managed by Arthur Fairclough, had two debutants in the line up. Tom Wilson played his first of 500 games for the club and Sammy Taylor played his first game, in a season where he would go on to score 42 goals, a record which still hasn't been beaten.

Anyway, Jack Cock would become our first England international in the next few weeks, scoring in the first minute of his debut, before being sold to Chelsea. He scored the first Town goal of the season in this 2-1 win. Jim Baker got the other. He would be one of the few who did take the exit door down the A62 to Leeds, going on to be their first captain and later a director.

So that was after the First World War. Twenty years later, the country was on the brink of the Second. On this date in 1939, the second game of the 39/40 season was played. It was a midweek away match in Sunderland, at Roker Park.

Clem Stephenson was Town manager and his team won this match 2-1, with Billy Price scoring one of them. The other was an own goal.

Next up. A trip to London, to see the barrage balloons and have a game of footy with Brentford at Griffin Park.