[Lord Snooty]

October 22:

It's a very happy birthday today to the big guy, Mark Fotheringham. He was born on this date in 1983 and so he's 39 today. Let's hope he's celebrating with a big win at Middlesbrough.

Born in Dundee, he started out his playing career at Celtic, joining them as a 16 year old, going on to make three appearances for them before going back home and signing for Dundee, the Dark Blues.

His career has been described as "journeyman", because he never seemed to settle anywhere and the 59 games he played for Dundee was the second most he played at one club. The most he played was 69 for Norwich, where he was club captain under the management of Glenn Roeder. However, he was stripped of that captaincy when he kicked off big style after being subbed in a match. We've already seen he's a passionate guy and can quite see this happening.

Before Norwich though, he'd been traveling Europe, playing in Germany and Switzerland. And after Norwich, he had unsuccessful trials in Spain, Derby and at Sheffield United. He's told us how desperate he was to play games during his playing career, which is why he kept moving around if he wasn't getting selected, so after these latest rejections, he went back home again and signed for the other Dundee club, Dundee United, the Tangerines.

But that was just a short term deal as he had already done a deal to play in Cyprus for Anorthosis Famagusta. That didn't work out and so the air miles kept clocking up as Mark tried and tried again to get matches for anybody who would have him. He went back to Scotland and signed for Livingston. Then back home again, re-signing for the Dark Blues.

Next? Out to Germany, back to Scotland (Ross County), down to Notts County, darn the Smoke to Fulham, where he played for Felix Magath. Ar Mark became assistant to Felix for a time, but was released in 2015 and was without a club for twelve months. That unemployment ended when he went back to play out the rest of his career at his old club, Livingston.

It was then that Magath's mate, Thomas Oral, took him on as assistant coach at Karlsruher SC. He had a year there, but the to-ing and fro-ing continued as he got on a plane again and took up the assistant coach job at Cowdenbeath. Two years there, quite a long stay by comparison, but then it was back over to Germany and a job with Oral again. That was at FC Ingolstadt, a job that ended when they got relegated. However, the two of them were back in the same jobs again as they were begged to return. This time, they achieved promotion for the club. And then quit.

In March this year, Mark was appointed as assistant to Magath in the Bundesliga at Hertha Berlin. But then came the job offer he just couldn't resist, when Leigh Bromby came calling.

On the 28th of September he became the Head Coach of the greatest fooball club in the world, Huddersfield Town.

Today's big question, based on only five games so far, what do you think of him so far? (ruggish!) 

He's not the only Town manager celebrating a birthday today. The harshly dismissed Danny Cowley is 44 today, having been born in Havering in that there London in 1978. 

Him and his brother did a brilliant job at Lincoln and in my opinion, at Town as well. But what do I know? I'm not a multi millionaire, potless chairman, am I? 

On the field of play, we had an iconic moment of the 2016/17 season on this date in 2016 in the last minute of the game with Derby County at the JSS.

It was heading for a 0-0 draw when the 4th official held up his board signalling four minutes added on. It was in the third of those that Harry Bunn got to the ball first in the corner and sent over a perfect cross for Elias Kachunga to nod home, sending the crowd wild. Not just the crowd.

David Wagner couldn't contain his excitement. He went sprinting down the wing, past the deflated Derby boss, Steve McClaren, to join in with the celebrations. Those celebrations didn't revolve around the scorer though. They all went to young Bunn, the baker's son for that brilliantly hot cross.

Nice to see McClaren react with class, dignity and respect though as Wagz returned to the dugout.

Not one, not two, but three international games on this date involving Huddersfield Town players.

On this date in 1924, Sam Wadsworth gained his 6th cap for England, but this one was the first he had as captain. It was a British Championship match against Ireland and England won it 3-1 at Goodison Park. Bob Kelly of Burnley, who of course came to play for us, scored the first goal. Centre forward Harry Bedford of Blackpool got the second and Villa's Billy Walker got the third. Billy Gillespie got a consolation for the Irish as England won 3-1.


On this date in 1938, Alf Young of Huddersfield Town, played his final game for England. It was a 4-2 defeat against Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff and it was his 9th cap for the country.

All the goals came in the first half, with Tommy Lawton and Stanley Matthews both getting equalisers for England, but the Welsh scored twice just before half time.


Another Town player got his final cap for England on this date. This was in 1955 and it was Bill McGarry who also played at Ninian Park against Wales and it was another defeat. Two-one to the Welsh this time as Bill got his fourth cap.

The England goal was an own goal from John Charles of Leeds. He of course, was one of the big names in the game at that time, but not as famous as his grandson, Jake Charles, who played one game for Huddersfield Town as an 87th minute sub in 2015. If you were wondering, Jake is now playing in the National League North with Scarborough Athletic.