Huddersfield Town's 1979–80 campaign is one of Town's most successful in their history, gaining promotion from the
Division 4 title, the last season in which Town won the divisional title. They finished two points clear of
Walsall. In
Mick Buxton's first full season in charge, Town scored 101 league goals, the only season in which Town have scored more than 100 league goals in their entire history. This ended Town's five-year stint in the basement division. The only season after this that they were in the 4th tier was in the
2003–04 season.
Squad at the start of the season
Review
With
Mick Buxton
Michael James Buxton (born 29 May 1943) is a former footballer and football manager in England. He has managed Huddersfield Town, Scunthorpe United and Sunderland.
Playing career
During his playing career, Buxton played in the Football League ...
at the helm for his first full season, many were thinking that after his team's good form in the previous season, that promotion to
Division 3
In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below.
Association football
* Belgian Th ...
was possible and a good start to the season didn't dampen spirits. In the first 12 games, Town won 10 of them including a 7–1 win against
Port Vale
Port Vale Football Club are a professional football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, which compete in . Vale are the only English Football League club not to be named after a place; their name being a reference to the valley o ...
. But after a run in November and December of 4 games without a win, manager Buxton brought in
Steve Kindon
Stephen Michael Kindon (born 17 December 1950) is a former professional footballer who played mainly on the left wing but also at centre forward. He was noted for his pace, and won "the Fastest Footballer in Britain award" seven times.
Kindon w ...
from
Burnley just before
Christmas. It proved to be an inspired signing, he scored 14 goals in his 23 games for Town during the second half of the season.
However,
Ian Robins topped the goalscoring charts for the whole 4th Division with 25 league goals. He and
Malcolm Brown were put in the "Divisional Team of the Season". They guaranteed their promotion with a 2–1 win over
Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. The side currently competes in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system. The tea ...
with 3 matches to go. Amongst other big victories were 5–0 victories against
Northampton Town,
Stockport County,
Halifax Town and a 5–1 win over
Rochdale. The last game of the season against
Hartlepool United also saw Town scored their 100th and 101st league goals of their season, the only time Town have reached triple figures in goals in their entire history. They finished 2 points clear of
Walsall in 1st position. This is their last season as champions of any division.
Squad at the end of the season
Results
Division Four
The Football League Fourth Division was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season. Whilst the division disappeared in name ...
FA Cup
Football League Cup
Appearances and goals
{{DEFAULTSORT:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Season 1979-80
Huddersfield Town A.F.C. seasons, 1979-80
English football clubs 1979–80 season