The history of Brighton & Hove Albion v Huddersfield Town

Meetings between Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town have only become regular over the last 20 years or so, but it is a fixture that has thrown up many significant firsts for the Albion in that time.

For managers, there have been some notable firsts against the Terriers. Brian Clough took charge of his first away game at the helm in November 1973, a 2-2 draw at Leeds Road with goals from Ken Beamish and Barry Bridges.

It was against Huddersfield that it was 100% confirmed for the first time that Micky Adams had in fact completely lost the plot. There had already been the decision to play Adam Virgo as a right winger and his assertion that “we were playing The Leeds United” as a reason for defeat, seemingly trying to suggest that Gary McAllister’s side were some sort of untouchable Barcelona, despite the fact they would finish the season in fourth spot in League One.

Defeat to the Terriers bought a new low however when Adams came out with “the players just need a hug.” Yes, those highly paid, expensively assembled (for the time) players needed a hug. No they didn’t, Micky. They needed a kick up the arse and eventually, Russell Slade to save them from relegation into League Two with the greatest of great escapes.

In terms of attendances, an FA Cup second round meeting with Huddersfield in 1922 brought in the first Goldstone Ground crowd of over 22,000. The Terriers were one of the best sides in the land at that point in time but they were lucky to escape with a replay, Brighton missing a succession of chances to pull off what would have been an almighty piece of giant killing. Huddersfield made no such mistakes in the replay played at Leeds Road four days later, winning 2-0 on a pitch described as a “swamp” and they would go onto lift the trophy, defeating Preston North End 1-0 in the final.

Games with Huddersfield have had a mixed bag of firsts for players as well. Jake Robinson looked like he could’ve been the next Wayne Rooney when he tore through the Terriers at the Galpharm Stadium in 2006, becoming the first youth team product to score a hat-trick in a generation as Dean Wilkins side sauntered to a 3-0 win and one of the best results of his tenure. It says much for wasted talent that Robinson’s career has been steadily downhill since then.

Someone who clearly had no talent yet somehow played for the Albion was goalkeeper Graeme Smith, who made his debut for the club away at Huddersfield in 2009 after Michel Kuipers was sent off. The Albion were already 3-1 down by that point in the first half and Smith would go on to concede a further four times although he did save a penalty somehow. Remarkably, he went onto play a further nine times for the club, giving hope to anyone with the basic requirement of two working arms that they could one day be a professional goalkeeper too.

Away from firsts, there was one finality against Huddersfield which came as they were the last ever visitors to Withdean Stadium. The Albion were already League One champions and in party mood, receiving the trophy after the game. Lee Clark’s side won 3-2 on that day but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Southampton for the final automatic promotion spot, and they ended up losing out in the play offs to Peterborough United.

Given that last ever afternoon at Withdean was only seven years ago, it is mad to think how far we have both come since then.