Huddersfield Town’s Terry McDermott’s pledge as play-off defeat sinks in

May 22 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Terry McDermott

TERRY McDERMOTT has bought into Huddersfield Town big style.

The 58-year-old enjoyed a hat trick of European Cup triumphs in a glittering career with Liverpool.

But the former England ace who learned from one of the greatest managers of the lot in Bob Paisley says helping fledgling boss Lee Clark bring success to the Galpharm would mean as much.

The likeable Scouser, who became as popular by the Tyne as the Mersey thanks to his association with Newcastle United as both player and coach, cut as forlorn a figure as any of the Town party in the wake of Tuesday’s League play-off semi-final defeat by Millwall.

But as promotion hopes were ended by the 2-0 second-leg defeat at a highly-charged New Den, McDermott was quick to pledge: “We’ll be back.”

And the 25-times capped midfielder is already looking to a pre-season which will include a friendly at Bury, the club where it all began for him back in 1969.

“I think we were all absolutely devastated after Tuesday’s defeat,” admitted Kirkby-born McDermott, who spent four years with Bury before the first of two spells at Newcastle preceded a glory period at Anfield which also featured a UEFA Cup winners’ medal, six league titles and three League Cup wins.

“I honestly thought we were good enough to win promotion automatically, and when that didn’t materialise, certainly through the play-offs.

“These lads have been fantastic all season, they’ve provided an awful lot of goals and entertainment, especially at the Galpharm, and their attitude has been spot-on.

“They’ve conducted themselves in the right way since day one of pre-season, and I can honestly say they give every drop of concentration and energy in every training session, and to be successful in this game, that’s what you gave to do.

“It’s just a shame that in the two crunch games against Millwall, a week ago (when the sides drew 0-0 at the Galpharm) and on Tuesday, they didn’t play as well as they can do.

“The lads didn’t need to be told that, and it was a very long journey back indeed.”

Chairman Dean Hoyle was quick to back a management team which also includes Derek Fazackerley, Steve Black and Paul Stephenson, and McDermott continued: “He’s a fantastic man to work for and he know we’re heading in the right direction.

“This is a fantastic football club with some fantastic people behind the scenes, and it’s an absolute pleasure to work here.