It was like a return to the glory days of Huddersfield sport.
Huge crowds of boisterous fans weaving their way down Leeds Road from the town centre and buses packed with supporters queuing to find a car park slot.
Even the ticket touts were out, offering, bizarrely, to buy and sell for the big game.
And everyone there became a record-breaker.
The glory days had seen big crowds packing the old Leeds Road ground for big Town games – the cup ties against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United.
But now it’s the John Smith’s Stadium, a different ball game – quite literally – and a record crowd for a sporting event.
How refreshing, too, that the 24,375 behaved impeccably with no need for the police or stewards to stir themselves as England battered Ireland 42-0 in Saturday’s World Cup showdown.
The Rugby League World Cup roadshow had rolled into town several days ago with an army of workers and volunteers transforming the stadium and the complex with banners, hoardings and merchandise outlets.
They had worked until midnight on the night before the game and were there again hours before the Saturday afternoon kick-off, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Town centre pubs and bars lapped up the extra trade on a cold and wet November Saturday with rugby fans from across the country pouring into town.
Every club was there with colours and coaches from the likes of Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Hull shoulder-to-shoulder to support the home nations.
Alan Studding, who had made the journey from Bolton with son Tom, 12, said: “It’s great to be able to say you’ve watched a World Cup game at any sport and it’s a great occasion.”
That, too, was emphasised by the stadium announcer as he whipped up the crowd in the minutes before kick-off.
“Welcome to the birthplace of Rugby League, welcome to the 2013 World Cup.”
It was the sort of event the stadium was meant to host and there to see it were some of the people who made it possible, including Sir John Harman, who was one of the men with the vision to create a new stadium for Huddersfield.
Another with a big smile on his face was Giants’ owner and chairman Ken Davy who, along with wife Jennifer, was delighted to see his players Leroy Cudjoe and Brett Ferres, of England, and Anthony Mullally, in the green of Ireland.
“This is what we want to see,” said Mr Davy.
Kirklees Mayor Martyn Bolt was another delighted spectator – joining in the Mexican wave which swept all four stands of the stadium in the second half.
He said: “My son David was in the same class at school in Dewsbury as Sam Burgess – one of the three brothers in the England squad.
“Sam tried to get David into rugby, but he didn’t get involved.
“Bringing an event like this is great for Huddersfield, great for the stadium and great for the community.”
There was certainly a community feel to the day, with hundreds of children from seven Kirklees schools doing a spirited performance of the Haka in front of the Britannia Rescue Stand and hundreds more forming a superb choir to sing for the crowd.
For the Giants fans in that crowd there was plenty to celebrate with Cudjoe having a big hand in three first-half tries for winger Ryan Hall and Ferres crashing over for a touchdown of his own.
And Mullally was one of the few Irish players to emerge with real credit as they wilted under English pressure.
But the real winner was sport, the John Smith’s Stadium and the crowd.
A day to savour. Now bring on the Tour de France.
Saturday's World Cup game was one hundreds of Huddersfield people will long remember.
A parade around the pitch before the game included Honley High School (2013 Year 8 “Champions Schools” National Champions), Dewsbury Celtic U14 Girls team (winners of the Irish Festival Championship) and the 150 children who took part in the Kirklees Primary School Matchday Festival earlier organised by Huddersfield Giants Community Trust.
Around 350 street dancers from nine of Kirklees Council’s community dance groups performed their dance moves to Destiny’s Child Lose My Breath.
Youngsters from seven schools in Kirklees formed a choir made up of around 150 pupils who sang the two national anthems, Jerusalem, and a medley combining Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule Britannia. Schools involved were Holmfirth High School, Lindley Junior School, Overthorpe CE Academy , Helme J&I School , Littletown J I & N School, Whitechapel C of E Primary School and Crosland Moor Junior School.
The match ball was brought on to the pitch by Freya Carnekie from Highburton.
Around 350 schoolchildren and members of rugby league community clubs performed the haka on the pitch before the match.
The 34 player escorts were all members of Rugby League community clubs across Kirklees, mainly from U7 and U8 teams. The Rugby League World Cup tournament banner was carried out by 12 Huddersfield Giants Scholarship Players – the players who are in the youth performance pathway.
