He is a great grandfather with a great memory.
And Geoffrey Brook can still recall one of Huddersfield Town’s most exhilarating days as if it happened yesterday.
The 92-year-old was at the 1938 FA Cup final at Wembley , which thrust the Terriers into the spotlight by being the first final to be televised in its entirety.
He was then a bright-eyed 14-year-old, who headed down to London with his mum and dad on the train.
“My father was a railwayman and he got three passes so we could all go down.
“We had two tickets for the match and my mother wasn’t going to go. But my dad asked some of the spivs outside for a ticket.
“He couldn’t get one, but someone saw him and went up to him and offered a ticket, for a lot of money. Me and my dad had tickets which cost three and sixpence and had to stand but my mum got a first class seat which was great.”
The match had special significance with it being televised by the BBC. King George VI was there on April 30 to shake the hands of every player, watched by young Geoffrey, who remembers much of the game, which ended in heartache for Town.
READ MORE: Huddersfield Town were in first FA Cup final to be televised in its entirety
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Their opponents Preston won 1-0, George Mutch scoring from the penalty spot with just one minute of extra time left.
Just before it, BBC commentator Thomas Woodrooffe had said “if there’s a goal scored now, I’ll eat my hat”. Apparently he kept his promise.
Geoffrey said: “We were standing at the other end of the pitch so couldn’t really see much of the penalty incident.
“At first it looked as if the keeper had saved it, but he hadn’t, and it was very disappointing.
“But we had a great time. We stayed in London for three or four days and saw all the sights. It was a wonderful trip.”
Geoffrey, who lives in Kirkheaton , has followed Huddersfield on and off down the years, but prefers cricket.
“I used to live in Leeds Road and would often pop along to the games, but cricket is my favourite sport.”
A retired engineer, he worked for Thomas Broadbent in Queen Street.
A widower, he has three children, and “a lot” of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“I have lived in Huddersfield all my life, and can still remember the excitement of that trip.
“There can’t be many of us left now who were there. It was 78 years ago but I can still remember it.”
