HOMEGROWN favourite Andy Booth today took a massive pay cut to sign a two-year extension to his Town contract.
The 29-year-old has been in talks with manager Peter Jackson and chief executive Andrew Watson for the last two weeks and has agreed a deal which will keep him at the McAlpine until 2006.
The new terms bring the club's highest earner within owner Ken Davy's budget plans, Jackson is delighted Booth will be around to see out his career in blue and white stripes and the striker himself wants to prove a point.
Jackson explained: "Boothy has signed a deal for this season and the next two and has shown a massive commitment to the club in doing so.
"I am not going to go into any details because that's not right, but he's taken a massive drop in wages from now to remain here and probably to see out his career at the McAlpine.
"I think it's terrific, it helps the club, it settles Andy because his contract was up next summer and I'm delighted, because he's an excellent player to have on the books.
"People seem to think he's a lot older than 29, probably because he's been around so long and he's had his injury problems, but he has got a lot to offer this football club in terms of experience, attitude and ability, he has brought Jon Stead on in leaps and bounds and he is a great help around the club."
Booth, who scored the 103rd League goal of his career in Monday's 1-1 draw at Doncaster (his first strike of the season), has suffered few problems with his knees for almost a year.
"People always bring up the injury question mark because of Andy's knee trouble, but you can never guarantee any player won't suffer an injury and he's fine at the moment," added Jackson.
"While he sometimes needs ice, he has hardly missed a day since we returned for pre-season, he has worked hard in games and, at this level, he is the sort of striker who can cause havoc.
"I'm delighted with the deal and with Andy, because he's made a big sacrifice this season to extend by another two and I know how keen he is to do well."
Booth, who lives in the Holme Valley with wife Cheryl and 13-month-old son Harrison, made his Town debut 11 years ago and returned to the club (following a £2.75m five-year stint at Sheffield Wednesday) in March 2001.
"I've always made it clear I wanted to finish my career with Town and, with this deal, the club have probably enabled me to do that," said the big frontman.
"I want to carry on playing, the club have shown great faith in me and, touch wood, I'm okay fitness wise. My knees are certainly no worse than they were three years ago, I feel fine and I've had probably my best pre-season work ever."
Hurt by two relegations since his return to the club, Booth added: "We've got something to prove after the last few years and this is my chance to see better times again in a Town shirt.
"I want to help us get back up the League and I'm confident things will pick up for us, because we've got a very capable squad which just needs a few matches to gel and a win to breed the confidence we need.
"Jacko and Taff have definitely brought something back to the club, everyone is enjoying the work and Huddersfeld Town is a nice place to be at the moment.
"We all want to turn the season into a good one for the fans and for ourselves and I've no doubt we can."
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