Huddersfield Giants fans are constantly being told ‘look how far we’ve come in such a short period of time’.
As the excitement grows, it is perhaps timely to remember those dark times and our revival by continuing our occasional ‘history series’.
By the 1970s, the club had become a shadow of its former self, the old Fartown ground had fallen into disrepair and the club frequently finished in the lower reaches of the league.
Local businessman John Bailey took a controlling interest in the stadium, the club and the pavilion.
In 1984, in an attempt to revive the club, Huddersfield adopted the name ‘Barracudas’ and Fartown was renamed Arena 84. As people continued to stay away, it became clear that Bailey could not stem the decline.
April 10, 1983, brought the club’s lowest ever crowd. Just 422 turned up to watch the Whitehaven game – Huddersfield Rugby League Club was on the point of collapse.
A new board of directors took over in 1989 and injected some much needed financial resources into the club.
The ‘Barracudas’ and ‘Arena 84’ titles were dropped for the 1988-89 season. Nigel Stephenson was appointed as coach and Huddersfield were helped by several clubs, in particular Featherstone Rovers, to put a reasonable squad together.
As well as beginning to improve the playing staff, the new owners also carried out a considerable amount of work on the Fartown stadium and by the end of the 1989-90 season significant progress was being made.
Average crowds topped 1,500 for the first time since the 1970s.
Shortly after the 1991-2 season had begun, Alex Murphy took over as coach.
Huddersfield were the first champions of the newly-formed third division in 1991-92.
Promotion to the Second Division had been achieved, and there was pride once again in the famous claret and gold shirt.
September’s proposed Quiz Night has been cancelled.
In its place we have secured the talents of Jenna Brough’s crowd – the Wives & Girlfriends who climbed Ben Nevis for charity.
Come along and hear what they have to say – £1 for non-members and pay �5 to become a member for a year.
Nominations are now being taken for the next HGSA committee.
Voting is under way for the prestigious ‘Wagstaff Trophy’ awarded to the player who, in the association’s opinion, is the club’s ‘Most Valued’, based along the lines of ‘who would I least like to leave the club?’.
More information can be found at www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk or forms can be obtained at Turnbridge WMC or from any committee member.
