It was 25 years ago since the Giants won the third division championship title – but then left Fartown.

For those asking why, here is an extract from ‘Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants’.

‘Just as the club appeared to be turning the corner, another football ground disaster impacted on Fartown.

‘The deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough in 1989, coming only four years after the Bradford City and Heysel Stadium disasters, persuaded the Government to commission Lord Taylor of Gosforth to lead an inquiry into ground safety.

‘The Taylor Report had profound repercussions for Fartown and for sport in Huddersfield as the resulting legislation required the club to close Fartown’s wooden main stand until essential work was completed.

For practical and financial reasons, this could only be done piecemeal, and next came further repairs to the stand roof.

After months of hard work, the local authority allowed seating for about 300 people in a stand that originally held 4,000.

Eventually, after more hard work, permission was granted to raise the capacity of Fartown – which had once held 35,136 spectators – from 2,000 to 6,500.

The steady progress at the club continued with new directors Dave Parker and Trevor Park coming on board and Joe Bramley became chairman and in 1991 Alex Murphy and Terry Flanagan were appointed to the coaching staff for the club’s first season in the newly formed Division Three.

Huddersfield Giants Chairman, Ken Davy along with RFL Chairman, Paul Morgan unveil a blue plaque on the wall surrounding the former Fartown ground on Spaines Road with former Fartown players, John Taylor, Leslie McDonald and Frank Slater who were playing in the legends team to celebrate the 120 years since the first rugby league game at the ground.

They were successful, winning promotion as champions in 1991-92, running in a remarkable 173 tries, and with Simon Kenworthy and Jason Gilbert kicking 70 goals each, the Fartowners were just 13 points short of 1,000 in league and cup matches.

Success, however, had come at a price.

The club’s finances were once more in dire straits and, to meet Division Two standards, Fartown required a further £50,000 in safety improvements that the club did not have.

This figure would rise to between £300,000 and £2m should Huddersfield win promotion to the top division – Kirklees MBC had already assisted, buying the Fartown lease for £50,000 in 1992.

The final straw was a fire that partially destroyed the changing rooms later that year and Fartown, the club’s ground since 1878, had become untenable.’

If you haven’t got a copy of the book – it sold out within 12 months – find someone who has, it is a tremendous read.

Come along and join us on Tuesday, March 14 – please note change of date – to hear what former Fartown favourite and GB international Paul Dixon has to say.

http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk is where to find out about the Supporters Association.