MICK BUXTON set his sights on the Fourth Division title as Town ended five seasons in the Football League’s basement division with a 2-1 win over Scunthorpe.
A 10,900 crowd saw promotion sealed at Leeds Road, with Ian Robins scoring both goals as Town moved to within three points of leaders Walsall with three games to go.
Striker Robins (pictured), Town’s 24-goal top scorer, had been Buxton’s first signing after he took over the previous season.
The former Oldham player cost £20,000 from Bury, and notched 16 goals to top the Town chart in 1978-79.
He carried on where he left off the campaign after as Town, who had started the seventies in the top flight, finally enjoyed some success.
With so much at stake, the Scunthorpe clash was a nervy occasion, but Buxton’s side started strongly with Brian Stanton, Peter Hart and Dave Sutton all going close.
The home side had an escape after 17 minutes, when Malcolm Partridge headed Town old boy Graham Pugh’s corner into the side-netting.
But they were in front within another five minutes, Robins nodding in right-back Malcolm Brown’s swerving free-kick.
Scunthorpe were put under real pressure, and Stanton sent a long-range effort inches too high before the second goal arrived on 29 minutes.
Sutton’s long-range clearance fell into the path of Robins, who scampered past two defenders before drilling in a low left-foot shot.
Town were unable to relax after Partridge pulled a goal back three minutes into the second half, but it was the home side doing the bulk of the attacking.
The final whistle was greeted by the inevitable pitch invasion while Buxton hailed the Town board as he sipped a celebratory glass of whisky.
“They have backed me to the full and even though I’m not a ‘name’ manager, they have never gone against me,” said the former coach.
“The best place to clinch promotion is here at home, in front of our fabulous supporters who have stuck with the club through the thin times.
“There is a hell of a lot of spirit here and we have got to keep going and advance even further because these fans deserve success.
“The players will get a day off, but they have to report back ready to knuckle down, because our season isn’t finished by a long chalk.
“We have three games to go and we want to win them all and keep up the pressure on Walsall.”
Chairman Keith Longbottom added: “I’m highly delighted that Huddersfield Town will be back in Division III come next August.
“I’m pleased for everyone here, the directors, the manager, the coaches, the players and the staff, because they have all worked so hard.”
