Huddersfield Town Supporters' Association Column

Longstanding HTSA member, Michael Scott, will soon be celebrating “Fifty Years a Town Fan”.

To mark the occasion Michael is intending to give away 500 matchday programmes for the game against Birmingham City.

These will go to any junior Terriers (Under 16) who call in at the HTSA cabin prior to the game.

Michael is a regular traveller on the HTSA coach and there are very few football grounds, League or non-league, that do not appear multiple times on his curriculum vitae.

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His travels have led to an extensive collection of programmes and footballing memorabilia.

Through this generosity, Michael is hoping to encourage a greater appreciation of tomorrow’s “souvenirs”, and promote the importance of literacy among young people.

Printing presses (and the football programmes they produce) are facing their biggest challenge yet.

Digital media has prompted many clubs to reconsider how traditional programmes and teamsheets will develop.

Huddersfield Town have been at the forefront of this innovative thinking.

The mixed success of last season’s “newspaper” showed that the club were prepared to consider all the options and also valued and acted upon the feedback from supporters.

The price of this season’s programme and the introduction of the Town Square ‘app’ are evidence of a club who are eager to please their supporters.

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Talking of anniversaries, on April 12, 1926, the name of Huddersfield Town was firmly engraved into the monumental history of football.

A 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers landed the Division One championship for a third successive year, the first time that any club had achieved this.

In the following two seasons only Newcastle and Everton prevented Town from making it an incredible five titles in a row.

Huddersfield Town were, without question, the number one team of the 1920s.

Just imagine if the “Wagner Revolution” could lead to a revival of Town’s footballing supremacy?

This week on social media Town fans have been discussing the importance of football clubs having a “club anthem”.

Whether they never walk alone, march together or even race to Blaydon, with Delilah blowing her bubbles under a Blue Moon, can any other club really match the history and tradition of our Yorkshire Club.

There was a clear consensus among posters that teams should emerge at the John Smith’s Stadium to a rousing rendition of “Smile Awhile”!

It is a tune that was originally written in 1918 and adapted by those triumphant Town supporters of the 1920s.

Ian Lawrence, HTSA Chair, has asked for the words to be published in this column so that North Stand Loyalists can practice in the shower.

Do not worry if you miss your bath-night this week, you can always save the newspaper until next Friday, limbering up your vocal chords in a lather of carbolic with loofahs aloft!

Smile Awhile:

“There’s a team that is dear to its followers, their colours are bright blue and white, they’re a team of renown, they’re the pride of the town, and the game of football is their delight.

“All the while upon the field of play, thousands loudly cheer them on their way, often you can hear them say, who can beat the Town today

“Then the bells will ring so merrily, every goal will be a memory, so Town play up and bring the cup, back to Huddersfield.

“We’re Yorkshire...”

There are only a few seats left on the coaches to Blackburn Rovers and Rotherham United. The fares to both fixtures are HTSA members £10 and non-members £12.

The coach will depart from the John Smith’s Stadium for Blackburn at 12.15 and for Rotherham at 17.30.

We hope to run a coach to Bristol City, which will be our last away trip of the season. Departing at 9am the fares will be £19.50/£21.50.

A decision whether or not the trip is viable, will be made after the Rotherham game and will be based upon the number of bookings received by then. Contact Rachael on 07905

580784 as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.

All HTSA members on the HTSA coach to Bristol City will get 12 months extended HTSA membership and, as usual, they will be in with a chance of winning up to £250 in the Travel Draw.

A further £250 also awaits the HTSA member whose membership card shows the following numbers – (1)2266. If your HTSA membership card is up to date and shows this, or (135)2266, £250 is yours.

Please send details of your full name and postal address by text to 07725 036109 or by email to trevwhitehead@virginmedia.com before 19.08 on Friday, April 15, 2016.

You will receive your cheque by return of post.