The season 2011/12 ended in glorious fashion for Huddersfield Town - a penalty shootout at Wembley securing a return to the Championship in dramatic style.

None of the senior squad that season remain on the playing staff at the John Smith's Stadium, although Jordan Rhodes is still contributing to the financial side of things thanks to Middlesbrough's promotion to the Premier League in May.

But what of today's men? Where were they that season that ended so well for Town fans?

Tommy Smith

The Warrington-born Tommy Smith was one of three current Town players plying their trade in a Manchester City shirt in 2011/12 - although none made a senior appearance for the Premier League outfit.

Smith, the eldest of the trio, was in the Elite Development Squad that term but his time there was already coming to an end and he put pen to paper on a Town contract in the summer of 2012.

Jason Davidson

The left back had already left his native Australia to further his fledgling football career but was yet to arrive on English shores.

Davidson spent the first half of the season at Paços de Ferreira in Portugal before signing for Heracles Almelo in January 2012.

Still only 20, Davidson spent time with the u21s but had a successful first team debut as a centre back, winning 3-1 against FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie.

Dean Whitehead

The seasoned campaigner was on a European tour in 2011/12 as a mainstay of the Stoke City side taking tentative steps in the Europa League, courtesy of their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City the previous campaign.

In fact, Whitehead chalked up his century of appearances in Stoke red and white in the competition, marking it in style with a goal in a 2-1 victory against Israeli side Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

He appeared in 10 of Stoke's 12 European dates that year and made 47 appearances in all competitions in total.

Mark Hudson

Mark Hudson

The Town skipper was donning the armband for Cardiff City in 2011/12 and dreaming of leading his side to the Premier League.

He was still a year or two away from realising that dream, but he did return from injury in time to lead his side out at Wembley - although his day ended in shootout despair rather than the joy Town would experience.

Liverpool were the opponents in the club's first ever League Cup final and the Bluebirds more than held their own, taking the Anfield club all the way to penalties before losing the shootout 3-2.

A headed goal from a set piece isn't a rarity these days for the skipper but he's unlikely to top his fifth strike of the 2011/12 campaign, a 68 yarder from his own half that was later voted Cardiff's Goal of the Season.

It's probably the only time that Hudson has been compared with David Beckham...

Jonathan Hogg

He didn't make it to Wembley but Jonathan Hogg was enjoying his own watershed moment in 2011/12, establishing himself as a Championship regular with Watford.

Hogg signed at Vicarage Road in August 2011 and finished the season having chalked up 40 league starts during the year he turned 23.

The previous campaign had yielded 19 league games on loan at Portsmouth and he departed Aston Villa in search of first team football - which he certainly found, coming fourth in the voting for the club's Player of the Year.

Sean Scannell

That Wembley shootout also had a profound effect on Sean Scannell's career, as he became a Town player shortly afterwards.

Previously with Crystal Palace, the 2011/12 season yielded the Londoner's best season in the Eagles' colours with four goals in 27 starts under new boss Dougie Freedman.

Still a young, developing player he started and finished strongly but had more problems during the winter months. Offered a new contract in the September due to his bright start to the season, he went months without scoring after August and three of his four goals, plus all three assists, came late on in the campaign persuading Town to bring him to Yorkshire.

Summer 2012 also yielded Scannell's 10th appearance for the Ireland u21 side.

Philip Billing

Little was known of Philip Billing, who didn't turn 16 until June 2012 and was playing his football for Esbjerg in his native Denmark.

It wasn't until 2013 that he would arrive in Huddersfield, but he didn't take long to make an impact.

Elias Kachunga

Town's new no.9 was still trying to make the breakthrough into the senior Borussia Monchengladbach side, the club of his boyhood.

He did manage a few appearances but played the majority of his games for Borussia Monchengladbach II in the Regionalliga West, the fourth tier of German football.

In the senior side that year was Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, now with Barcelona, while up front Elias was battling against the likes of Joshua King, then on loan from Manchester United currently in the Premier League with Bournemouth, and Mathew Leckie - who now has 32 Australia caps.

Harry Bunn

Harry Bunn.

On September 5 2011, Harry Bunn scored against Barcelona.

Playing for Manchester City u19s, Bunn netted the consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat to the young Catalans as part of the (now defunct) Next Gen series.

Two months later he was on loan at Rochdale making his debut against MK Dons.

It was a mixed campaign for the young winger, who later joined Oldham Athletic on loan making 11 appearances as he took his his first steps in the professional game.

Joel Coleman

Another youngster, the teenage Coleman was still playing youth football as a schoolboy in 2011/12, and didn't sign scholarship forms until July that year.

However, although he was still eligible for the u16s, he had appeared as a sub for the reserves, spent time with the u18s and was already being touted as one to watch in the Academy ranks.

Martin Cranie

Martin Cranie

A regular for Coventry City, Martin Cranie chalked up 38 appearances for the Championship club despite something of an injury-hit campaign courtesy of cracked ribs.

However, the defender couldn't prevent the Sky Blues from dropping into League One, where they have languished ever since.

A valued member of the squad, Cranie was offered a new deal but turned down the chance to stay after the club's relegation and left as a free agent, subsequently joining Barnsley.

Chris Löwe

The summer of 2011 saw a host of arrivals at Borussia Dortmund, including Ilkay Gundogan - and future Town left back Chris Löwe.

A certain David Wagner also took the reins as manager of Borussia Dortmund II.

Löwe made his debut for the senior team in the 2011 DFL-Supercup against Schalke 04, and made his league bow in the season opener in the August but went on to work extensively with Wagner in the second side.

Jack Payne

That year, Christian Dailly, whose varied career took in Rangers, West Ham and Blackburn was in the senior Southend team following a trial, while Kane Ferdinand, cousin of Rio and Les, was also at Roots Hall.

That duo might now have been aware of the teenage Jack Payne however, who was released by Tottenham Hotspur in his youth, but had found a home at Southend by the time Town were tasting the sweetness of promotion.

Rajiv van La Parra

The summer of 2011 was one of uncertainty for Rajiv van La Parra, who found himself out of work after his contract with Caen was terminated by mutual consent.

An unsuccessful trial at AZ Alkmaar cannot have made things easier but he eventually signed with Eredivisie side Heerenveen at the end of August, and after a season in which he scored six times in 26 outings the club extended his deal by a further two years.

The club gave him the chance to showcase his skills on the European stage and he left after making 94 appearances for the club, netting 16 goals.

Joe Lolley

Released by Birmingham City at the age of 16, Joe Lolley moved into non league football but soon showed his talent.

Joe Lolley's non-league exploits earned him a move to Kidderminster Harriers

In 2011 he joined Midland Combination side Littleton, when his phenomenal record of 88 goals in 83 games over two years proved he was destined for a higher level.

Ivan Paurević

Any Town fans happening to glance at the German lower leagues while their own team was gunning for promotion would have seen a glimpse of Huddersfield's future.

They might have found that hard to believe, but in 2011/12 Wagner was leading Borussia Dortmund II to promotion back to the 3. Liga.

The midfield general? Ivan Paurevic.

Jordy Hiwula

In August 2011, Manchester City u18s kicked off their season with a side featuring Jordy Hiwula, as well as Emyr Huws and Devante Cole (now with Fleetwood Town).

In a strange quirk, that same month u18 goalkeeper Loris Karius left City's youth system for Mainz, but has now signed for Liverpool - a move which could potentially pave the way for Reds stopper Danny Ward to be loaned to Town.

Another Town forward who was on the scoresheet against Barcelona in his youth, Hiwula scored in City u19s' away clash with the Catalans in the November.

He finished on the losing side though, his goal mere consolation in a 4-1 loss.

Sandro Ramirez, who terrorised City that day, has just been released by Barcelona although he made 24 senior appearances this season to help them to a league and cup double.

Nahki Wells

A trial with Bradford City in June 2011 paid dividends for Nahki Wells - and the Bantams.

Nahki Wells poses with the match ball after scoring a hat trick

Offered a one year deal, the Bermudian netted 12 goals in 37 appearances for the League Two club that term and had fans begging him to stay.

Stay he did for another 18 months following the 2011/12 campaign before becoming Town's then-record signing after scoring 53 times in 112 Bradford appearances. Not bad for a player they picked up for free.

Kyle Dempsey

Born in Whitehaven, Kyle Dempsey was flourishing in Carlisle's youth system although he was still a couple of seasons away from making his first team debut.

The Cumbrians also had a loan player by the name of Jeremy Helan on the books, who came through the Man City youth ranks a few years ahead of Bunn and Hiwula.

Joe Murphy

The Irish goalkeeper was enjoying his first year at Coventry City, arriving on a free transfer from the relegated Scunthorpe United.

He proved good value for the Sky Blues, playing every single league game alongside Martin Cranie and Manchester United loan player Oliver Norwood.

However, he couldn't prevent the drop to League One, and on a personal note suffered the disappointment of a second relegation in two seasons for two different clubs.

Christopher Schindler

Previously a one club man, Christopher Schindler was enjoying his time at 1860 Munich.

Already a regular for the first team, he made 32 appearances as the club finished 6th in the 2. Bundesliga.

Michael Hefele

Spielvereinigung Unterhaching is a sports club based in the outskirts of Munich, famous for having a bobsleigh arm that has triumphed at the Olympics.

It also boasts a football team that at the turn of the century found itself in the top tier of German football and facing off against local rivals Bayern Munich.

On the books in 2011/12 was a 21-year-old defender named Michael Hefele, part of a side that finished 15th in 3.Liga.