v 
BLUES
Are aliens visiting Huddersfield? It certainly seems so - according to the experts.
Previously top secret files have been passed on to the Examiner through the new Freedom of Information Act and The Ministry of Defence reports detailed sightings of UFOs above the Yorkshire town.
Between 2002 and 2004 there were four separate UFO sightings in the skies above the Huddersfield and one nearby in, er, Heckmondwike!
The list includes only sightings the MOD cannot explain. Shocked and amazed Huddersfield folk have described the UFOs as looking like "silver balls", "cigars" and even a "flying jellyfish".
Macca's tough, but 'silver balls', I'm not too sure.
Meanwhile, in the real world........
| 3 | Millwall | 40 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 31 | 24 | 22 | 7 | 11 | 54 | 43 | 73 | +11 | ||||
| 4 | Milton Keynes Dons | 39 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 22 | 20 | 9 | 10 | 74 | 45 | 69 | +29 | ||||
| 5 | Leeds United | 39 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 13 | 66 | 45 | 68 | +21 | ||||
| 6 | Scunthorpe United | 39 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 32 | 20 | 7 | 12 | 69 | 52 | 67 | +17 | ||||
| 7 | Tranmere Rovers | 40 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 54 | 43 | 63 | +11 | ||||
| 8 | Southend United | 40 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 38 | 18 | 7 | 15 | 51 | 54 | 61 | -3 | ||||
| 9 | Oldham Athletic | 40 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 36 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 59 | 56 | 59 | +3 | ||||
So there you have it. A similar situation to the one we faced travelling to Huddersfield last season, we must win!
With Scunthorpe at Wembley for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final on Sunday and Tranmere at home to Bristol Rovers, depends what Rovers side turns up there, also on Sunday, Blues could be fifth in the table, three points behind the Iron come 5pm on Saturday afternoon.
The big news is that Dervite will be back at centre half and though Blues boss Steve Tilson insists his absence had nothing to do with the second half antics against Hartlepool last Friday, telling the Echo: "I don't think you can say it happened because Dorian wasn't playing. We just got a bit complacent and sloppy and that's why the game ended up the way it did and we were hanging on towards the end a little bit."
He, like most Shrimpers, especially those making the long trip to Yorkshire, will still be pleased to see him back: "I went to watch Dorian against England in the week and he did ever so well so it's great to have him back available again."
It's been well documented, thanks Chris Phillips at the Echo for telling us we need to sign a tall centre half in the summer, most pub managers had picked up on that one two seasons ago, the difference the on-loan Spurs man has made to the defence, the facts speak for themselves, so welcome back Dorian.
The striking situation will looks healthier with a strong looking bench if events on the pitch are not going a we wish with twenty minutes to go.
Certainly not Tilly who said: "I expected Huddersfield to be higher up this season because they are a good team. I thought they would be in the top six because they spent a bit of money and had a real go. They have still done quite well but they have some very good players and it's always a hard place to go. The pitch at Huddersfield isn't always the best either and we will have to be able to deal with that to try and get another good result."
Another 2-1.
Possible Southend X1: Mildenhall, Francis, Dervite, Clarke, Barrett, Scannell, Grant, McCormack, Moussa, Barnard, Robinson. Subs: Joyce, Sankofa, Christophe, Freedman, Laurent.
Southend Utd. | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 15 |
OPPOSITION
Last Six Matches
Huddersfield | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Terriers boss Lee Clark is likely to name an unchanged side from Wednesday, (see below), as Huddersfield seek their third win in a row.
Left back Robbie Williams will miss out with a groin problem so Liverpool loanee Martin Kelly will again deputise in a game that will be his home debut.
Midfielder Andy Holdsworth is nursing an ankle injury, but Jon Worthington could return to the squad following his loan spell at Yeovil.
| 8 | Southend United | 40 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 38 | 18 | 7 | 15 | 51 | 54 | 61 | -3 | ||||
| 9 | Oldham Athletic | 40 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 36 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 59 | 56 | 59 | +3 | ||||
| 10 | Colchester United | 40 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 53 | 53 | 57 | 0 | ||||
| 11 | Huddersfield Town | 40 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 33 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 53 | 58 | 57 | -5 | ||||
| 12 | Stockport County | 40 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 23 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 54 | 49 | 56 | +5 | ||||
| 13 | Walsall | 40 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 31 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 54 | 56 | 55 | -2 |
Midfield star Anthony Pilkington the player to watch for me, he was man of the match for Stockport against us in January, and looks a steal for the Yorkshire side.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds manager Clarke said: "We have to follow up two terrific results and performances away from home by doing it at home and not thinking the hard part's been done. We're coming up against a very good side who have won 10 from 13 and are playing with a lot of confidence. They still think they've got an outside chance of the play-offs and they're right to think that."
The Last Match: Bristol Rovers 1 Huddersfield Town 2 (Edited from a report by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner.)
Danny Cadamarteri popped up with a great winner as Town came from behind to complete an away double success. Trailing to a Jo Kuffour finish just after half time, Lee Clark's side pounded back to add another three points to those gained at Hereford.
Outstanding man-of-the-match Anthony Pilkington lit the blue touch paper with a stunning equaliser on 69 minutes and then he turned provider with the cross for Cadamarteri to seal victory with a clever header.
Town, showing one change from the 1-0 victory at Hereford, with Martin Kelly making his loan debut from Liverpool in place of the injured Robbie Williams, fielded a 4-5-1 in the first half to combat Rovers' 4-3-3. The tactic worked pretty well, too, with Jim Goodwin anchoring the midfield and Town spreading the ball nicely across the decent Memorial Ground surface.
Rovers, looking for a first home win in 20 years against Town and three points to take them into the League One top 10, showed some early promise with Alex Smithies swooping smartly to deny a Darryl Duffy header as hot-shot Rickie Lambert looked to pounce.
Chris Lines followed up with a shot over the top and Smithies was tested again on 19 minutes when Kuffour sent in a rasping shot from just outside the box which the teenage keeper did well to beat away.
For Town, Pilkington looked the man most likely, causing Joe Jacobson all sorts of problems down the right flank and, after a neat inter-change with Gary Roberts, the former Stockport man sent a snap-shot just wide. Goodwin aimed just too high with a long-range effort and, with the lively Cadamarteri showing well for the ball and linking well with the supporting midfielders and right-back Tom Clarke, Town created a concerted spell of pressure.
Pilkington, Roberts and Cadamarteri had Rovers on the back foot and when Michael Collins joined in neatly, he teed up Cadamarteri for a fierce drive just over the angle. Roberts should then have done better after another excellent Pilkington run, failing to shoot first time when the defence were stretched, while Steve Phillips did well to tip away a dangerous cross from Tom Clarke, who was catching the eye down the right.
Biggest talking point of the half was a back pass from Kelly which Smithies showed too much of to Kuffour and was lucky to get away with a clumsy challenge from behind on the edge of the area. Rovers seemed to perk up after that and only some excellent covering from Kelly prevented Lines from scoring as Lambert headed down a free kick.
Then, as the fourth official indicated one extra minute to half-time, Lambert had a free kick 23 yards out following a foul by Andy Butler and his shot clipped the top of the wall and sizzled over the bar. It was a dodgy moment for Town and, soon after the re-start, they were made to pay.
The second half was barely 90 seconds old when Rovers got a throw on the Town left, Lambert got in an assist and Kuffour swivelled nicely to hook in a shot off Smithies' left-hand post. It was a shuddering blow for Town, who had given as good as they'd got up to that point.
And Rovers, who sent on substitute Aaron Lescott for the struggling Jacobson, quickly looked to add to the strike. Smithies had to be quickly off his line to deny the raiding Craig Disley, while Lambert aimed just too high after a powerful run through the centre, from his more withdrawn position.
Smithies almost put Roberts in behind the home defence with a quick clearance on 56 minutes, but Rovers had the bit between their teeth and Tom Clarke was cautioned for a foul on Kuffour as the pressure mounted.
Smithies was relieved that Disley didn't get a strong connection as he shot after turning between Butler and Kelly while, on a counter attack at the other end, Pilkington cut in from the left and curled a dangerous shot just too high. He did not have to wait long to find the net, however.
With 69 minutes on the clock, Pilkington seized on a loose ball after a surging run by Kelly and fired a great curling left-footer out of reach of Phillips and into the far corner.
Town still had to be on their toes, with Smithies making another tremendous diving save to deny Duffy's turn and shot and then grasping a crisp goalbound effort from Steve Elliott.
It was then that Town stunned the home fans from a move involving Collins and Goodwin, with Pilkington sending in a great cross from the left to provide Cadamarteri with an easy close-range headed finish.
Huddersfield: Smithies, Butler, Tom Clarke, Nathan Clarke, Kelly, Goodwin, Collins, Flynn (Booth 68), Roberts, Pilkington, Cadamarteri.
Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Craney, Berrett, Ainsworth. Booked: Tom Clarke. Goals: Pilkington 70, Cadamarteri 78.
The games between the sides stands locked at 14-14, all to play for!
Read about our last minute win in Yorkshire last season by going here:
www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=EDY3&id=440904
We lost the previous match between the clubs 1-0 at Roots Hall back in December.
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This stadium was opened with three sides in 1995, the last stand being added a season later. The club previously played just down the road at the Leeds Road ground, now the site of a B & Q Superstore. Most new stadiums in this country are rather boring affairs with little character, but the Galpharm does not fall into this category. Each stand is semi circular rather than rectangular, and is further enhanced with large white steel tubing above the contours. In fact from the car park it looks like a new ride at Alton Towers!
It is good to see something different from the architects for a change. The ground has won many design awards and is well worth a visit. The only disappointment is that the corners of the ground are open. The Fantastic Media North Stand at one end and the Direct Golf UK (Riverside) Stand at one side are both two tiered stands, each with a row of executive boxes running across the middle. The other two sides of the ground are large single tiered affairs. There is an electric scoreboard at the back of the away end.
Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the Pink Link (South) Stand, where up to 4,000 supporters can be accommodated. The facilities in this stand and the view of the playing action are both good. There is also a Ladbrokes outlet and a bar serving alcoholic drinks at the back of the stand, which if events are going pear-shaped on the pitch, (or we're four up after thirty minutes), you can always escape to, as the bar remains open during the first half and half time! They even serve draught Guinness, which makes for a pleasant change.
WEATHER
Some light rain but 13c's.
REF
The man in the middle is Colin Webster from Tyne and Wear.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 04 April 2009; (all 15.00): Cheltenham v Leyton Orient, Colchester v Leeds, Hartlepool v Hereford, Leicester v Carlisle, Millwall v Walsall, MK Dons v Brighton, Oldham v Peterborough, Stockport v Yeovil, Swindon v Crewe.
Sunday, 05 April 2009: Tranmere v Bristol Rovers, 15:00
Tuesday, 07 April 2009; (both 19.45): Hereford v Brighton, Leyton Orient v Leeds.
BET
Huddersfield (7/5) Draw (12/5) Southend (21/10)
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-one.
TRANSPORT
They say it's on, a last minute decision to go! All the maps and info you need to get to the County Ground, Last Call to Huddersfield here:
PUB AND PIES
For a selection of the best pubs and where to grab a pie go to Last Orders in Huddersfield here:
HISTORY
In 1907, the Huddersfield Association Football Ground Co. was formed and, with capital of £500, set about purchasing the Leeds Road recreation fields. In the summer of 1908, Huddersfield Town AFC was launched and Leeds Road was officially opened on 2 September 1908 with a friendly against Bradford Park Avenue. Their first match in senior competition, on 5 September, was against South Shields Adelaide, wearing salmon pink shirts!
Huddersfield entered the Football League in 1910. In November 1919 a fund-raising campaign was needed to stave off a move to Leeds! Citizens of Huddersfield were asked to buy shares in the club of £1 each, and the club staved off the proposed merger. Remarkably, the team went on to reach the 1920 F.A. Cup Final and win promotion to Division One.
In 1926, they became the first English team to win three successive league titles - a feat which only three other clubs have been able to match. On 2 February 2005, the name of the club was changed from Huddersfield Town Association Football Club to Huddersfield Town Football Club.
Nicknamed The Terriers, their mascot is er, Terry the Terrier. The club traditionally plays in a blue and white vertically striped shirt with white shorts but presumably not tomorrow. The club has developed a reputation as having a strong academy, a notion backed up by the present squad which contains a number of academy products.
The side plays its home games at the Galpharm Stadium, a ground shared with rugby league side Huddersfield Giants. The ground was originally named The Alfred McAlpine Stadium (after the construction company involved in its creation) due to a 10-year sponsorship agreement.
Their chairman is Ken Davy, who also holds the same position for Huddersfield Giants. This dual role, and unclear financial arrangements between the clubs, is a source of discontent amongst some sections of the support. On 10 April 2008, it was announced that Davy was to step down as chairman after completing a deal with local businessman Dean Hoyle, who will take over at the end of the 2008/09 season.
On 15 November, Murphy was in charge of his first league game in his 3rd spell as caretaker manager with a trip to Elland Road to play high-flyers and rivals Leeds United. Despite falling behind to a Robert Snodgrass goal in the 4th minute, Town scored a goal 27 seconds into the second half through Joe Skarz and then in the second minute of added time, Michael Collins scored to give Town a 2-1 win, which was also their first win at Elland Road since Boxing Day 1983.
On 10 December, after weeks of speculation, compensation was agreed with Norwich City for their assistant manager Lee Clark to be appointed as manager, with Derek Fazackerley as his new first team coach. They signed the contracts the following day and Clark officially took over on 15 December. The following week, Terry McDermott became the new assistant manager. Clark's first match was a home game against Hereford United on December 20, which Town won 2-0.
(Thanks to the all the usual suspects for their help with this article.)