Both Roads to The Galpharm

Huddersfield Town v Hereford United
Saturday 20th December 2008 KO 3.00 pm.
Football League 1
The Galpharm Stadium
Stadium Way
Leeds Road
Huddersfield
West Yaaaarkshire
HD1 6PX
Phone 0870 444 4677

The "Terriers" were formed on 1908, which makes this current season their 100th. After a couple of years they joined the Football League but soon came close to going out of business. However, the threat of merging with nearby Leeds United was enough to spur the locals into getting behind "Town" to ensure their future. By the 1920's they were a top-flight team winning the FA Cup in 1922 and three consecutive championship titles. They stayed in what was then Division 1 until 1952 and despite bouncing back from relegation found them making the drop again at the end of 55/56.

The early seventies was a strange time, promoted once again to Div 1 they then suffered relegation after relegation until finding themselves in the bottom section (then Division 4). There followed as succession of League position and managerial changes that saw Mick Buxton, Steve Bruce, Lou Macari and Mick Wadsworth all oversee the fluctuations of the Club. Meanwhile the old Leeds Road stadium had been replaced with the then "McAlpine" but eventually, the mammaries pointed upwards and in the new millennium a new consortium ownership brought a name change to The Galpharm after a sponsorship deal.

Patience, it seems, is not a virtue found in West Yorkshire as since the start of 06/07, they have hired and fired Peter Jackson, Andy Richie and Stan Turnent. We assume recently installed boss Lee Clark will have chosen rented accommodation for his stay in Huddersfield.

Tickets - Pay on the day for seats in the South (Pink Link) Stand. Adults £20, Seniors £12, Students (NUS Card) £10 and Juniors (U16) £10.

Coaches
HUISA Departs The Street at 9.00 am. Fare £17 (£18 non-members). Bookings 08442 761939 or at The Club offices during normal hours.
FUNBUS Departs Legends at 8.30. Fare £15. Contact Young Ben 07812 144831.

By Car
You have a choice, either M5, M6, M62 exiting at J24, then take the A629 following the signs for Huddersfield and Town Centre. After approximately 2 miles you'll pick up the signs for the Stadium. Follow them, turning left onto Castlegate ring road (still A629). Go left onto the A62 (Leeds Road), by which time you should be able to see the stadium and be following car park signs. Thistle Street (on your right) takes you towards the ground (approx 173 miles) or...

M5, M42, A42, M1 leaving at J38 following the A637 signs for Huddersfield. After about six miles turn right onto the A462. After another 3 miles this becomes the A629 after you've passed Fenay Bridge and are coming into the outskirts of Huddersfield. You should start picking up signs for the Stadium. Go onto Southgate Ring Road, then turn onto the A62 (Leeds Road). Thistle Street (on your right) takes you towards the ground (approx 178 miles). Postcode HD1 6PX

Parking - there is a large (ish) official car park at the ground at a cost of £5 and a variety of other charged for car parks on areas surrounding the stadium although no fixed pricing policy appears to exist (try putting on a Yorkshire accent).

Alehouses - The Stadium is just about walkable from the town centre (20 minutes). The railway station in St Georges Square is the home of two Pubs. The Head of Steam is large chain pub that offers a "Wetherspoons" type atmosphere with several rotating ales whereas the nearby Kings Head (formally Station Tavern) has up to 10 hand pumps and is very proper. The Cherry Tree in John William Street is a better than average Wetherspoons outlet that offers more than the usual number of ales often including a few local brews as well as the occasional real cider. The Rat and Ratchet on Chapel Hill no longer houses it's own brewery but does benefit from now being owned by the Ossett Brewery and carries most of their excellent range of beers. Lovers of Timmy Taylor's beers may wish to visit The Slubbers Arms in Halifax Old Road. Finally, the concourse of The Pink Link is understood to include a bar although my guess is that some form of waste product resembling Tetleys and Carlsberg is the best you’re likely to find.

The Galpharm is certainly well worth a visit being far better than the majority of the new batch of Stadia. The visit of The Bulls on Saturday will be the first game for incoming boss Lee Clark. Lets give him a warm welcome!

Enjoy.

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