Meet the opposition | Huddersfield Town
As Swansea City prepare to travel to Yorkshire to face Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium, we look at the history, form and the key figures of the Terriers.
What's their story?
Established in 1908, Huddersfield Town were admitted to the Football League in 1910.
The most successful period in their history followed in the 1920s as, under the guidance of Herbert Chapman, the won the First Division title three seasons in a row in 1924, 1925 and 1926.
They were FA Cup winners in 1922, and were beaten finalists in 1928, 1930 and 1938.
A Premier League outfit as recently as 2019, this is the Terriers’ fourth season back in the second tier.
They came agonisingly close to a top-flight return under Carlos Corberan last term, but were defeated by Nottingham Forest in the play-off final at Wembley.
How's their form?
After a difficult start to the season a total of 14 points from the last 33 available have left the Terriers at the bottom of the pile in the Championship.
Many of Huddersfield's problems have come on their travels, but they did pick up their first away win of the season as the stunned high-flying Queens Park Rangers in midweek.
They have been better on home turf, winning three of their last five at the John Smith's Stadium.
Who’s the gaffer?
Former Hertha Berlin assistant Mark Fotheringham is the new man in charge at the John Smith’s Stadium after the summer departure of Corberán, and the dismissal of his replacement Danny Schofield after just nine games in charge.
After spending time in Germany on the coaching staffs at Kalsruher SC, Hertha Berlin and Ingolstadt, Fotheringham is in his first head-coach role in English football.
As a player the Scot enjoyed a 20-year professional career, including spells with the likes of Celtic, Norwich, Fulham, Dundee, Freiburg and Notts County.
Who's the captain?
Jonathan Hogg. The abrasive midfielder has been with the Terriers since 2013 and has racked up over 300 appearances since joining from Watford.
He was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2021, as he was during the 2016-17 season as they were promoted to the Premier League.
An Aston Villa youth product who has also featured for Darlington and Portsmouth, Hogg's experience and work-rate make him a valuable asset in the middle of the park.
However, injury has sidelined him for the past two months and the armband has been worn by goalkeeper Lee Nicholls in his absence.
Who are the key men?
Ex-Cardiff City Striker Danny Ward is the main man for the Terriers up front. Last season’s top scorer played a major part in their play-off push with his 14 goals in all competitions, and he has three goals and two assists to his name so far this term.
The experienced target man is currently in his second spell at the John Smith's Stadium after previously playing for the club between 2011 and 2015, whilst also having stints at Swindon Town, Cardiff and Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United.
Wales international midfielder Sorba Thomas - who was named in the Wales World Cup squad earlier this week - is a threat with his pace and directness and already has six assists to his name this season.
A youth product of West Ham United. Thomas spent five years at Boreham Wood before switching to Huddersfield in January 2021 for an undisclosed fee.
The young winger made his debut for Wales in October of that year as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 draw against Czech Republic, the first of his six caps to date.
On the opposite flank American international forward Duane Holmes is another player in his second spell at the John Smith’s Stadium, having rejoined in 2021.
A former youth academy player with the Terriers, Holmes also had spells with Scunthorpe United and Derby County, before re-signing for Huddersfield and establishing himself as a regular.