Latest clash stirs memories of Quigley, Clark and the sixties

MICHAEL Hefele admits it’s hugely important Huddersfield Town get back to winning ways - especially at home.

Bristol City are the latest visitors to the John Smith’s Stadium, where eighthplaced Town won their first five Championship matches but have picked up just one maximum haul in the four games since.

Two sides, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic, have won there, and Hefele knows it’s vital Bristol, 2-1 winners in Huddersfield a year ago, don’t take another three points back to the West Country.

“We like playing at home in front of our fans. We must make the most of the advantage they give us,” said the centre-back.

“It is good to have good home form. Our stadium has to be our castle and we have to stop other teams taking anything away.

“They must come here knowing it will be hard and not at all enjoyable.

“And if the fans get behind you and push you forward with songs, which happens here, this helps.” HUDDERSFIELD Town and Bristol City also faced off in the run-up to the festive period 50 years ago.

And the second-tier showdown at Ashton Gate on December 17, 1966, which finished 1-1, had an extra significance for Town striker Brian Clark and City midfielder Johnny Quigley.

For two months earlier, the pair had swapped clubs as Leeds Road manager Tom Johnston continued his bid to build a side capable of winning a place in the top flight.

Quigley, signed from Nottingham Forest for £18,000 in February 1965, had been a mainstay the previous season, when Town finished fourth in the original Division Two, missing out on promotion by two places and

The 26-year-old close-season signing from Dynamo Dresden is eyeing a sixth Town start and 14th appearance in all against Lee Johnson’s men as Town seek a tonic ahead of trips to Burton Albion (Tuesday ) and Norwich City (Friday).

He missed out in the last home clash, when Wigan won 2-1, but has been on the teamsheet for each of the other three most recent games, the draws with Birmingham City (home) and Blackburn Rovers (away) and defeat at Cardiff City.

“I feel good and it’s fingers crossed for a start, but you’d have to ask the manager,” smiled Hefele. “I have enjoyed playing and I think I am learning with each match.

“It’s different to Germany, but the Championship is fantastic to be involved in.

“I think it’s the toughest second league in the world, full of good, big and strong players.

“You can never switch off for a second, you must keep going all the time.” three points (Manchester City and Southampton went up).

But the Glaswegian, who took the place of Chris Balderstone at Town and was once described as a “relentless ball of fire”, had fallen foul of his boss after criticising his tactics in a newspaper article.

Quigley, a product of the fine old Scottish Junior club St Anthony’s who won the FA Cup with Forest in 1959, was dropped for the final match of the 1965/66 campaign at home to Coventry City - and promptly slapped in a transfer request.

He featured in the first 11 matches of the following season, but was granted his wish to leave Leeds Road in October 1966, having

Hefele, whose 16-year-old brother Josef is in the youth system at 1860 Munich, accepts Town’s recent results, (five points from the last 24 available) have been a big disappointment,

But he pointed out: “We have stuck together, which is always important, and for the most part, we are still playing well.

“We all work very hard, we have had good possession, we are strong on the ball and we create chances.

“Sometimes you need a little bit of luck to get back on track, and we will get there. “At the start of the season, we were flying, so we know what we are capable

of. “Like the manager says, it’s the little details we are working on and it’s these things that will make the difference. “We will keep working in matches and in training, keep doing he normal things. “You can’t get crazy in your head, you have to stay cool and relaxed and know things will come back.”

Our stadium has to be our castle and we have to stop other teams taking anything away

made 71 appearances and scored six goals, when Town took Bristol City forward Clark in exchange.

Clark had fired in 83 league goals, and took his place in a Town attack which featured fellow new signings Colin Dobson, Mike Hellawell and Brian Hill.

Town finished sixth in Division Two and Bristol City 15th.

Clark scored 11 goals in 34 games but in February 1968, made an £8,000 move to Cardiff City, where he teamed up with a young John Toshack and scored a famous European Cup Winners’ Cup goal against Real Madrid.

Five months later, Quigley left Bristol City for Mansfield Town.