Hoyle’s Huddersfield can be a wildcard in top flight
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN chairman Dean Hoyle says one of the worst days of his life was the play-off defeat by Peterborough United six years ago.
It was one of the worst days of my career, too. That loss was the only league defeat I suffered in my five months with the Yorkshire club, a loan spell I thoroughly enjoyed.
Hoyle and the supporters have waited a long time to get back into the top flight and today’s first Premier League home game promises to be a fantastic occasion. I’ll be making the trip across and I can’t wait.
They made a brilliant start with an emphatic victory at Crystal Palace last week, but the one thing I would say is that was the perfect storm for Huddersfield.
They hit Palace and new manager Frank de Boer at the right time.
Like David Wagner, no doubt, I listened to the new Palace boss in the pre-match press conference, talking about changing the culture and how he wants his team to play, and thought they were going to struggle.
It was no surprise to me that Huddersfield were quick out of the blocks at Selhurst Park, pressing high and playing with a high tempo. That is the way they played last season and it will be the same this year. They have not played in the top flight since 1972 and I suspect they are going to have a lot of fun along the way this season.
And for Dean Hoyle, who left school without qualifications, built his own, successful card business and saved the club from the brink of bankruptcy, it is richly deserved. I wish my old club and their supporters well.