Huddersfield Town Secures Vital Win Over Bradford City Amid Off-Field Controversy

Huddersfield Town claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over local rivals Bradford City in a tense West Yorkshire derby at the John Smith's Stadium on January 24, 2026. The match marked the first outing for newly appointed head coach Liam Manning, who took charge just days earlier following the sacking of Lee Grant. This result propelled the Terriers to sixth place in League One, bolstering their playoff aspirations in what has been a rollercoaster second consecutive season in the third tier.

The game was decided by a solitary goal from forward Marcus Harness in the 67th minute, who capitalized on a defensive error to slot home from close range. Huddersfield dominated possession but struggled to break down a resolute Bradford defense, with goalkeeper Jak Alnwick making crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. Manning praised his team's resilience in his post-match interview, stating, "It wasn't pretty, but in derbies, it's about grinding out the result. The lads showed great character."

However, the win was overshadowed by an allegation of racism directed at a Huddersfield player during the full-time whistle. The club issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirmed they are assisting authorities in their investigation. "We are aware of an allegation of racism made at full-time," the statement read. "Huddersfield Town has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and will cooperate fully with any inquiries." This unfortunate event marred what should have been a celebratory occasion for the 21,422 fans in attendance.

Manning's appointment came swiftly after Grant's dismissal on January 17, following a disappointing 1-3 defeat to Burton Albion. Grant, who joined in May 2025 on a three-year deal, managed a 41.67% win rate over 36 games but couldn't steer the team away from mid-table mediocrity. Manning, formerly with Bristol City, brings a fresh tactical approach emphasizing high pressing and quick transitions. He was joined by new coaching staff members Drury and Krause, bolstering the backroom team.

In transfer news, Huddersfield strengthened their squad with the signing of versatile defender Bali Mumba from Plymouth Argyle for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old, who can operate as a full-back or winger, adds depth and experience, having made 170 appearances for Plymouth. This move follows other winter dealings, including the loan of Joe Taylor to Wigan Athletic and the recall of Leo Castledine by Chelsea after his impressive 12-goal haul.

Looking at the broader season, Huddersfield sits on 42 points from 28 matches, with 12 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses. Standout performances include a 5-0 thrashing of Port Vale on Boxing Day and a resilient 2-2 draw with Exeter City earlier in January. In the EFL Trophy, the Terriers advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Rotherham United on January 13 and will face Doncaster Rovers next month.

Upcoming fixtures present opportunities to climb the table, starting with a home clash against Luton Town on January 27. With Manning at the helm and new signings integrating, fans are hopeful for a strong push towards promotion. Despite the off-field distraction, this victory could be the catalyst for a positive run in the second half of the campaign.

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Home of Huddersfield Town AFC

Opened 1994

Capacity 24,121

History (from Wikipedia)

During planning and construction, the stadium was referred to as the Kirklees Stadium. It was built by Alfred McAlpine,[8] designed by Populous and was awarded the RIBA Building of the Year award for 1995.[9]

The decision to build a new stadium for Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants was made in August 1992. Construction began the following year and it was completed in time for the 1994–95 season, enabling the clubs to move to their new base after 86 years at Leeds Road and 114 years at Fartown respectively, with the Rugby club sharing Leeds Road from 1992 to 1994.

When the stadium opened only the two side stands (the Riverside and Kilner Bank stands) were ready. The South Stand was opened in December 1994. Construction on the North (Panasonic) Stand began in 1996 and it was completed in 1998, bringing the overall capacity of the stadium to approximately 24,500. The estimated cost of construction was £40 million.

A ski slope will be built next to the stadium.[10]

Ownership[edit]

Initially, the stadium was owned by a consortium made up of Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Huddersfield Town A.F.C. and Huddersfield Giants in a 40:40:20 proportion. Following the purchase of Huddersfield Town A.F.C. from the administrators in 2003, Ken Davy became chairman of both sports clubs, which were owned by companies he controls, Sporting Pride.[11] The present ownership of the stadium is Kirklees Metropolitan Council 40%, Huddersfield Town FC 40%, and Huddersfield Giants 20%. The current Managing director of the stadium company is Gareth Davis[12] who succeeded Ralph Rimmer in 2010. On 24 December 2009, Huddersfield Town announced that 40% of the shares owned by Huddersfield Sporting Pride would be transferred to the football club, owned by current chairman Dean Hoyle, but the deal was delayed due to a rent dispute between Davy and Hoyle. The deal was finally completed on 3 September 2013.[13]

Sponsorship[edit]

From 1994 until 2004 the stadium was known as the Alfred McAlpine Stadium. Alfred McAlpine had been the main construction contractor and its name was part of the payment contract for ten years. The company elected not to renew its sponsorship which was taken up by Galpharm Healthcare, leading to the new name. Individual stands are sponsored by local businesses. On 19 July 2012, it was announced that the brewery firm, Heineken had bought the sponsorship rights for the stadium using their domestic John Smith's Brewery as the beneficiary, and as such the stadium was renamed as The John Smith's Stadium on 1 August as part of a five-year deal. In December 2016, this was extended for a further five years.[14]

Things to do in Huddersfield.