In this instalment we welcome the arrival of a Town legend, someone Tom Johnston brought in from Manchester United ... who is that man? Read on
Coming from the memory bank of our feature writer.

Christmas a time for giving of great enjoyment and pleasure and a very busy time for footballers and fans alike. In his first festive season at Leeds Road Manager Tom Johnston was to make a signing that was to have a profound effect on our Club for many, many, years to come.

With the Saviours birthday celebration but a few days away Town entered the transfer market and signed a player whose name was penned to two Town songs in the way of folklore.

One was most apt for the time of year being linked to the verse of a Christmas carol the other a top ten hit 'grocer Jack'. The carol went..."Noo-el, Noo-el,...Noo-el, Noo-el,... Born is the King of Huddersfield, Noo-el, Noo-el,...Noo-el, Noo-el, Nicholson's King of Huddersfield".

The pop song 'grocer jack' became, "Jimmy Nick, Jimmy Nick get off your back and score for Town don't let us down, oh no, oh no".

So Town secured the signature of a 21-year-old Northern Ireland international wing half from Manchester United, for a fee of £7,500. A signing, that over the Johnston era would have it's ups and downs, but most certainly would prove one of the shrewdest bargain buys ever in the history of our football club.

Forty years on you don't need me to tell you of the great man's record as Town's most capped international player. A man, at the end of the decade, who would lead Huddersfield Town back into the top flight of English football (he was captain of the Town side that won the second division title in 1969/1970).

The Manager of our Second Division Championship winning side would be a man who was a senior player at Old Trafford when Jimmy Nicholson came over the water to join the Reds.

His start though was rather inauspicious, a 3-2 Boxing Day defeat at Portman Road, and one in the wrong end for our new boy! But the season, as already covered, was to end on a high note with Town firmly on the up. Despite the first half of the season being rather a disaster Town fans went on holiday eagerly awaiting the start of the next...

The team didn't let them down when they got back in action. Three straight wins, 0 goals against (they had conceded the fewest home goals in the Division the previous season) and 9 scored, a real improvement on the past campaign when at home nobody had scored fewer goals.

Whilst still not finding the net often enough the defence for the most part was meagre but too many draws were stopping Town really pulling away at the top. Christmas arrived on the back of 4 straight wins the pick of them a 3-0 victory at promotion chasing Coventry City.

The Town fans travelled in their thousands, the most famous one of all also in the crowd, being well rewarded with a scintillating display. I was later to obtain a autographed match programme bearing the signature of Harold Wilson, courtesy of a draw at the JSC meeting.

We could hardly wait for 1966 to arrive, yes the 1966! But being Town fans just like today you can hardly believe it is happening. When we are carrying all before us, it can't last can it? Please let it continue! It will, won't it? The 12 months since the former Red Devil's arrival at Town had us up up and would it be away?

Sadly to be brutally honest Town had peaked, having enjoyed the Festive season probably better than ever, we journeyed to the Midlands for the last game of the year and just like the first of the New Year suffered defeat.

I can still feel the pain of that defeat as we returned home from Maine Road, something deep down was causing worry and doubt. When a further promotion rival Wolverhampton beat us in our next away fixture you can imagine the agony building up.

But Tom Johnston had put together a good team, grafters and fighters who would keep going and kept Town right up at the top end of the table.

Despite only two further defeats until we reached the penultimate fixture, those dam draws 1-1, 0-0, 1-1 were crippling our promotion bid. Still with one on our travels and the last game of the season at Leeds Road, the return fixture with the Sky Blues and a magnificent double possible, the Town had all to play for... "those were the days...."

So a new Town legend under the name of James 'Jimmy' Nicholson was born. He spent 9 great years at Leeds Road and is currently the most capped Town player of all time. He left the Terriers to join Bury in December 1973. He was also the youngest ever capped player for Northern Ireland at the age of 17 years and 8 months and was widely regarded as the 'new George Best'.

... coming next in "Those Were The Days" ... could Town gain promotion and beat the Sky Blues at Leeds Road?

We hope you have enjoyed our latest "Those Were The Days" articles, and find them an interesting look at some special memories of Town through the years. Memories that will not, and can not be forgotten - and memories only our beloved Town could have created

For other "Those Were The Days" articles visit the main history page

© thisisthebarmyarmy.co.uk, 2005