Some great names, many great memories, and so heart warming stories from great great connections to our famous Huddersfield Town.

We are delighted to bring you the first in what promises to be quite a lengthy Legends feature with many Town Stars of the past lined up and not just former players.

Past Managers, Longfellow of the Examiner and more. It is interesting how the number 9 keep's cropping up and it is there that we start.

June 1960 brought Derek Stokes to Leeds Road with £22,500 finding its way to Valley Parade where the 21 year old had started his League career in May 1956 after playing for his home town Syndale Road Athletic. From leaving school the youngster had joined Bolton Wanderers, playing in their B team but grew tired of all the travelling and departed the then first division side.

It was then Town Boss Eddie Boot persuaded the young striker to make the short trip to Leeds Road, looking to bolster an attack shorn of a certain Denis Law who some three months earlier had left Town in a record-breaking deal to join Manchester City.

We’ll let Derek himself, now residing on the South Coast, take up the story.

"Started out at City as a outside left or left winger as it was called in those days. Made 1st team debut on 18th birthday at Crewe in that position, scored twice. Moved to centre forward in 1959 when McCole went down the road to the other near neighbours. Scored 35 goals in 1959-1960 season with 25 coming in the league and 10 in the Cup".

January 1966 saw the transfer reversed as Derek went back to the Bantams with defender Roy Ellam joining the revolution created by new Town Boss Tom Johnstone.

But back to the 35 goal man's move to Huddersfield. Joining at the same time was inside forward Jimmy Kerray from Dunfermline as Town put together a team optimistic of pushing for a place in English footballs top flight.

Whilst Stokes’s impression of Town today is that they are in a similar position as other lower division clubs, "no money to buy players", what were his feelings upon making the move in 1960?

"I looked forward to playing in the then 2nd Division’. City at that time were in the Third Division and had ended the season with 4 straight defeats and not one goal scored. "with players like Ray Wilson, Les Massie, Mike O’Grady, Kevin McHale & Ray Wood. The Club were looking forward and I was happy to be part of it".

Asked if he had any regrets later in joining/leaving Town? Derek replied:

"No, I enjoyed every minute and we were all disappointed when we finished third and missed promotion. Arriving at Leeds Road in my RAF uniform and meeting the players and staff" is his earliest memory of Huddersfield. "At that time I had just gone into the Forces on National Service".

When recalling his lasting memory of Town, "probably meeting a player like Ray Wilson who was such a dedicated player. Then being picked for the under 23 England side and playing 5 times".

"Football today is such a big business and unfortunately a lot of enjoyment has gone out of the game. I do still look to see how Town fare and also Bradford City".

Football was not his only sport, "I played tennis with Kevin McHale and Len White for Brook Motors in the Huddersfield League. Also I played a lot of golf and my lowest handicap was 8".

For his best match in a Town shirt his choice is no surprise at all as Town fans who were there will testify, "I think that would be the two games against Wolves in the FA Cup drawing away and winning 2-1 in the replay" (the first night the famous Leeds Road ground was lit up with floodlights).

As for the Town fans past and present? "Fans can be very uncertain, if your doing well – OK but if your struggling it can hurt". There you have it. Town fans of today what you say and do does have it’s effect. During the 90 minutes then make it encouragement all the way – you know it makes sense.

As for Town’s future what does Derek Stokes think …

"I hope that they can do well but it’s a struggle without finance to back you up. So I think they will find it hard to do well. I certainly hope that they prove me wrong and I wish them all the luck in the world".

So say all of us all the luck in the world to Huddersfield Town and former centre forward Derek Stokes who in 153 games for Town notched 65 goals and topped the scoring charts in each of his first four seasons. No mean achievement and one to give considerable pride to a man who quite rightly takes his place in "Legends".