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Some great names, sharing many great and special memories, and heart-warming stories from great connections to Huddersfield Town.

Born in Doncaster on August 3, 1943 he was to play for his home town club as a central defender from 1968 till 1974 making 172 appearances finding the net on 20 occasions. His career started a little further south at Millmoor in February 1962 making the first of over 100 appearances in nearly six years for Rotherham United. A first team appearance was hard come by in those early days for the youngster, as for nigh on 4 seasons a colossus by the name of Peter Madden stood in his way.

When he did become established in January 1966 he was to make the majority of his Millers starts over the next 18 months forming a formidable partnership with Brian Tiler. Before moving back home John made his last few outings as an inside right. He would also make four appearances on loan for Mansfield.

Still involved in football today as physiotherapist for Notts County where he has been for four years following nine spent in a similar role across the Trent with Forest. That is but part of this highly qualified man's career as he undertook coaching qualifications at the end of his playing days and it is in just such a role he joined Town in the mid-seventies.

Even greater heights were scaled following the stepping down of then Boss Tom Johnston with Mr Haselden elevated to Manager of Huddersfield Town in April 1977. Sadly John was to be in the top role for less than six months, the final half dozen league games of the 1976/77 season and the first 8 of 77/78 before Tom Johnston returned to the hot seat for a record third time.

This period did bring a further Town record of 6 successive home draws and he did win us the ‘Cup’ The Shipp Cup. Lifting the trophy following a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. His final game was a 1-3 defeat at Northampton leaving Town second bottom of Division Four – our lowest ever placing in the Football League.

With Town's massive decline from Division One in 1972 to near bottom of the Football League in just five years it was a horrible time to be associated with our great club. In October 1978 only 11 months on in his third stint at Town Mr Johnston retired and Mick Buxton was appointed Caretaker Manager, two months later commencing what became a fabulous eight-year reign as Manager of the club.

It is here that the story of John James Haselden Coach, Physiotherapist, at Huddersfield Town really begins when Mr Buxton appointed the Donny lad as his Assistant Manager. In their first season, this for them started three games in, Town reached 9th in Div 4. The final eleven matches producing 7 wins, including a best home attendance of over 9,000 when the average was 3,649. It is never as dark as afore the dawn and ours was finally breaking with a Buxton/Haselden duo echoing distant memories of Greaves and Cockburn.

Their first full season provided the followers of the Blue and Whites with one of our finest seasons ever. Records tumbled (for a complete guide to these and much, much more purchase 99 Years & Counting available from Huddersfield Town AFC, their Town Centre shop and the Stadium Superstore) two players in the Div 4 team of the season, a 7-1 victory in September, four 5 goals haul in a 1979/80 season that produced 101 goals and ten years on since elevation to Division 1 Huddersfield Town were Champions again. Moreover the football played was superb home and away with 11 wins on our travels the last of which clinching promotion at Hereford who we will meet, for the first time in our Centenary season, since this 3-1 victory.

During the season I had personal reason to be grateful to John not just for all the happiness he provided on the field but also for enabling me to obtain my FA ‘prelim’ Coaching Badge through one of his many coaching courses. Besides a mountain of work within his role as Assistant Boss John did so much for the community of Huddersfield, also heading up several treatment of injury courses.

As in Football so in life nothing lasts for ever and with the stewardship of Mick Buxton coming to an end so John sought pastures new spending seven years during which the rise and rise of Reading Football Club was chartered.

That Mr Haselden was a lynch-pin in a very successful period in the history of our club is not in doubt, the early days were dark but it shows the fortitude, the determination, and the ability of the man that given the right circumstances his quality would bring Town success. The appointment of Mick Buxton to the Boss’s office enabled all that to happen and I along with all Town fans have many reasons to be eternally grateful to John and Mick for all the success and enjoyment they gave us.

For the present read on to appreciate the time when with our beloved club at its lowest ebb John Haselden was a pivotal mover around the rise and re-birth of Huddersfield Town Football Club. For these memories from you and for all the magnificent work you put into our Club we thank you John.

What is your impression of Huddersfield Town now?
My impression now of Huddersfield Town is of a football club that is "treading water" in other words standing still. The club has the infrastructure and spectator support to be in a much higher division.

2 What did you think on joining Town?
On joining Town I found it to be a rundown old Fourth division football club with a group of players who were has beens' or not good enoughs' (pardon my grammar). Motivation was non-existent, the players were not fit enough and did as they pleased during training. The manager was an old fashioned out of date type of old man and ready for retirement.

It was quite a shock to see the poor state the club was in, especially as I had just come from a club that had just won the Fourth division.

3 Any regrets later in leaving Town.
I never had any regrets joining Town I loved the club, they are one of the first results I look for. I was absolutely 'gutted' when I had to leave Town after being there for nine years.

6 Longest lasting Town memory?
Having some good hard working, disciplined players to work with.

7 What do you think of the current state of soccer?
Fantastic entertainment. It has a few flaws i.e. referee harassment and players 'diving'.

8 Do you still follow the Town results or any other Club or Sports?
I follow the results of all the clubs I have worked for after Town they are Reading (7 years), Nottingham Forest (9 years) and now at Notts County (4 years).

I have worked at every level as a player/coach/physio from the old Fourth division to the Premiership and have been promoted eight times at all levels.

I have been employed fulltime in professional football most of my working life, as a player at 18 and now as a 64 year old physiotherapist.

This article was first published on the site in June 2008 and was completed by John on May 10 2008.