Last Update:
August 16, 2024
The club moved the short distance to the then-called Alfred McAlpine Stadium in 1994 after leaving their former Leeds Road ground, their home for 86 years. When the stadium originally opened it had just three sides with the North Stand being opened later in 1997. In 2004 it was renamed the Galpharm Stadium, before becoming the John Smith’s Stadium in 2012, in a sponsorship deal with Heineken. Most new stadiums in this country are rather boring affairs with little character, but John Smith’s Stadium does not fall into this category. Each stand is semi-circular rather than rectangular and is further enhanced with large white steel tubing above the contours. In fact from the car park, I first thought it looked like a new ride at Alton Towers! It is good to see something different from the architects for a change. The ground has won many design awards and is well worth a visit. The only disappointment is that the corners of the ground are open. The Fantastic Media North Stand at one end and the Revell Ward (Riverside) Stand at one side are both two-tiered stands, each with a row of executive boxes running across the middle. The other two sides of the ground are large single-tiered affairs. One of these the Britannia Rescue Stand, at one side of the pitch, can accommodate 7,000 supporters. There is an electric scoreboard at the back of the away end. The stadium is completed with a striking set of four floodlights. The stadium is shared with Huddersfield Giants Rugby League Club.
Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the Chadwick Lawrence South Stand, where up to 4,000 supporters can be accommodated. Expect to have a ‘pat down’ search before entering the ground, which still has traditional man-operated turnstiles. The facilities in this stand and the view of the playing action are generally fine. The acoustics of the stand are good, meaning that a relatively small number of fans can make some noise. There is also a Ladbrokes outlet and a bar serving alcoholic drinks at the back of the stand, which remains open during the first half and at half time. The only gripes are that the male toilets are quite small in terms of capacity, which makes a half-time visit rather longer than expected and that the ‘concourse’ is mostly in the open air.
I have enjoyed my visits to the John Smith’s Stadium, I have always been thoroughly impressed with the stadium and the general set-up.
Food on offer inside the stadium includes locally produced pies by Jones Bakers; Meat and Potato Pie, Chicken Curry, Steak and Ale, Lamb Hotpot (all £3.50) and Vegetable Pasties (£3.50). The Club also offers a Pie & Pint for £7.50. After the match has ended catering staff will often sell off and leftover pies for around £1 each. Please note that the kiosks don’t take card payments.
- Yorkshire Rose – 217 Leeds Road, HD1 6NW
- Turnbridge Working Mens Club – 9 St Andrew’s Road, HD1 6SB
- The Head of Steam – 8 St George Square, HD1 1JB
- The Bridge – 159-161 Manchester Road, HD1 3LE
- The Warehouse – 12 Zetland Street, HD1 2RA
- The Cherry Tree – 14-18 John William Street, HD1 1BA
If you are a fan of traditional English food then eating at the John Smith’s Stadium is certainly an option worth considering.
Pictured below is an example of the club’s past potatoes and beef brisket gravy, priced at just £3.90.
Roast potatoes with beef brisket gravy at Huddersfield town (@htafc)
💷 £3.90 pic.twitter.com/m8rH4DXbYX
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) May 8, 2023
The John Smith’s Stadium is relatively modern, and as such, boasts a wide array of turnstiles dotted around the ground to ensure all supporters have a stress-free experience when entering the venue.
Away fans are usually encouraged to use turnstiles 17-20, located behind the South Stand, in which they are often accommodated.
There are also several wheelchair-user-friendly turnstiles in the stadium, located in various stands such as the Revell Ward Stand, Big Red Stand and the Chadwick Lawrence Stand.
As always, make sure to check your match ticket for information on the exact turnstile(s) that would be best for you to use.
The John Smiths’ Stadium is located just off the A62 Leeds Road. It can be easiest reached from Junction 25 of the M62. Simply follow the signs for Huddersfield (A62) and you will reach the stadium over on your left. The John Smith’s Stadium is generally well signposted around Huddersfield town centre
If approaching from the South, then leave the M1 at Junction 38 and take the A637 towards and then the A642 into Huddersfield. As you approach the town centre try to keep to the right-hand lane as you will turn right at the roundabout and onto the A62 Leeds Road. The stadium is a short distance down this road on the right.
Alternatively if coming up from the South and looking for somewhere to park then along St Andrews Road several small businesses offer parking for around £5. To find these, then as you approach the town centre you will pass a Lidl store on your left. Go through the next lights and after passing a KFC and Iceland shop on your right, move over to the right-hand lane and then turn right at the next set of traffic lights into St Andrews Road. Keep straight along this road and you will soon see the stadium over on your right. There is no parking available for away supporters at the stadium itself. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near John Smith’s Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Post Code for SAT NAV: HD1 6PX
The John Smith’s Stadium is walkable from Huddersfield Railway Station, it should take no more than 15 minutes at a comfortable pace. After coming out of the Railway Station, turn down past the front of The George Hotel. Go straight over the crossroads into Northumberland Street and walk down across the Ring Road straight on into Leeds Road. Turn right down Gasworks Street. Straight over the crossroads to the ground.
If you intend on staying in Huddersfield overnight after the footy, then here are a couple of options when it comes to good hotels located near the ground:
- Premier Inn Huddersfield Central Hotel, St Andrew’s Rd, Aspley, Huddersfield HD1 6SB
- Travelodge Huddersfield, Leeds Rd, Huddersfield HD1 6NW
All areas of the John Smith’s Stadium
Adult: £15-£25
Over 65: £10-£20
U18: £10-£15
U11: £10
Huddersfield Town started playing at Leeds Road in September 1908, just a month after the club was founded. They remained there for almost 90 years. This changed after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, in which 95 Liverpool fans were killed at the time. Off the back of this, all teams in the first two divisions of the Football League were required to have an all-seater stadium by the 1994-95 season. Due to this, the Terriers started making plans for a new stadium in 1992.
The Kirklees Stadium was completed just in time for the 1994/95 season and the Terriers moved in after spending 86 years at Leeds Road. Changes to the new Huddersfield stadium have been minimal but the ground has gone through a few name changes over the past three decades. It was named the Alfred McAlpine Stadium up until 2004, the Galpharm Stadium up until 2012, and John Smith’s Stadium until this very day.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Here is a video showing Huddersfield Town fans singing their famous ‘Smile Awhile’ tune:
Record Attendance
At the John Smith’s Stadium:
24,169 v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League, 30th September 2017
At Leeds Road:
67,037 v Arsenal
FA Cup 6th Round, February 27th, 1932.
This figure was also equalled for the Premier League match against Manchester United played on October 21st, 2017.
Average Attendance
2023-2024: 19,181 (Championship)
2022-2023: 19,151 (Championship)
2021-2022: 17,274 (Championship)
2020-2021: 0 (Covid) (Championship)
2019-2020: 21,748 (Championship)
Huddersfield Town made a whole host of improvements to the John Smith’s Stadium ahead of their 2024/25 campaign, including:
- Refurbishing the stands, fan bars, concourses and hospitality areas
- Renovating the players’ changing rooms
- Rebranding the club shop
That is believed to be just the start of a multi-million-pound redevelopment of the ground, with more improvements expected over the next few years.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Huddersfield Town v Leicester City
Premier League
Saturday 6th April 2019, 3pm
John Hague (Leicester City)
Huddersfield Town v Stoke City
Championship
Wednesday 1st January 2020, 3pm
Tony Mills (Stoke City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
A chance to attend the game with my two sons doesn't occur very often as one is based overseas with the British Army. Huddersfield is not too far from our family home in Nottinghamshire, and Huddersfield was for me another ground to add to my list of those visited.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was very easy the motorway was quite quiet and we parked up about 10 minutes walk from the stadium on a nearby street.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went for a couple of drinks in the bar right outside the stadium which had a good mix of Huddersfield and Stoke fans. The pub was busy but getting drinks was quick and efficient and there were no problems with any fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
I thought the stadium looked superb from the outside, great design, and still looked very neat and tidy, the away end was again fine, with a great view. The overall look of the ground from inside was even more impressive, it is quite simply a wonderful stadium.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
For Stoke, it was a cracking game ending in a 5-2 away win. Stoke also had a great following of around 2,200, who made a great atmosphere. The Huddersfield fans, also made good noise when they felt they had something to cheer, the stewards seemed very friendly wishing us a Happy New Year on entry to the stadium. The police on the other hand were cold and unapproachable without any hint of trouble, the general facilities seemed pretty standard.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A 10 minute walk uphill back to the car and we were away, again no problems at all.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A cracking day out. A great journey there, couple of pints close to the stadium, friendly home fans and a great result for Stoke and then an easy journey back home, away days don't get much better than that.
Huddersfield Town v Leeds United
Championship
Saturday 7th December 2019, 12:30pm
Shaun (Leeds)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
My first trip to the ground and a local derby is always a bit more special. We don’t have a great record at Huddersfield so I was hoping to see a rare win!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Pretty good. There’s plenty of private parking a short walk from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The guy I was driving over with is a bit of a petrol head and so took me to Shaks which if you have a spare £150k has a great range of sports cars! I was surprised we were let in wearing 2 Leeds scarves!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
Usual new ground although this has 4 definite stands rather than one continuous one. Views are uninterrupted and hard to think of a criticism really.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was good, not least because Huddersfield are one of those teams who’ve created a noisy section in the same stand as the away fans and to be fair they made plenty of noise and it was quite hard for us to get our own chants going. Huddersfield also started the game well which helped that, however as it wore on so we became stronger and eventually ran out deserved 2-0 winners. Stewards were fine and handled any issues well.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Not too bad. The M62 is to the west of the centre and the ground is to the east so a bit slow on the ring road but after that okay.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out, 3 more points to keep our promotion hopes alive just not quite enough spare change in my pocket for that Ferrari.
Huddersfield Town v Barnsley
Championship
Saturday 26th October, 3pm
David Crossfield (Barnsley)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
Under caretaker manager Adam Murray Barnsley had changed system to 3-5-2 and, having had commendable draws against Swansea at home and West Brom away, there was hope that things were improving. I had arrange to meet my ex-cricket playing friend, who is a Town fan and have a few beers.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Barnsley to Huddesfield is only 17 miles but public transport is limited. No buses. One direct train an hour or change trains at Wakefield. West Yorkshire Police have a habit of meeting Barnsley fans at the station and escorting them to the ground so I decided to travel by changing trains at Wakefield. Some Reds fans had the same idea and left the train to going drinking in Mirfield. After a few pints in Huddersfield we walked to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went with my friend and his brother to the Sportsman. We were in early and got seats. Three pints of real ale and pie and peas as pre-match preparation. There were a few other Barnsley fans in the pub and they mingled without any problems. There isn't much history of problems between the two sets of supporters, but there was a huge Police presence outside the railway station and on the walk to the ground, including horses.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
I've been several times so I knew what to expect. What I didn't expect was a long queue to get through the turnstiles. I joined the queue at 2.45 and got in the ground at 3.05. Three turnstiles were open for 2200 fans, but it seems it was the parting down by stewards that was apparently causing delays. I missed the minutes silence etc for remembrance day.
My seat was in a section of the Abzorb stand reserved for families and older people (like me!) and holds about 600. It's good for families not to have to sit amongst some of our fans! My seat was in row S near the corner flag and I had a good view of the game. The Abzorb stand in now shared with the noisy home section, with away fans allocated 2300 seats. My Town friend said this was a David Wagner initiative to negate the noisy away fans presence.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Another defeat for Barnsley. A record fourteen games without a win now. The first half-hour was a dull contest with little quality. Barnsley perhaps having slightly the better of it with three corners. Huddersfield scored with their first attempt on target in the 30th minute. The Barnsley defence were asleep when a quick free kick was played out wide and the cross evaded everyone to reach Schindler who tapped in from a few yards out. McGeehan missed a great chance to equalise. He couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo this season, having missed two easy chances against Swansea. 1-0 at half time.
Huddersfield went 2-0 up early in the second half with a great curling shot. Barnsley huffed and puffed but lacked any creativity to trouble Huddersfield, who looked comfortable. A smart turn and cross shot from Jacob Brown, Barnsley's first shot on target, made it 2-1. Huddersfield looked rattled but hung on for the win without any major problems. A really disappointing performance from a jaded looking Reds after a great midweek performance at WBA, which gave us some hope of some improvement. It wasn't a pretty game. Credit to Cowley for his tactics in negating any Barnsley creativity. As usual, I didn't have any refreshments inside the ground. The toilet facilities were inadequate for the number of fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problem. I met my friend outside the famous Gas Club and we walked back up to Town. Lots of police presence as there doesn't seem to be any way to segregate fans leaving the ground. More ale in the Courtyard, Mallinsons brewery tap. Not really my kind of bar/pub. A final pint in the Kings Head on the railway station, which is a great real ale pub, before our trains home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great to catch up with my friend. Good ale and good company. Pity about the football. Huddersfield is a good away day.
Huddersfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship
Sunday 15th September 2019, 12 noon
Adrian Hurst (Sheffield Wednesday)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
Not been to a game at Huddersfield since the days of them playing at their old Leeds Road ground, so I looked forward to visiting a new ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Thanks to Sky Television changing the fixture time to noon on a Sunday and living over 250 miles away it was a crack of dawn (05.30) start for this game. Thankfully the roads were very quiet and we found free parking on Thistle Street by 09.30. The ground was easy to find and well signposted from the outskirts of the town.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After parking up we walked around to Subway for breakfast, which was next door to a Greggs. No pub this time as it was a 12 noon kick off and no problems at all with the home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
The ground looked quite impressive, but I couldn't help thinking how much they could have increased the capacity if they had levelled off the tops of the stands and filled in the corners!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We saw this as a potential 'banana skin' game as they hadn't won since March. I was impressed with the vocals from the locals – at least until we opened the scoring! A bit disappointed that in the John Smith Stadium they only had John Smiths in a can despite having lager and cider on draft! Could have done with larger toilets, one smallish block for a full away following was simply not enough.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Only had a 5 minute walk back to the car but quite a wait to get out of the town – probably because most of the Owls fans were travelling in the same direction as us. As it was a Sunday it probably helped as the roads were generally quiet except for the football traffic.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A long but very enjoyable away day and a 2-0 win were very nice. At least we could get virtually home during daylight hours thanks to the early start!
Huddersfield Town v Fulham
Championship
Friday 16th August 2019, 7.45pm
Pete Woodhead (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smiths' Stadium?
My first trip sitting in the away end and I was looking forward to the experience.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I managed to park on a side street around ten minutes walk away. It seemed that everyone was parking in a similar industrial area which meant that to find the ground it was a simple case of following the others.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The away tickets did not turn up until 10 minutes before Kick off meaning that a lot of fans barely made it to their seat for the start of the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smiths' Stadium?
A lovely ground. I really enjoyed the modern curved stadium, however, the away end food and toilet area were not undercover, luckily it was not a rainy night.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game ended with a Fulham 2-1 win thanks to a late goal. There were a limited number of away fans but were louder than the home support. The facilities as stated were poor, not undercover and with slow service.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A nice 10 mins walk back to the car following the crowd. Leaving the town was quite congested as lots of traffic lights being occupied by the fans.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An enjoyable game. A nice looking stadium, however with poor facilities. I would expect better from a League 1 club let alone a team who were in the Premier League in recent years.
Huddersfield Town v Derby County
Championship League
Monday 5th August 2019, 7.45pm
James (Derby County)
Huddersfield Town v Derby County
Championship League
Monday 5th August 2019, 7.45pm
Mark Ball (Doing the 92)
Huddersfield Town v Everton
Premier League
Tuesday 29th January 2019, 7.45pm
James Walker (Neutral)
Huddersfield v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Saturday 1st December 2018, 3pm
Viv Johnson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City
Premier League
Saturday 25th August 2018, 3pm
Tony Moore (Cardiff City)
Huddersfield Town v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 14th April 2018, 3pm
Richard Symonds (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
Another new ground to visit, this time Premier League, also looking forward to seeing Tom Ince and Richardson, of course, both started on the bench but both did come on in the second half.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I had pre-booked a space in the club's Gas Street Works Car Park which was signposted from the route into town from the M1.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We did a tour of the ground and club shop, everyone seemed pretty friendly, Watford had brought plenty of fans but there was no sense of trouble.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
The ground looks pretty impressive from a distance but at close up seems to be getting a bit tired. we had seats in the Fantastic Media Lower stand; the leg room was pretty poor and the stand almost seemed to be a temporary structure. If it had rained I think we would have got pretty wet, thankfully the days was warm, bright and sunny.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a classic "game of two halves", Huddersfield were by far the better in the first half and Watford for most of the second half which was a bit annoying as it meant most of the game was being played up the other end of the pitch. Huddersfield pinched it with an injury time goal from Tom Ince.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting back to the car park was straightforward, accompanied by the chants of the Huddersfield faithful "We are staying up!" as was getting out of the car park and back on the road. The stewards in the car park did a great job getting the cars out of the car park in an orderly manner and between the walking fans to get them on their way.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day, nothing like a last minute goal to disguise the fairly ordinary fare served up in the previous 90 minutes.
Huddersfield Town v Liverpool
Premier League
Tuesday 30th January 2018, 8pm
Joel Mellor (Liverpool fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
Huddersfield Town v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 30th September 2017, 12.30pm
Derek Malcolm (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
Huddersfield Town v Southampton
Premier League
Saturday 26th August 2017, 3pm
Stephen Geddes (Southampton fan)
Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City
Football Championship League
Sunday 7th May 2017, 12 noon
Graham Andrew (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
A new ground doing the 92 and this was to be my 80th ground visited. I been to the old Leeds Road ground but not the John Smith Stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I stayed in Huddersfield the night before. The John Smith's Stadium was easy to find and because it was a Sunday fixture I found it easy to park about a 10 minute walk away. Normally on a Saturday it would have been a permit only parking area.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I got in the ground early had a pint and a pie for a fiver, which was good value. There were screens on the concourse showing Sky Television. The home fans seemed friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
I thought the John Smith's Stadium looked great when approaching it from the outside and was even better inside. I loved the design, it is very different from other stadiums. Great view and plenty of leg room too.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Huddersfield were poor on the day. I was very impressed with Cardiff's counter attacking, which they did at every opportunity. The town fans tried to get them going but after the third goal went in for the visitors, they started to leave which was disappointing to see especially as they are in the play-offs. I found stewards helpful and the facilities on concourse good.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy to get away especially as a lot of home fans left early. I was on the M62 in 15 minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I loved the John Smith's Stadium, very modern, and I enjoyed the game as a neutral. I found the home fans friendly. I will probably not go back now for a while unless my team Plymouth Argyle draw Town in one of the cups.
Huddersfield Town v Brighton & Hove Albion.
Football Championship League
Thursday 2nd February 2017, 7.45pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral Dundee United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
This was English ground number 69 visited for me, and the first of this year. I managed eight English stadiums in 2016, so still quite a few to go of the ever changing 92.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Myself and the wife were in Blackpool for a five day break and we bumped into friends we had met last year from Huddersfield. As David was aware of my quest to get around the English grounds he offered to take me to this game. No problems for me as a car passenger, and David being a hometown resident he knew where to park for quick getaway back to Blackpool to meet up with the wives at our hotel.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had plenty of time to pick up match tickets at 4pm. (at a promotional price of £10 – a bargain). We then went for sit-in fish and chips. I had a couple of pints at the 'Rope Walk' pub beside the ground and a look in club shop before going in to the John Smith's Stadium. We chatted to a few of the fans around us who were hoping for at least a play off spot or better. As usual my 'different accent' seems to get people talking, and it's all friendly stuff.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
I was quite impressed with the white tubular arches effect over each of the four stands making it somewhat different from the norm. A crowd of 20,104 gave it a great, noisy atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was electric with Huddersfield mounting loads of attacks, which paid off with marauding full back Tommy Smith smashing home from about 10 yards on nine minutes. Against the run of play Hemed got the break of the ball and rounded the keeper to level for Brighton after 20 minutes. Mooy then set Nahki Wells free to rifle into the corner from edge of the box to regain the 'Terriers' lead. On the stroke of half time the same pairing set up Kachunga to nod home from a couple of yards.
I didn't sample any of the half time fayre, having eat earlier. Facilities and stewards were fine. On to the second 45 and Huddersfield probably should have got another couple of goals. This didn't materialise, even when Brighton had Dunk sent off on 68 minutes and Huddersfield ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Being with a local, we were able to speed away with no problems. We were back in Blackpool in just over an hour.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I really enjoyed this night game, especially as I hadn't planned to go. I couldn't pass up the chance to pick off another ground.
Huddersfield Town v Queens Park Rangers
Football Championship League
Saturday 17th September 2016, 3pm
Connor McGinty (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
Living in Ireland that was to be my first English game so I was really really looking forward to it. I had a few options with other games nearby but decided to go to this one. I thought the ground and everything would be the best option and I'm glad I did visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was an easy enough journey from where I was staying in Frodsham taking about 1hr 15mins.The John Smith's Stadium was very visible from about 500m away. I happened to go to the permit holders car park at the stadium, instead of a car park on St Andrews Road which I had reserved, but the security at the stadium were very good and advised us on how to get there.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Just parked up and decided to go to the club shop and buy a programme, club badge and a scarf for a reasonable price, which was great. The home fans were very friendly, delighted to help and full of advice.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
I couldn't believe my eyes how the arches above the stadium were set up and I really loved how the game was built up before the players came out onto the pitch. 20,595 was the attendance and it really felt liked it.with also a good atmosphere being generated by the away fans too, even though they didn't have much to celebrate.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself first half particularly was dominated by Huddersfield Town, who enjoyed most of the possession. The home side scored early in the first half adding a second mid way through the second, before QPR pulled one back. It finished 2-1 to Huddersfield. The stewards were very friendly and helpful when finding our seats and I must say the peppered steak pie that I had was just lush.The atmosphere was unbelievable, with the fans singing throughout the all game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very busy trying to get away afterwards but look 20,595 as the attendance you can only expect a bit of a crowd but 10/15 mins wasn't too much of a wait to get out and I suppose the roadworks on the motorway didn't help.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Really really enjoyed the game and to be honest wouldn't think twice about going back. It was a great day and the football was of excellent quality
Huddersfield Town v Liverpool
Pre-season friendly
Wednesday 20th July 2016, 7.45pm
Tom (Liverpool fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
I was looking forward to this game as the John Smith's Stadium is a ground that I had never been to before. From pictures I had seen of it, it looked to have an interesting design with the semi-circular roofs above the stands. I was also excited to see what Klopp had done over the summer and watching new signings like Marko Grujic and Sadio Mané.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Getting to the ground was actually quite difficult, as it was traffic chaos on the M62, and when we eventually got into Huddersfield, the parking wasn't too good either. In the end we had to park in a bit of a run down area. Still from here it was only a ten minute walk to the ground, which was very easy to find
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There was a pub about five minutes away from the ground. But as we were pressed for time we gave the pub a miss and decided to get something to eat from the Chippy Ole' although the chips weren't the greatest that I have ever had. To be honest I didn't see much of the home fans but the stewards were friendly and helpful as was the programme seller who sold me the last available programme
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
From where we were parked getting to the ground involved walking down a road through a set of houses and then across a rather narrow suspension bridge and onto the turnstiles. I was sat in the Chadwick Lawrence Stand, which is the away end at the ground. If I'm really honest then the ground was a little disappointing, mostly concrete that is darkly coloured and not very appealing at all.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere in the away end was good; especially when Shamal George our fourth choice keeper came on for Lucas. The stewards were jolly and friendly.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game we had to wait in traffic for about ten minutes, however after that we made good progress up the M62 back to Warrington, all in all it was very easy.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a good game, played in okay stadium.
Huddersfield Town v Brentford
Football Championship League
Saturday 7th May 2016, 12.30pm
Fred Martin (Brentford fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the John Smith's Stadium?
It was the final game of the season and my wife and I had never visited the John Smith's Stadium before. So we decided to combine the game with a mini break in Yorkshire. Plus Brentford were on a good winning run.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The early kick off meant we had to leave our Surrey home at 6 am. It was a 220 mile journey and fortunately the A3/M25/M1 were all fairly clear and we arrived at the stadium just after 10 am. The ground was easy to to find.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Being there early, we took a stroll around the John Smith's Stadium and took in the views of the surrounding countryside. There were some home fans around and there were no problems.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
The ground looked impressive and was different for a modernish stadium with it's four separate stands.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Football wise, we could not have chosen a better match as the Bees carried on their winning streak and absolutely took the home side apart, running out 5-1 winners.The atmosphere was terrific as Huddersfield fans were seated on the other side of the Chadwick Lawrence Stand, both sets only separated by a few rows of tarpaulin covered seats. Despite the scoreline, I thought the Town fans were terrific, they got behind their team for the whole game, with a drum and huge flags, the banter between the fans was excellent and largely friendly.
The drum went quiet when our fourth goal went in, leading the Bees fans to sing "Where's your Drummer gone ?" to the tune of the 70s hit "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. " The town fans took this in good part and the drum started again. The half time pie was excellent and the facilities good. I thought the stewarding was a bit over the top as one or two of them were just standing there staring provocatively at Brentford fans and making notes.We do not have any history of violence at away grounds , there was no trouble and the two sets of fans were very good natured.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The car park was conveniently situated right behind the away turnstiles,there was a bit of a delay in exiting but not too bad.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a superb day out,I know the scoreline might just have helped, but the whole atmosphere was tremendous and full credit to the home fans for helping to create it. Easy drive up.new ground for us to visit and an excellent short break in Huddersfield made for a great end of season.
Huddersfield Town v Middlesbrough
Championship League
Saturday 28th November 2015, 3pm
Joe Scott (Middlesbrough fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the John Smiths' Stadium?
It was my first Middlesbrough away game for at least a couple of years. I thought Huddersfield was the best place to get that away bug back again. Plus it is only a hour and a half's drive from the Riverside, which was good.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled by the official supporters coach from the Riverside Stadium. The journey was quick and uneventful and we arrived in Huddersfield, two hours before kick off.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I had a couple of hours to kill, I first had a look around the Huddersfield Town club shop. I then spotted a cafe/bar next to the ground called HD1 which had a mixture of home and away fans inside. The Huddersfield fans in the bar were very friendly and laid back. I enjoyed my pint of Fosters!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the John Smith's Stadium?
From what I had saw of the stadium beforehand on this website and on Youtube, I kind of knew what to expect. I was though pleasantly surprised to be nearer the action that what I though I would be. I got a great view of the game and the seats and legroom were first class.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Eventhough it was a rainy day in Huddersfield the game was still good. It was generally pretty even, but goals from Adam Clayton and Emilio Nsue gave my beloved Middlesbrough a 2-0 win. The facilities were good, although the toilets did get crowded at half time, but don't they everywhere? The food and drink were reasonably priced and the stewards at the ground were friendly and laid back as well. So I can't find a bad word to say about the John Smith's Stadium.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I got back on the coach for the 90 minute trip back home. We had a Police escort from the stadium which helped us avoid the post match traffic and was well appreciated by us as we got back to the Riverside on time.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a brilliant day all round! I am now really looking forward to my next possible away boro games MK Dons on January 30th and Leeds United on February 13th.
Huddersfield Town v Watford
Championship League
Saturday October 27th, 2012, 3pm
Matthew Batchelor (Watford fan)
For the last couple of years I have been to a Watford away game for my birthday e.g. the Madejski Stadium last season. After scouring the fixture list, Huddersfield seemed the perfect away day. Having looked at the good reviews on the website it only made me more excited about going.
Having stayed in Manchester the night before (as I live near Eastbourne), me and my Dad made the short hop across the
Pennines on a glorious day. The journey from Manchester took less than one hour and before we knew be were on the Leeds Road and trying to find somewhere to park. As we arrived at around 12pm parking was not much of an issue, as we parked near an industrial estate just off the Leeds Road. Along the road, we had previously seen some fast food outlets, so we got some food there.
As we walked into the dip in which the stadium is situated, my first impressions of the ground was that it was very impressive, although not as big as I thought it would be. Around the stadium there many trees which make the surrounding area a lot nicer than the
normal terraced houses on a street. We walked along the back of the Main Stand and was greeted very warmly by a Huddersfield Town official who pointed us towards the away end and gave us directions to places where we could have something to eat.
Having watched the
players and the manager (Gianfranco Zola) get off the coach, we made our way around to the turnstiles where we paid and walked into the open air concourse. Walking into the stadium itself, the stands were pleasing to the eye compared to the normal box – like structures. To the away ends right, you will find the Huddersfield faithful who can really make some noise.
The first half ended 1-0 to Huddersfield. To enlighten the mood, me and my Dad went to get some food, however the queues were really long and it took us near on 15 minutes just to get some drinks. This was the only real downer on the day. The second half kicked off and Watford were playing some nice football. Four goals later, the ref blew his whistle and Watford had won 3-2! This was a great result for Watford who are near the bottom of the table, while Huddersfield were second in the league.
After the match it was an absolute nightmare trying to get away from the game. The Leeds road was completely at a standstill and it took 35 mins to drive around five miles to the motorway. Apart from the that the journey back to Manchester was uneventful and passed very quickly.
Altogether and a great day out, with the people of Huddersfield making their team proud. Would hugely recommend it to any away fan. Next year, another birthday and another away trip…
Huddersfield Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Saturday October 20th, 2012, 3pm
Championship League
Thomas Sperrink (Wolves fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It was a new ground for both my Dad and I to visit, plus we were on a good run of wins away from home so we were hoping to get at least a point.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey wasn’t too bad, the M6 was typically busy but once onto the M62/M60 it was a quick run over the Pennines. Rather than using the ground postcode we went straight to the pub we had chosen, which worked out quite well as it meant we didn’t go through the town centre and managed to find some free street parking.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We parked by the Slubber Arms which had a main bar and a smaller one only serving Timothy Taylor’s Landlord/Best Bitter and Carling. The pub was pretty busy but was a nice traditional pub which served great beer (I had a pint of each of the Landlord and Best Bitter and both were excellent) and nobody seemed to have a problem with me wearing colours. The home fans seemed quite friendly and a couple chatted to us at the bar.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
It was only a 5-10 minute walk to the ground and on first seeing the stadium it was very impressive. It reminded me of Bolton’s Reebok, and created a great atmosphere in the main single terrace stand to our right.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
We weren’t able to get a pie as the queues at the two kiosks were ridiculous both before the game and at half time, which I found surprising as although we took 2,700 I don’t think that was a sell out, but they were totally unable to cope. The toilets were fine and stewards were very relaxed, allowing people to smoke as it is open air at the back of the stand.
The game saw Huddersfield take a deserved 2-0 lead as they played a perfect coutner attacking game with two excellent goals from Vaughan and Beckford resulting from left wing crosses. Wolves came back strongly second half and despite pulling one back through Ebanks-Blake we couldn’t force an equaliser.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Walked back to the car and found the traffic surprisingly light, although we did get held up by the totally unnecessary police escort given to the away fan coaches.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good day out, impressive ground, although I don’t know how they would ever expand the size with the arched roofing. Another great little pub to go back to and really only the kiosk service and result let it down.
Huddersfield Town v Preston North End
Saturday October 22nd, 2011, 3pm
League One
Andrew Riley (Preston North End fan)
Having previously researched the stadium on this useful website, it looked very inviting to visit due to the style and size, besides I was confident that the North End could get a result with high expectancy following our relegation from the Championship. The journey there was very easy. I departed on the coach from Deepdale at 12:30pm for a short trip over the Pennines on a glorious day. At the stadium there was a designated area/car park for coaches only. Unlike many other stadiums, this makes the walk to the ground a lot easier and shorter.
As the stadium is positioned in a valley type area, there wasn't much food outlets/facilities around the stadium so we were stuck with the outdoor concourse which was not a problem. Although there seemed a large number of police outside the ground, both sets of fans seemed friendly to each other as we walked to the stadium.
My first impressions of the superbly designed sporting venue put a smile on my face and it gave a sense of excitement. The stadium from the outside looked surprisingly small and less tall to how I had imagined, however that was due to it being situated in a dip. The outside spacing area was level with the back row so when you entered, you were looking straight down on a stand that I would say consisted 20 rows'ish which was not steep. The Pink Link Stand (away) was single tiered however it was good to see two of the other stands having a second tier which made the size of the stadium look rather large from inside.
As kick off approached I was surprised by how many Northenders made the trip to support Phil Brown's men and soon came close to filling the away end. This was a perfect recipe for a great atmosphere and with most PNE fans standing for the whole game through out, there was a large group of Town supporters stood to the right of us on the adjacent single tiered stand, which gave an opportunity for both sets of fans to give plenty of banter to each other. The atmosphere was one to remember.
Huddersfield were 3-0 up by half time due to the superb brilliance of Jordan Rhodes which gave the North End faithful not much hope coming into the second half. Furthermore, the Town fans did make sensational noise after they scored and felt like I was in a Premier League environment. Despite that, North End did put on some pressure second half and as a result, Juvhel Tsoumou gave the whites a glimour of hope on the 61st minute however it only resulted in a consolation.
At half time, the food options was extremely limited and this is a point I would like to highlight. They had ran out of pies etc, with only having microwaved sausage rolls on offer which were served on a paper plate. In addition the prices seemed a bit steep. The toilets were clean and had no problems using them although busy! These problems could have may been prevented if not so many North End fans turned up on the day, as you could pay on the day. These situations caused problems for the stewards in my opinion with over 2,600 Northenders altogether though I am not complaining about that.
After the match, getting away from the ground was easy after a short walk back to the coach it was hard to find your coach with there being so many of them from Preston. This was quite amusing however nothing to do with the Stadium.
All in all, despite the result, this was a great day out representing Preston, making so much noise! I would definitely go back to this stadium in the future and depending both teams are still in the same division next year, I will be making a return without any doubt. Also I would recommend traveling to this stadium wherever you are in the country as a friendly, relaxed and fun day out is on offer supporting your beloved team. However remember to go stocked with plenty of food in your pockets!
Huddersfield Town v Notts County
League One
Sunday March 27th, 2011, 1pm
Paul O'Shea (Doing The 92)
Having visited the old Leeds Road ground years ago I decided it was about time I took in the Galpharm Stadium.
Arriving by train in Huddersfield is always a pleasure, the station is a good old fashioned building and within it is a belter of a pub; the Kings Head. This is situated in what used to be the 3rd class waiting room and has some superb cheap beer. Also nearby is the wonderful Sportsman
another excellent pub.
After taking on refreshment I made for the ground which is only about 15 minutes away. The stadium looms up as you approach up a sweeping access and you get a glimpse of the pitch through the open corner between the stands.
My ticket for the 'Fantastic Media Stand' was at £21, a bit pricey but with the game being shown live on Sky, Huddersfield had come up with a promotion, encouraging adults to bring on child all for the bargain price of £12. This meant loads of very young fans but a good idea nonetheless.
Although fairly high up the view was very good and a good game ensued although Notts were fairly poor, Town running out 3-0 winners.
Hollands pies were available although some lengthy queues at halftime and special praise for the loos which were spotless..
There was a good atmosphere with Town making plenty of noise and I was sorry when the match ended.
Getting away was a breeze and I was back in the town centre in no time.
As new stadiums go I liked the look and feel of this one and I enjoyed my day out.
Huddersfield Town v Southampton
League One
Saturday October 28th, 2010, 3pm
Steve Ridgley (Southampton fan)
I was really looking forward about visiting the Galpharm Stadium. It stood out to me as a unique design, unlike many other new grounds that are quite similar looking. Huddersfield is also a long way from Southampton, and there is a proud feeling when you travel the length of the country to watch your team!
Finding the Ground was fairly easy, although there was a lot of traffic going into Huddersfield, which resulted in a bit of a delay. Parking was fairly hard too; all the side streets near the ground were very congested so in the end we decided to park in the ground car park for a cost of £5.
Due to the rush, we thought we’d get a bite to eat inside the Galpharm. My experience of the Potato pie wasn’t one to relish! It was canteen style junk that doesn’t put a dent in your hunger. I would recommend a take away shop on one of the side streets rather than the ground food.
My first impressions of the stadium were as I expected. A very bold design that has a lot of individual style about it. I thought the architects did well to make it different to other new grounds. When we walked into the away stand we were very impressed with it. It generated a good atmosphere, thanks to some great acoustics for singing which made it special! The p.a sound system was also quite loud. But it was a nice change to clearly hear the team line ups!
The game itself was one to forget for Southampton Fans. Town dominated all game in all aspects. On and off the pitch, they played well, their fans got behind them and they ran out 2-0 winners! But still it was an enjoyable experience in a fantastic ground! The atmosphere as I have mentioned a few times was great. Stewards were ‘ok’ apart from trying to get us to sit down at the beginning (I think we would of sat down in disappointment anyway after 10 minutes!). Toilets were okay and people got through them reasonably quickly, eventhough they were a bit packed.
Getting away from the ground was as you would expect a bit congested but once we got on the way out of Huddersfield it was fine.
All in all a very good day out despite the result. Great stadium, great atmosphere, not bad trip at all! One of the best grounds I have been too, but it has to be said if we would have won it would have been a whole lot better!
Huddersfield Town v Bournemouth
League One
Saturday September 4th, 2010, 3pm
Adam Peel (Bournemouth fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
With our promotion to League One this year, I was on a mission to attend every home and away game for my club and with several big stadiums to visit this season, this was certainly one to look forward to seeing for the first time.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the AFCB supporters coach to Huddersfield so the journey was relatively hassle free. No major traffic problems, arrived at the stadium with plenty of time to spare.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
After visiting the club shop, I went to a bar near the stadium (forget the name) which allowed both sets of supporters and showed the lunchtime game on tv. The bar was nice with a quiet atmosphere and some of the home fans were very friendly asking about the journey up and so forth and thoughts on the game ahead.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Definitely one of the best grounds I’ve been to. While it may not exactly be the biggest, from a design perspective it was marvelous. Great circular shape for each stand with the Wembley style archways over each of them. Very nice on the eyes and was pleased that the away fans got a whole stand to themselves.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
Game was very satisfying which I guess rally added to the occasion. Despite dominating the first half, our slender lead was pegged back just before half time. Then went 2-1 down in second half but fought back really well to secure a 2-2 draw. Stewards were friendly enough, had a little natter before the game about our strikers. Cheeseburger was decent, blah blah. No complaints from hospitality point of view.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Was a little slow but you have to expect that. Been to a lot of worse grounds when it comes to getting away for sure.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
At this point in the season, still my favourite away day so far, despite not securing a win. The stadium itself being a real high point along with friendly home fans, good atmosphere during the game with both fans making a lot of noise and an overall good performance from the lads to secure a very satisfying result. Definitely an away game I’ll be going back to assuming we play in the same league again.