Andy Morrison
Man-mountain Andy Morrison was an influential and popular figure at Huddersfield and some of his challenges on Georgi Kinkladze when the teams met during the 1996/97 campaign made him a name City fans would remember!
With the Blues floundering in Division Two, Joe Royle decided he needed a leader and with Morrison falling out with boss Peter Jackson, the burly centre-half was available on loan. Royle didn’t hesitate to bring in the Huddersfield Town defender on a month’s loan and the decision paid immediate dividends.
Morrison scored the winning goal on his debut, then added a stunning volley away to Oldham in his next game. He also scored again at Luton to make it three goals in five games and Royle quickly paid the £90,000 asking price the Terriers were demanding.
The Blues lost just four of the next 33 games to win promotion via the play-off final with Morrison, the new skipper, leading from the front.
Denis Law
Slightly-built teenager Denis Law had been attracting attention at Huddersfield Town where he became a target for Matt Busby’s Manchester United.
The Reds couldn’t afford the fee for the teenager and when Terriers’ boss Bill Shankly left for Liverpool, he tried to take Law with him – but again, the price tag was too high.
City came in for Law in 1960, paying a British record fee of £55,000 for the 20-year-old Scot who would repay the investment with 19 goals in 37 games – he also bagged six goals in an FA Cup tie at Luton that was abandoned due to torrential rain with the Blues 6-2 ahead!Law stayed just one season at Maine Road before moving to Torino for £110,000 as the Blues doubled their investment inside 12 months.
Law returned to Manchester, this time for the Reds, and remained at Old Trafford until he was released in 1973/73 on a free transfer – returning to City for one more season and famously scored the goal that confirmed United’s relegation later that campaign.
Mark Lillis
Mark Lillis led the Huddersfield Town frontline with great effect from 1978 to 1985.
Lillis, a boyhood City fan, scored 63 goals in 234 appearances for the Terriers before the Blues paid £130,000 to bolster the return to the top flight.
Lillis, an enthusiastic and committed forward, scored on his home debut and ended the season as the Blues’ top scorer with 11 league goals – but he only stayed one season before moving on – reluctantly - to Derby County.
Other names…
Former City kit manager Les Chapman spent five years at Leeds Road during his playing career. Keeper Martyn Margetson clocked up 50 appearances for the Blues between 1992 and 1998 and a further 48 with Huddersfield between 1999 and 2002.
Aaron Mooy is on loan to the Terriers this season though is yet to feature for City and Harry Bunn, a graduate of the Blues’ Academy, left the Club having never played senior football and though he’d played for several clubs on loan, it was Huddersfield Town he signed for in 2014 and he’s since made 33 appearances, scoring nine goals.
