UP WITH THE CUP! Passports at the ready as Town tune up for Italian job
Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), May 12, 2009
FOREIGN travel was on the agenda for Town after their successful return to Division I.
Ian Greaves' jet-setters, who had confounded the critics by completing their first top-flight campaign since 1955-56 in 15th place, were set to tour Sweden ahead of their participation in the Anglo-Italian Cup.
But first they had a local engagement with Halifax Town, and the Leeds Road chief made it clear he expected his team to retain the West Riding Senior Cup.
Halifax-born players Frank Worthington and Bobby Hoy had been on target as Town lifted the trophy with a 3-1 win at The Shay in the 1969-70 final.
And Worthington was on the mark once again to seal a 1-0 win at Leeds Road.
West Riding FA chiefs were more than happy as their coffers were swelled by the receipts from an 8,219 crowd for the 70-71 showdown.
But Greaves wasn't too please with his side's showing.
"We're taking the Anglo- Italian Cup very seriously," said Greaves, whose team were to play home-and-away games against Sampdoria and Bolgona between May 26 and June 4.
"The tournament has a bonus points system for scoring goals, but the way we went about the Halifax game didn't suggest we were thinking in those terms.
"In terms of preparation, it was a flop, and I want to see better signs in Sweden." The goal which did for Halifax, who been narrowly pipped to promotion from Division III by Preston and Fulham, came early on..
Just seven minutes had gone when Worthington, that season's top scorer with 11, netted with a crisp glancing header from Jimmy Nicholson's well-placed free-kick.
Town's best other chance fell to Jimmy Lawson, whose close-range 36th-minute header scraped the bar.
Halifax responded to manager George Kirby's half-time talk and came close to equalising through Dave Chadwick and Ian Lawther.
Town's line-up was David Lawson, Alan Jones, Dennis Clarke, Nicholson, Roy Ellam, Trevor Cherry, Hoy, Brian Mahoney, Worthington, Mick Barry and Lawson, with Dick Krzywicki on the bench.
He came on after 85 minutes for Clarke, who had taken a knock on the ankle, but was passed fit for the Swedish trip.
Jimmy McGill (groin) and Geoff Hutt (shoulder) were both absent from the party which flew out from Manchester Airport for Stockholm.
But among the group was apprentice full-back Terry Henderson, who was rewarded for some encouraging displays in the reserves.
Greaves had fixed up games with Gavle, Ornskoldsvik and Vasteras, all in the central Eastern area of Sweden.
"The opposition are of a decent standard and the tour will help us both with match sharpness and camaraderie," explained Greaves.
Meanwhile supporters were being offered the chance to follow Town to Italy.
The six-day trip, including plane flights and hotel accommodation in Genoa, home of Sampdoria, cost pounds 65..
CAPTION(S):
READY FOR TAKE OFF: Frank Worthington glances home Town's West Riding Senior Cup final winner against Halifax at Leeds Road, left, while 16-year-old apprentice Terry Henderson holds the trophy aloft as Ian Greaves' squad prepare to head off on the post-season tour of Sweden, right.
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