This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The
Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of
the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn the
No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer
affects one in nine men.
Typical Terrier: Andy Booth never gave less than 100 per cent. Photo courtesy of Action Images
Here blogger Charlie Johnson, from htfconline.co.uk,
selects Huddersfield's five best No9s… and one to forget!
5. George Brown (1921-29)
As a key member of the Huddersfield side that won the league title
three years in a row, and the Terriers' all-time top goalscorer,
it's impossible to exclude 'Bomber' from this list. Brown is part
of a small group of players to have represented England while
playing for Huddersfield and was absolutely lethal for the club. A
clever dribbler, who was particularly good at taking half-chances,
his record of 159 goals for the club is unlikely to be beaten any
time soon.
4. Marcus Stewart (1996-2000)
When Marcus Stewart left the club, Huddersfield probably threw
away any chance they ever had of reaching the Premier League.
A massive favourite with the fans, and with the talent and lethal
finishing of a top-level striker, it seemed Stewart could do
anything to get the ball into the net. He was arguably
Huddersfield's best modern-day striker and his sale, although at
the time a club record, was keenly felt and he wasn't truly
replaced until Jordan Rhodes signed for the club.
3. Jimmy Glazzard (1946-56)
Yorkshire-born Jimmy Glazzard is a Huddersfield legend, and
although he played in an era where he was overshadowed by the likes
of Nat Lofthouse and Jackie Milburn, 'Gentleman' Jim was a prolific
scorer and was capable of just about anything you'd want from a
centre forward. Powerful, explosive and incredible in the air, his
four headed goals in an 8-2 victory over Everton in 1953 is club
folklore.
2. Andy Booth (1992-96 & 2001-09)
Plagued by knee and back injuries, Andy Booth played through the
pain year after year and never gave less than his all. He changed
from a lethal striker in his early days at the club to, after
returning from Sheffield Wednesday, a powerful target man who was
the best header of the ball I've ever witnessed. A true Douglas
Bader striker - "No legs, but great in the air" - very few players
have given better service to the club.
1. Steve Kindon (1979-82)
"Strength of a shire horse, speed of a race horse… brains of a
rocking horse," is how my dad always described Steve Kindon, who
despite only playing for Huddersfield during the final few years of
his career is rightly seen as a club legend. Possessing strength,
power, skill and pace, he was a fantastic signing and is regarded
by many as one of the club's all-time greats, partly for the
massive part he played in helping the club gain promotion to the
Third Division under Mick Buxton.
And the worst…
Terry Austin (1980-83)
He scored goals, but not as many as people would've hoped, and
even 30 years on, many still say he was the worst striker ever to
play for Huddersfield. Scoring 10 goals in just over two seasons
certainly isn't great for a centre-forward. My dad always recalls
one particular shout from the Leeds Road Cowshed: "Austin, you
don't deserve to eat."
Follow Charlie on Twitter @FootballCharlie