For the first time in their history, Huddersfield Town are in the Premier League, with the Wagner Revolution finally paying dividends for the West Yorkshire side as Town won 4-3 on penalties to secure promotion.
David Wagner first watched his Huddersfield side lose 3-0 at home to Leeds United in November 2015. Now 18 months later he has just seen them win a tense Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final on penalties at Wembley.
Three times Huddersfield found the net from 12 yards out through Chris Lowe, Nakhi Wells and Aaron Mooy, with the popular Michael Hefele the one player to miss from the spot. Finely poised at 3-3 after Liam Moore and Jordan Obita missed for Reading, it was Christopher Schindler who netted the crucial penalty that is said to be worth £16.2 million per yard to the Terriers.
the early season form that saw Huddersfield sprint to the head of the table was punctuated by dips in form, before a recovery saw them into the play-offs where the lottery that is penalties was enough to see them hit the promised land of the Premier League.
Put aside the history of a hat-trick of consecutive Division 1 championships in 1923/24, 1924/25 and 1925/26, suspend thoughts of any wins in any competitions since then. It is the ‘now’ that matters to Terriers fans, the richest promotion in the clubs history meaning that the side from the John Smiths Stadium will get to mix with the big boys of English football next season.
Huddersfield Town fans celebrate as Terriers snap their way to Premier League
45 years is a long time to wait … but #htafc are back in the top flight! pic.twitter.com/iSxFu7BhD6
— BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) May 29, 2017
It’s been 45 years since they were last in English football’s top flight, and they’ve earned it over the course of three play-off games. As can be expected, Town fans are over the proverbial moon at the prospect of top-flight football for next season. Here’s the moment the last penalty went in – £16.m per yard of it.
#htafc going up! Congratulations @htafcdotcom and @michaelhefele ! #HEF44 #Wembley #HuddersfieldTown 💪🦁🏟 pic.twitter.com/sKir5tgTlc
— 3pass (@3pN) May 29, 2017
Here’s more from happy Town fans.
Fantatic stuff Town. Up we go
— HTAFC Patrons (@HTAFCPatrons) May 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/JoelHarrison1/status/869243345419329536
Wagner calling Holloway out! Legendary 😂😂😂😂😂 #htafc
— Tekkers 🧢 (@Tekkers28) May 29, 2017
From an Ipswich Town fan but slid it in here just for the ‘medal hits noggin’ clip.
Collin Quaner hitting himself over the head with his medal😂😂 #htafc pic.twitter.com/bRxpyUglyS
— Courts (@Courtney_itfc) May 29, 2017
Penny keeps it plain and very simple.
🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵 #htafc
— Penny💛💛 (@pennyx06t) May 29, 2017
Yessss town!! Can't believe a car accident has stopped me experiencing that #htafc win so gutted but so unbelievably happy we won 🔵⚪️
— Natasha Marie (@natasha_dews) May 29, 2017
Fans of other clubs are also offering their congratulations.
It was case of are HTAFC going to regret missing those chances, like AFC in Cup Final, but in end best team won!
— John Vince (@JohnVince20) May 29, 2017
Congratulations #HTAFC 👏👏👏
— Phil Chapman (@chipfromhull1) May 29, 2017
Congratulations @htafcdotcom and good luck next season in the @premierleague #htafc
— PNE Fans 🇳🇱 (@PnefcNL) May 29, 2017
Congrats Huddersfield, great fans, great club. #HTAFC
— Exeter City Updates (@ExeterCityNews_) May 29, 2017
Well done Huddersfield 👏🏻 thoroughly deserved after the season you've had. Proper club with proper fans. Enjoy 👍🏻 #htafc #PlayoffFinal
— Lee Travers (@Lee_Travers) May 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/andybfc182/status/869243117517631488
There’s even Leeds United fans putting out congratulations for the Terriers.
Fair play #HTAFC. Acted like an actual football club while we don't have a manager or half a team again. #LUFC
— Elliott (@elliott_benn) May 29, 2017
