Memory match: Huddersfield v North End
Charlton scored the only goal in the Leeds Road clash, firing home in the second half after good approach play by Tony Morley.
The Roses battle made the Sunday afternoon highlights on ITV – a rare appearance on television for PNE.
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Hide AdThis was a second season in charge of North End for World Cup winner Charlton.
The first had seen them relegated from the Second Division but he was given the task of trying to guide them back first time.
He chose to come out of playing retirement to help the cause, a decision which was to attract plenty of attention from the media.
Charlton scored 10 goals in that comeback campaign, playing 38 of North End’s 46 league games.
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Hide AdThis victory against the struggling Terriers was helped by the hosts losing their goalkeeper Terry Poole at half-time.
Poole injured his ankle late in the first half and while he continued until the break after treatment, defender Terry Dolan took over in nets for the second half.
In the first half, North End defender John Bird went close with two headers.
The first of those cleared the bar by inches, the second was tipped over by Poole.
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Hide AdMike Elwiss, Mel Holden and Morley linked up to good effect to launch a number of Preston attacks.
There were chances at the other end however, the best falling to Colin Garwood who took the ball round North End goalkeeper Roy Tunks and saw his shot cleared off the line by Francis Burns.
Tunks saved from Town striker Alan Gowling who, a decade later, had a short spell with PNE.
Keeper Poole was hurt in a scramble after he had blocked a shot from Holden.
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Hide AdJust before the interval, a shot from Preston right-back John McMahon struck the bar.
McMahon had actually been transfer-listed two days earlier, scouts from Orient at the game to watch him.
North End’s winner came in the 57th minute.
Morley took possession in midfield, his run taking him past two home players.
He rolled a pass through to Charlton who finished with a powerful finish past stand-in keeper Dolan.
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Hide AdAfter that, North End were to adopt a policy of ‘what we have, we hold’, digging in to protect their slender lead.
They managed that and recorded a third league victory on the bounce after wins over Chesterfield and Wrexham.
The following week, they drew 1-1 at Southend and then beat Halifax 1-0 .
The day after victory at Huddersfield, Morley got a call-up for England Under-23s.
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Hide AdPreston missed out on promotion that season, finishing in ninth place.
Charlton hung up his boots for good at the end of March, his last appearance being in a 2-1 defeat at Port Vale.
Since that victory in 1975, North End have won three times on Huddersfield turf.
All those were at Leeds Road – they are yet to win at the John Smith’s Stadium.
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Hide AdThey recorded a 3-2 win in February 1982, Alex Bruce (2) and Steve Elliott on target.
In April 1990, goals from Warren Joyce and Ian Bogie gave PNE a 2-0 win.
Then in February 1992, Lee Cartwright and Graham Shaw found the net in a 2-1 victory.
A 0-0 draw in 2000 is the best it has been at the John Smith’s Stadium.