The Premier League season begins in earnest today. One club is playing in the top tier of English football for the first time in 45 years. A lifelong supporter of Huddersfield Town can barely believe his luck / By Richard Harries

The beginning of a new football season always brings back memories for me. In 1944 I went to live in Huddersfield. My father was in the army and had been posted nearby. A local family, as part of the war effort, offered to share their house with us.

My father was soon posted to the Far East. When he departed with my mother and sister I was left behind to be looked after by this kindly Yorkshire family. Saturday was regarded as “my day”. It meant fish and chips from the local chippie for lunch, and a film at the cinema in the evening. In between, I watched Huddersfield Town play football.