Huddersfield Town

Image source, EFL

Puma's Rainbow ball will return to the English Football League as part of an on-going campaign against discrimination and homophobia.

The special edition rainbow ball was introduced in 2024 to mark LGBTQ+ History Month and will be used at every EFL game from 20 February until 1 March.

Manufacturers Puma will make a donation to Football v Homophobia for every goal scored with their rainbow ball across the Championship, League One and League Two.

The donations will help support education against homophobia and promote inclusion across the season.

The EFL have released a video, external to coincide with the campaign which features a Preston North End fan who was charged with a hate crime following homophobic chanting during an FA Cup fixture against Chelsea.

The rainbow ball will also feature in EFL partner EA Sports' FC 26 video game.

"The rainbow ball is a powerful symbol of the values we uphold across the EFL all season long," EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch said.

"It not only reflects our longstanding commitment to ensuring the League is representative of all its diverse communities, but also reminds us that we all have a role to play in creating an environment in which everyone feels they truly belong."

Katherine Hannah
Journalist at BBC Radio Leeds

Image source, Getty Images

Three in and two out on deadline day for Huddersfield Town to complete a busy January window.

New head coach Liam Manning has worked quickly to shape his squad, after predecessor Lee Grant was sacked mid-month with some transfer business already completed.

Bobby Wales on loan from Swansea City and Ryan Hardie on loan from Wrexham, will add some much-needed firepower.

The Terriers have suffered a striker crisis over the last week, with Bojan Radulovic ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury, and Alfie May serving a four-match suspension for a second red card of the League One season.

With Joe Taylor dispatched on loan to Wigan Athletic prior to Manning's arrival, that only left Dion Charles as a recognised striker, so the signing of Hardie and Wales was crucial.

Midfielder Herbie Kane departed on deadline day to join Plymouth Argyle on loan, and defender Ruben Roosken moved to Oxford United – a temporary deal which will be made permanent in summer.

Roosken was down the pecking order with Bali Mumba joining from Plymouth Argyle and Mickel Miller's return to fitness.

Kane has not featured since September because of a groin injury, so heads to the south coast for more regular minutes and a chance to regain fitness.

Other midfield moves saw star loanee Leo Castledine recalled by parent club Chelsea, only to be sold to Middlesbrough, much to the disappointment of many Town fans.

Ben Wiles has gone to MK Dons after a hit and miss time at the club. And Cameron Humphrys has come in on loan from Ipswich Town, signed by Lee Grant who was sacked just 10 days after Humphrys put pen to paper.

Finally, a goalkeeping reshuffle.

Owen Goodman's loan from Crystal Palace was cut short after Lee Nicholls reclaimed the number one spot, so Jak Alnwick was signed from Cardiff City as back-up.

With third choice goalkeeper Jacob Chapman going to Crawley Town on loan, Nik Tzanev was announced on Monday as a free agent from Newport County to provide further cover.

The Terriers have serious ambitions for promotion this season, and Manning will hope his new recruits can bolster an already top quality and expensively assembled squad, to get the job done.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United defender Tyler Fredricson is set to remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season.

Fredricson has been the subject of significant interest during the current transfer window but has picked up an injury that will prevent him making an immediate move.

League One promotion hopefuls Huddersfield Town and Scottish Premiership outfit Aberdeen were both really keen on the 20-year-old, who started two Premier League games at the end of last season.

Celtic have also inquired about Fredricson during this transfer window.

The Englishman was keen on a short-term move as he has only managed two minutes of action in the Premier League this season, despite being named in 10 matchday squads.

His involvement at senior level has restricted the opportunities to play for United's under-21 side, for whom he has started just three games.

Image source, Shutterstock

Former Terriers striker Jon Stead has returned to the club to join Liam Manning's staff as a first team coach.

Stead came through the ranks at his hometown club, scoring 14 league goals in 77 games across two spells with Huddersfield and earning England Under-21 honours.

He also played for Blackburn, Sunderland, Ipswich, Sheffield United, Bristol City and Notts County in a 12-club, 700-appearance career before retiring in 2021 after a spell with Harrogate.

The 42-year-old began his coaching career in the USA with Hartford Athletic and Tampa Bay Rowdies before joining Neill Collins' staff at Barnsley in 2023 and then following Darrell Clarke from Oakwell to Bristol Rovers last summer.

Manning told the club website:, external "I'm really happy to have Jon complete our coaching team, and look forward to working closely with him.

"He's got a really interesting background in coaching, and having spoken to him at length about the opportunity, I know how passionate he is about having the chance to make a difference at his hometown club again."

Huddersfield Town must be more disciplined after finishing their second successive game with 10 men, says head coach Liam Manning.

The Terriers had striker Alfie May sent off just before the half-hour mark of their 1-0 League One victory over Luton Town on Tuesday.

That followed the dismissal of midfielder Marcus McGuane during Saturday's 1-0 derby-win over Bradford City in Manning's first game in charge

"We have to be more disciplined, making sure we don't keep doing that as it hurts us ultimately," the new boss told BBC Radio Leeds.

"I'm led to believe it (the red card) was due to a hair pull. I've spoken to Alfie and he said there was no intention in it so for me it's extremely harsh, but the referee is a lot closer than me so I'll have to have that chat and see what he says.

"But after that the response, the togetherness, the spirit, the desire to put in the hard yards and restrict them to very little, and then a moment of outstanding quality to win the game."

Skipper Ryan Ledson's goal from his own half proved to be the decisive moment against Luton, with Huddersfield sixth in the table going into Saturday's trip to Peterborough (15:00 GMT).

"Credit to the lads and the staff. We've been here eight days now and to pick up six points in two extremely difficult games in difficult circumstances underpins what we want to be in terms of the work ethic, togetherness, spirit and the fight," added Manning.

"That has to be the starting point but we have to learn to finish with 11 men and find a way of making a game look how we want - but ultimately it's about finding a way to win."

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."