Count on the Owls and Town to lead League One promotion bid

Booth, who officially hung up his boots this summer, started and ended his career at Huddersfield Town and made over 450 appearances for his home-town club.

In between times, the striker spent five years at Sheffield Wednesday where he also became a cult hero.

Booth, still only 36, is now employed as an ambassador for Huddersfield and is heavily involved in promoting the club in the community.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post ahead of the new season, he insisted that this season's games between the two clubs are likely to have a major say in the promotion race.

And, according to Booth, only bookmakers' favourites Southampton are likely to stand in the way of a Yorkshire 'double' in terms of who secures the automatic promotion spots.

"I think the bookies have probably got it right when they say Southampton and the two Yorkshire clubs are this season's leading contenders in League One. It will be great for Yorkshire football to have both clubs pushing for automatic promotion," he said. "In my opinion, this is the best Town side for many years and I know the fans are happy with the way we are playing great, attacking football. I am surprised that Wednesday were relegated but they have made some good signings this summer and should be able to bounce straight back."

Town, under the guidance of manager Lee Clark, reached last season's play-offs but suffered heartbreak in the semi-finals when they were beaten by Millwall.

The Owls, who are managed by Alan Irvine, went down on the final day of the season after failing to beat Crystal Palace at Hillsborough.

It means the pair will compete in the same division for only the fifth time in over half a century and, with Leeds United moving up, they are the only Yorkshire clubs in League One.

"I really did think that Wednesday would beat Palace because it was a home game and they had the backing of a full house," Booth reflected. "I had been invited back to Hillsborough just a few weeks earlier when they were very unlucky not to beat QPR.

"I always watch out for their results but there have been a lot of comings and goings since I left (in 2001) and I hardly recognised anyone on the teamsheet.

"But I certainly got the impression, from talking to a few people, that the biggest problem was scoring goals. However, they look to have made some good signings this summer and both Neil Mellor and Clinton Morrison, for example, should get goals."

Booth, meanwhile, is confident that Town will avoid a play-off 'hangover' and says the club's future is looking bright again under Clark.

"What happened last season hurt the players because they know they just never performed in that second leg at Millwall," he said. "It was disappointing to miss out on promotion but that has gone and they will now be fully focused on the new campaign.

"If anything, that experience will stand us in good stead," he added. "We had a great season and narrowly missed out."

Commenting on Clark's impact at the Galpharm Stadium, Booth says: "To say this is Lee's first job in management, he has been magnificent. He looks like he was made to be a football manager.

"He has brought new ideas to the training ground and has fantastic support from people like Derek Fazackerley and Terry McDermott. He has put together a great young side who play some cracking football and score some cracking goals.

"But there is also an edge to him – which every manager needs – and he won't be slow to give the players a rocket when it is required. It says everything about his qualities that he has already been linked with clubs such as Fulham and Burnley since he came here."

Booth knows from personal experience that Town have landed a tough centre-back in the shape of Bristol City's Jamie McCombe. The former Scunthorpe United and Lincoln City defender is one of six new signings made by Clark over the summer.

"Even though we have had a lot of battles down the years, I like Jamie McCombe," says Booth. "He was always very tough to play against and it will be nice to have him on our side now.

"I think Joey Gudjonssen will give us bite in midfield and the club has showed a lot of ambition to secure the services of Gary Naysmith who has enjoyed a great career with Scotland."

Having identified Southampton as the main threat to the Owls and the Terriers, Booth feels that Swindon Town and Charlton Athletic will also be among the clubs pushing for promotion.

The Saints finished seventh in last season's table despite a 10-point penalty while Charlton and Swindon both qualified for the play-offs.

"Southampton were fantastic last season with two big lads in attack and you should not write off Charlton," he said. "It is also going to be interesting to see how Swindon do. They had a great season but Danny Wilson will need to replace (striker) Billy Paynter who has gone to Leeds."

The first meeting between Town and Wednesday takes place at Hillsborough on Tuesday, November 2 with the return game at the Galpharm Stadium on Monday, January 3.

"We have lost the fixture against Leeds so everyone will be looking to these games as this season's big local derbies," said Booth. "There is no great rivalry between the two clubs but Wednesday are a big club and it is a game we will want to win."