Alfie May has confirmed that he turned down a move to Huddersfield Town last summer before joining Birmingham City — a decision that now looks entirely vindicated after he helped the Blues win the League One title with a record-breaking 111 points.
Speaking candidly about the choice he faced, May explained how the clarity of vision presented by Birmingham head coach Chris Davies won him over.
“I was nearly a Huddersfield player but the minute I actually spoke to the gaffer and the plan that he set out and said to me, it was something I just really wanted to be a part of,” said the 31-year-old.
May’s comments suggest that Huddersfield, who spent the season battling at the wrong end of the table, simply couldn’t match Birmingham’s ambition.
“I’m not saying Huddersfield won’t get back to the Championship,” he added. “I’m 31, the drive the gaffer had to get this club back to the Championship, I just wanted to be a part of it.”
“I made the right choice. Next year I’m going to be a Championship player. I can tell my kids that I’ve played in the Championship and that will mean a lot to me.”
It’s a snub that will sting for Terriers fans, particularly given May’s impact. The former Cheltenham Town striker scored 16 goals and contributed nine assists in all competitions despite not always being a guaranteed starter.
The move not only earned May a League One winner’s medal but also a long-awaited crack at the Championship — something he can finally boast about to his children. “I made the right choice. Next year I’m going to be a Championship player. I can tell my kids that I’ve played in the Championship and that will mean a lot to me,” he said.
May arrived at Birmingham last summer with plenty of critics questioning whether his prolific League One form would translate at a higher level. He responded in typical fashion, laughing during pre-season when asked if he was simply a third-tier player: “I must be a League One player.” But the joke hinted at his motivation to prove doubters wrong.
Writer’s View
Alfie May’s Huddersfield comments underline a key truth in modern football: players are as drawn to ambition and leadership as they are to league status. Huddersfield may have presented an offer, but it was Chris Davies’ clear plan and Birmingham’s upward trajectory that swayed May.
In the end, that decision has paid off handsomely — both for the player and the club. Huddersfield, now facing another rebuilding job, must look on knowing they missed out on a proven match-winner.
