Luton Outlaws - Independent Message Board for Luton Town FC

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2 massive games played in the clubs history today. One for all the wrong reasons, the other good for all the right ones.

The first occurred 51 years ago and the result was pivotal to our season. On the back of a disastrous Easter period where we had lost 5-0 away at Derby County on Easter Saturday and 5-2 away at Wolves we were to play Spurs away, with the outcome being felt to be crucial as to whether we could avoid relegation, in what had turned out to be a 3 horse between us, Spurs & Chelsea for the last 2 relegation spots. An early goal from John Duncan was quickly followed by an equaliser by Alan West. Going in to the last 5 mins of the game a ball was played forward to Alfie Conn, in a position which defender Paul Futcher clearly thought was well offside. However, the linesman kept his flag down and he went on to score the winner. Paul was so incensed that he was subsequently sent off, after telling the linesman what he thought about his officiating and his brother, Ron, also had to be restrained from running on to the pitch from the subs bench. A result which ultimately led to our relegation that season, and was ended by yet another controversial result on the last match of the Division 1 season.

17 years ago a much more uplifting game occurred at Wembley. If I just write Luton won 3-2 after extra time you can all fill in the rest of the match with your own experiences of how you celebrated the day. What a day for writing wrongs and putting forward the best version of out club, both on and off the field. My first memory is of walking up Wembley Way and seeing the “FA” flag being flown at the entrance to the ground and speaking to the fan who had thought up the idea of displaying it in that position, where it couldn’t be missed by those coming to the ground from that direction. As for the match it couldn’t have been better scripted. With hindsight even the last minute equaliser by Scunthorpe (which was a magnificent goal in itself) made for the final outcome being that extra bit special. A day and match never to be forgotten by all who witnessed it.

4 players have been born on this day, with the first being Albert Walter’s in 1902, this was followed by Arthur Taylor in 1931, then Alan Daniel in 1940 and finally John Hartson in 1975.

Only 2 players have made their debut on this day. The first was Jimmy Chipperfied in a home game against Newport County in 1913. After only one goal in the first half the second half turned in to a bit of a “circus” and we won comfortably in the end by 5-0. The other player was Sammy Igoe in a 0-0 home game, against Tranmere in 2003.