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    On this day..

    Posted by RADSB on 7/7/2025, 6:10:48

    Game

    Barnsley home 2020
    https://hattersheritage.co.uk/matches/luton-town-fc-vs-barnsley-7-jul-2020

    Born

    Bontcho Guentchev
    https://hattersheritage.co.uk/players/bontcho-guentchev-p943#slider-extras-1

    Mr J.C. Lomax having been called upon to give his opinion upon the proposed formation of a Town Club, said he was most emphatically in favour of a proposed Luton Town Football Club - 11th April 1885

      Re: On this day..

      Posted by Sandgrounder on 7/7/2025, 10:20:43, in reply to "On this day.."

      Jack Walton played for Barnsley in that game. Remember him saving 1 on 1 from Cornick late on.

        Re: On this day..

        Posted by From despair to Ware on 7/7/2025, 7:32:39, in reply to "On this day.."

        On the subject of foreign born players, was Raddy Antic the first to play for us?

        From one doughnut to many others.

          Re: On this day..

          Posted by RADSB on 7/7/2025, 7:39:29, in reply to "Re: On this day.."

          The first was Jose Benavides, a Peruvian.

          See the 5th article down "who was the first...?" on my website
          https://thestrawplaiters.com/onlooker/

          Mr J.C. Lomax having been called upon to give his opinion upon the proposed formation of a Town Club, said he was most emphatically in favour of a proposed Luton Town Football Club - 11th April 1885

            Re: On this day..

            Posted by From despair to Ware on 7/7/2025, 8:03:11, in reply to "Re: On this day.."

            Thanks, fascinating read RADSB.

            From one doughnut to many others.

            Re: On this day..

            Posted by From despair to Ware on 7/7/2025, 7:34:04, in reply to "Re: On this day.."

            Derrr..... just remembered Adrian Alston.

            From one doughnut to many others.

              Re: On this day..

              Posted by FrednBob on 7/7/2025, 8:05:03, in reply to "Re: On this day.."

              As an addition to RADSB's answer, if we're talking competitive fixtures only and where the player was born (rather than nationality), then I believe it's Arthur Smart. He was born in Ballarat, Australia and played in an FA Cup match against Chatham in 1887. However he moved to England when he was 1 or 2 years old.

              The first real 'foreign' player might therefore be Louis Bookman who was born in Lithuania, though again he did move to Ireland when he was 4 or 5. He made his debut in 1919.

              Adrian Alston was born in Preston. He moved to Australia at 18 when playing for Preston's juniors and working in an egg packing factory.

                Re: On this day..

                Posted by RADSB on 7/7/2025, 8:14:38, in reply to "Re: On this day.."

                Yes, Arthur Smart for competitive games. Some more info on Arthur -

                Married Lydia Stanbridge in early 1891 and they moved in to 57 Lea Road. Arthur was a carpenter. He was charged with rioting in August 1895. The riot followed the result of the General Election result for Luton where foul play was alleged.

                From the Luton WW1 website -
                “On July 26th, 1895, came the notorious election riot after Mr T. Gair Ashton (later Lord Ashton of Hyde) had been declared MP for South Beds, in succession to Mr S. Howard Whitbread, by a majority of 186 over Col Duke.
                King Street was the storm centre, and stone throwing was very rife. On two occasions Deputy Mayor Asher Hucklesby read the Riot Act, and the street was cleared by the police with drawn truncheons. To hold the fort Chief Constable David Teale secured the assistance of the fire brigade and a number of civilians, but they were unable to cope with the crowd, which increased and grew more violent and threatening.
                In the end the services of 46 members of the Metropolitan Police were requisitioned. Within ten minutes of their arrival they effected a complete transformation by their unceremonious methods of enforcing order, and the next night reinforcements of mounted men were sent from London to quell a renewal of the rioting.
                Within two days the London police were able to return and leave the town quite quietly, but it cost the borough about £300 for police assistance and damage to property. A dozen men were brought before the magistrates on rioting charges, but all got off.”

                By 1901 they were living at 119 North Street with their four sons, one daughter and Lydia’s mother. By 1911 they were at 36 Grove Road with two more daughters.

                Mr J.C. Lomax having been called upon to give his opinion upon the proposed formation of a Town Club, said he was most emphatically in favour of a proposed Luton Town Football Club - 11th April 1885

                  Re: On this day..

                  Posted by FrednBob on 7/7/2025, 8:08:05, in reply to "Re: On this day.."



                  Here's the list of foreign-born players I have up to 1998 debuts.

              Re: On this day..

              Posted by Melbourne Hat on 7/7/2025, 7:21:41, in reply to "On this day.."

              Bontcho Guentchev

              Wasn’t he spotted on a train in London still wearing his kit after a game?

              Or is that just some urban myth bollocks?

                Re: On this day..

                Posted by Caught Jester on 7/7/2025, 7:50:50, in reply to "Re: On this day.."

                Some truth in it I think. If I remember correctly his Mrs worked at the Bulgarian embassy and he had to get home quickly in order to get changed and head off to some official function.

                  Re: On this day..

                  Posted by Melbourne Hat on 7/7/2025, 8:29:21, in reply to "Re: On this day.."

                  Happy to know there is a grain of truth to it and I did not completely fabricate it.

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