After two successive playoff failures, Luton Town will be hoping next season will end in promotion. For some football fans of a certain age, the time when the Bedfordshire outfit was a relatively big club does not seem all that long ago. However, some things soon turn into misty memories, such as Kevin Keegan’s perm and Alan Ball’s white boots.
An exciting, but goalless, playoff final – for the right to earn a spot in England’s fourth tier and Football League proper – against AFC Wimbledon was decided on penalties, with the London side triumphing in what was effectively a high stakes test of nerves. But even as the dust settled on their heartbreak, Luton’s top brass were already licking their wounds and looking towards next season.
It may come as a crumb of comfort to their fans to know that the Hatters are already favourites to finish top of next year’s Blue Square Premier. After a promising start to the 2010/11 season, Luton were eventually left behind by big-spending Crawley Town, who ran away with the title after losing just three matches. In the coming campaign though, there are no ‘Moneybags Rovers’ to worry about.
In truth it has been a difficult few years for the club, with more twists than a mazy Lionel Messi solo run. After two relegations and various points deductions due to financial irregularities, Luton found themselves in the Blue Square Premier, England’s fifth tier, after a tumultuous 2008/09 campaign.
The Football League had docked them a mind-boggling 30 points, turning what could have been a molehill into an insurmountable mountain. The Hatters made a brave fist of things, amassing 13 wins and 17 draws, but a return of only 26 points for their efforts was enough to send them down. Without the deduction though, Luton would have finished a creditable fifteenth.
Their first season in the non-league ranks saw the Kenilworth Road outfit finish second behind Stevenage Borough. Luton were ten points ahead of fifth-placed York City, but tired performances in the playoff semi-finals led to a 2-0 aggregate deficit. For their jaded players, as well as their ever-optimistic supporters, it provided a disappointing end to what had started out as an optimistic campaign.
Sadly, 2010/11 proved to be a case of same old, same old. There or thereabouts from August until May, but ultimately outclassed by Crawley Town and AFC Wimbledon, Luton were good, though not quite good enough. The Hatters hammered Wrexham in the playoff semi-finals, but the Dons held their nerve in a penalty shoot-out at Eastlands, and Luton’s dream was over yet again.
For next season, the club will be basing their strategy on a mix of youth and experience, and will be quietly confident about their chances. While there are several sides that will be looking to leave the Hatters in tatters, there are few that can potentially sustain a challenge for top honours.
The two playoff semi-final losers, Wrexham and Fleetwood Town, will perhaps be at the front of the queue, and relegated League Two stalwarts Lincoln City and Stockport County won’t be far behind. Add in the likes of Kidderminster Harriers and Darlington though and it is soon clear that next year’s Conference will not be a walk in the park.
It takes a lot to get back into the big time, and the support of a loyal band of supporters can be crucial. For Luton, a dedicated group of aficionados can always be relied upon to provide some highly vocal encouragement. The 10,226 capacity of Kenilworth Road makes their ground one of the largest in the division, although there have been murmurings about moving to a new stadium for some years now.
With so much at stake for Luton, this next season promises to be a crucial one for the club’s future. If they win promotion, they could easily go on to bigger and better things. If they fail, however, the Hatters may end up remaining in one of football’s backwaters for a few years to come.
