Luton Town v Reading FA Cup R3 – E Programme 2020-21 BUY NOW!

OUR TOWN OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 2020-21 ISSUE #13 | LUTON TOWN V READING 09.01.21 | KO: 12:00PM

C O TRAIN LIKE A PRO ENGINEERED FOR PERFORMANCE exclusively available at umbro.co.uk

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21

LUTON TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB 2020 LTD

Kenilworth Road Stadium, 1 Maple Road East, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 8AW Switchboard: 01582 411622 | Tickets: 01582 416976 info@lutontown.co.uk

CONTENTS

V

CLUB OFFICIALS

Chairman: David Wilkinson Chief Executive Officer: Gary Sweet Directors: Paul Ballantyne, Stephen Browne Bob Curson, Mike Herrick, Rob Stringer Shareholders: Kailesh Karavadra, Luton Town Supporters Trust Honorary Vice President: John Buttle Vice Presidents: Richard Banks, Cliff Bassett, Gary Chamberlain, Doug Knight, Ian Gazeley, Emma Banks, Ben Banks, Ian Montone, Nick Owen First Team Manager: Nathan Jones Assistant Manager: Mick Harford First Team Coaches: Paul Hart & Chris Cohen Head of Goalkeeping: Kevin Dearden Performance Analyst: Peter Booker Analyst: Dan Bond Chief Recruitment Officer: Mick Harford Head of Medical: Simon Parsell Physiotherapist: Chris Phillips Therapist/Kit Man: Darren Cook Head of Sports Science: James Redden Academy & Development Manager: Andy Awford Head of Academy Coaching & Professional Player Development: Adrian Forbes Professional Development Phase Lead Coach: Dan Walder Academy Administrator: Emily Howes General Operations Manager: Paul Watson Club Secretary: Chris Clark Financial Controller: Tom Schofield Safety Officer: Andrew Bracken Head of Commercial: Chris Bell Site & Facilities Manager: Peter Kemp Head Groundsman: Richard Bird Marketing & Communications Manager: Ed Smith Press & Media Manager: Stuart Hammonds Head of Retail Operations: Siobhan Kos-Hodge Ticket Office Manager: Mike Hooker Catering & Hospitality Manager: Cristhiano Andrade Da Silva Head of Human Resources: Jemma Osborne Supporter Liaison Officer: John Miller Junior Supporter Liaison Officer: James Whitehead Club Doctor: Dr Paul Deeley Club Chiropractor: David Leu Head of Community Trust: Kevin Thoburn

E M O C N O U YO TERS AT OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Made in Luton. Printed by Bartham Press.

Edited by Stuart Hammonds (stuart.hammonds@lutontown.co.uk).

Design by Ed Smith Photography by Gareth Owen.

Thanks to contributors: Roger Wash, Ed Smith, Bradley Dixon, Dan Briard, Simon Pitts, Andy Awford, Kevin Thoburn, Simon Oxley, Ryan Payne and Dylan Bhundia.

Additional pictures: Rex Features, Prime Media Images and Liam Smith.

The views in this programme are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the editor and/or Luton Town.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

9 | KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL

31 | TAFF RAHMAN

5

NATHAN JONES

7

SONNY BRADLEY

The boss looks ahead to this today's game

The Hatters skipper urges fans to stay safe and protect the NHS

13 FROM THE PRESS BOX

BBC 3CR's Simon Oxley looks back on a landmark year

All you need to know about the boys from the Madejski Stadium

15 46

48

@lutontown

WELCOME ROYALS

BRISTOL CREAMED

A look back at the recent 2-1 home win over Bristol City

FIXTURES & RESULTS 2020-21

All the stats you need from the Town's matches this season

@hattershelp |

facebook.com/lutontown |

@ltfc_official | www.lutontown.co.uk

JB PROVIDE BUILDING EXCELLENCE AT EXCEPTIONAL VALUE

C O

JB Developments Luton Ltd specialise in extensions, home renovations, patios, driveway enhancements and all aspects of development. We pride ourselves on professionalism and quality. Ensuring all clients, whether local home improvements or commercial developments, receive the same care and quality ďŹ nish.

Call 01525 868250 or visit online www.jbdevelopmentsltd.com

MAIN CLUB PARTNER

JB Developments Luton Ltd are the proud home kit sponsor of Luton Town Football Club throughout 2020/21 season.

THE MANAGER

NATHAN JONES A belated happy new year to everyone as you sadly have to watch on from home again today, that’s if you’re a BT Sport subscriber, rather than being here with us at Kenilworth Road.

will say the same as us about preferring to face something different for that bit of FA Cup romance, we have had two closely contested matches so far this season and both sides will be out to make sure we’re in the hat for the fourth round draw.

E M O C N O U YO TERS AT The disappointment of having to postpone last week’s game against QPR meant that we weren’t able to build on the Bristol City win here in our last match, but as we have become accustomed to seeing elsewhere this season, it was the safest thing at the time, having had positive Covid tests.

We desperately wanted to play but with it being New Year’s Day and the EFL’s official testing labs being closed, we couldn’t get everyone tested and the results back in time for the game to go ahead.

We have been tested twice since then and we can say as safely as anyone is able to at any given time that we are coronavirus-free coming into this one as we turn our attentions to the FA Cup, and welcome Veljko Paunovic, his staff and their Reading players here today.

We’ve seen plenty of them already since the restart, and although I’m sure they

One thought that is constantly driving us on is that you have missed out on so much in 2020, and we want to be able to experience some more special occasions with you here in 2021 – whether that be in the league, or as a good Cup run progresses.

I want to thank you wholeheartedly for the support you have given us from afar in the nine matches that proved so memorable in the summer, and the 25 we’ve had so far in this helter-skelter season, as well as with your amazing season ticket contributions that have kept the club alive.

For two games we felt your energy and passion again inside this wonderful old stadium, and I can tell you now, it left an impression on not just those of us who know exactly what this place is like when it is full, but especially the players who haven’t yet experienced it packed to the rafters.

To have gained 30 points in the Championship already is great, and even though we feel strongly that we should be sitting on a few more than that, there is so much to look forward to this year.

I know 2020 was tough for everyone, and this past week even worse with the latest lockdown introduced. But there is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine being rolled out, so please stick to the rules, keep up the unbelievable support from home for now, and here’s to a much healthier 2021!

Enjoy the game and stay safe.

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 5

Do you work at height?

30%!

OQFuoFte

0-21

LTFC2

• Friendly, professional advice at the end of the phone • More cost effective than scaffolding and aluminium towers • Safe and easy to use • Next day delivery available • Local company offering national coverage

H I R E

•

S A L E S

•

01582 297050 info@starplatforms.co.uk

T R A I N I N G

starplatforms.co.uk

C O

CAPTAIN

SONNY BRADLEY “We’re flying high at the minute, confidence is sky-high” Words: Dan Briar

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and a happy new year in circumstances that none of us have ever experienced before, but we all understand why.

the positive test results were returned to forced last week’s game against QPR to be postponed, and you will have read that having been tested twice this week in the build up to today’s match, the squad and staff at all EFL clubs will go through this process every week from now on.

E M O C N O U YO TERS AT The next few weeks may prove even tougher for us all with the latest lockdown, and on behalf of the whole squad here at Luton Town, we hope everyone stays as safe and as well as possible.

Please follow the rules and do what you can to look after yourselves, each other and of course, the NHS, who are doing such a fantastic job in circumstances no nurse or doctor could have imagined possible when they did their training.

I know first-hand what they are doing, with my family having been affected and needing their care and treatment during this pandemic, so please take every precaution you can to prevent the spread of the virus and help them cope in our hospitals.

Here at the club we have been relatively unaffected so far, and we’ve adhered to the protocols and measures that have been in place since restart in May. These have been tightened again since

We are doing all we can to stay safe and cocooned in our own homes once we are away from The Brache, so we hope that we can continue to play our matches unaffected and carry on the good form from the first half of the season.

We’ve already had cup success over Reading this season in the Carabao, which was part of a good run in that competition that brought us a big home tie with Manchester Unite, though sadly we couldn’t have fans at the game.

I’m often asked which game is the highlight of my career and although we’ve had some unbelievable occasions here, the one that always comes immediately to mind is the FA Cup third round tie at Anfield with Plymouth.

Hearing the Liverpool fans sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before that game is something that will live with me forever, and the fact we held them and earned a replay topped a perfect day.

It may be different this year, but the FA Cup is the greatest knockout competition in the world and although ourselves and Reading may be familiar foes, you only have to look at the Marine players preparing to take on Spurs to understand what it means.

We will be doing our very best to make sure we are in Monday’s fourth and fifth round draws, so if you’re able to watch the game today on BT Sport, enjoy it and thank you once again for your constant support from home.

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 7

EXCHANGE

To the NHS, Key Workers and our amazing Luton Charities

Trust’s Uniform Exchange is a community-led project that helps lies in Luton to bring down the costs of school uniform. To get d, bring some school uniform that your child has grown out of ap it for any new or second-hand items that you need for FREE. Find us on Facebook /leveltrust to find out more about what stock we have available this summer.

1

2

3

Come along to our Pop Up Shop

At: 3a Upper George Street, Luton - by the town hall Opening times: 9am - 12pm, Monday - Thursday

From

Visit the team at Discover Islam

Construction

At: 37 Upper George Street, Luton Opening times: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Saturday

Book a 1:1 appointment

Text your name to 07481 343277 to book a uniform fitting with one of our trained volunteers

N’T FORGET TO BRING UNIFORM TO SWAP!

is a registered charity - 1153936 eltrust.org, 01582 797347 WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH...

www.ryebridgeconstruction.com

@ryebridge

KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL Words: Dan Briard

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was delighted to get his name on the scoresheet for the first time as a Luton Town player, scoring the winner in the 2-1 victory against Bristol City – the last match of 2020.

The Leicester loanee has earned rave reviews for his sensational performances during his time at Kenilworth Road thus far and scored his first goal on his 15th appearance for the club.

After Glen Rea had given the Hatters a one-goal lead in the first half, Bristol City hit back in the second period, before Dewsbury-Hall fired home from 25 yards – the decisive winner on the night.

needed three points to stay in touch with the play-offs and we’re all delighted to get the three points. We know home is becoming a little bit of a fortress now, teams are coming here and not getting an easy game. To come away with the three points tonight is a great feeling for everybody.

“We were very disappointed coming out of the Reading game because we didn’t feel as if we showed our true capabilities in the game. We knew today we needed to bounce back for ourselves and for the fans. We are happy to get three points and hopefully the fans are happy with that as well.

“No game is easy, no game you can just go in and think ‘yeah we’re going to walk through this’, you have to earn the right to play and earn the right to get three points. I thought we did that tonight.”

On a personal note, Dewsbury-Hall is pleased he has been able to show the Luton Town faithful what he is all about, especially after picking up his fifth Man of the Match award in six home matches.

“About time!” the 22-year-old admitted.

“It has been coming. I'm happy to get myself my first goal and contribute to the team, obviously happy that Glen got on the end of my corner to get the assist.

I just want to keep contributing and hopefully get a couple more now and I’ll be happy.”

Town quickly put the Boxing Day defeat against Reading behind them with a hard-fought victory in the last match of 2020, a view which the midfielder shared.

“We knew coming into this game we OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 9

(Continued from page 11) “It has been great, the support from the fans, I just go into every game trying to do as well as I can for the team and it is really nice the fans see that and it is nice to get some recognition as well on a personal level. For a team it’s nice to get the three points and that is the most important thing.

“I’m a player that has a lot of belief in myself, I believe I can do really well. I came here knowing that I really wanted to make an impact and a name for myself in this tough league. That was my aim to come here and do as well as possible, it’s nice that I have come in, played a lot of games and really shown what I’m capable of.

“I believe now there is still a long time to go towards the end of the season, I can keep improving and really make

an impact for the team. I like to consider myself an all-round midfielder, I like to score goals and get assists. It is nice to get the first one and hopefully now I can keep building on that, I know I have the ability to score goals and that will give me a bit more confidence for the upcoming games.”

Asked if he hopes to make a similar impact to Harvey Barnes at Leicester, who thrived on loan before returning to the King Power Stadium and impressing in the Premier League, the midfielder said: "I’ve seen what Harvey did, going through the loan system, going up the leagues and he made a real impact.

"Now everyone can see what he is doing in the Premier League so that is a big aim for me, I would like to think I can follow in the same footsteps he has gone.

“I went to Blackpool, now I’m at Luton and I’m really enjoying myself. It is a great club, a fantastic league and I think we’re really performing well in the league.

“We consider ourselves a real stable Championship side now and we’re just getting the confidence to push on now to try and become a top 12 Championship team, because we believe we are in the dressing room and I’ve come in to help contribute towards that, so long may it continue.”

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 11

C O

THE PRESS BOX

BBC Three Counties commentator SIMON OXLEY looks back on a landmark year In normal times we would be fondly recalling 2020, but we couldn’t say “good riddance” quick enough just over a week ago, could we?

But the return which we will remember the most was that of Nathan Jones. They say you can never go back. They certainly say you can never go back after leaving like that. But 2020 was the year when we put normal to one side. In fact we didn’t just put it to one side, we put normal in a box in the cupboard under the stairs and threw away the key.

E M O C N O U YO TERS AT That summer night victory over Blackburn here in July should arguably rank alongside Maine Road in 1983 and the Baseball Ground in 1990 as among the greatest of escapes from relegation.

I was fortunate enough to be here, but looking back it still seems a surreal moment, with so few others here to celebrate and help to bring it all to life.

It almost seems a lifetime ago when we kicked off 2020 with a lunchtime start on New Year’s Day itself at Millwall. Visits to the New Den aren’t usually something you crave, but we’ll take anything right now.

Amidst all the gloom around us there have been some highlights, including of course that escape from relegation back to League One. The win at Hull which set up that last-game decider is also a standout memory. This season saw the return of the Watford/Luton derby, and the brief return of fans which helped to inspire the excellent win over Norwich.

2020 was supposed to be the year when all the plans of the club’s custodians came to fruition – hence the name 2020.

Now while Gary and his colleagues haven’t yet opened the doors of a new stadium, their actions in the year of their name must still be loudly applauded. Years like the one just gone are when you earn your place around the boardroom table. Changes were decisive, financial management in the Championship ‘mad house’ appears sound, and despite the obvious impact of a pandemic we still have a club to play at that eagerly-anticipated stadium.

And of course there is the role in the community – staying in touch with your family of fans, but also helping those who might never have been, and may never come, but who don’t deserve not to be able to eat a decent meal.

In many ways we welcome 2021 with open arms. Personally I’m looking forward to returning to commentary duties today after a Covid-enforced absence. But we should look back on 2020, not necessarily fondly, but certainly with pride.

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 13

LONDON

£10 RETURN

from

RE E H CH T T OA E G C BY

.co.uk

FACT FILE NICKNAME: The Royals STADIUM: The Madejski Stadium CAPACITY: 24,161 LEAGUE & FA CUP 19-20: 14th in the Championship / 5th Round MANAGER: Veljko Paunovic MILES FROM LUTON: 60 miles LAST MEETING: Madejski Stadium, 26/12/20, 1-2, Championship RECORD APPEARANCE HOLDER: Martin Hicks, 500 from 1978-91 RECORD SIGNING: George Puscas, around £8m - Inter Milan, 2019

READING

ON THE GOALKEEPER

RAFAEL CABRAL Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael Cabral started his career at Santos, going onto feature in 94 league games across a decade-long spell.

He then moved to Italy, signing for Serie A side Napoli. He made his debut in the Champions League against Arsenal, and spent five years in Naples.

THE MANAGER

VELJKO

PAUNOVIC Former Serbia international Veljko Paunovic had a long-playing career, playing for the likes of Atletico Madrid, Hannover, Getafe, and Partizan, before ending his career in the US with Philadelphia Union.

The 43-year-old took his first steps into coaching with the Serbian national team, managing their Under-18s, Under-19s, and Under-20s across three years working with them, winning the 2015 Under-20s World Cup. Paunovic’s first job in club football was MLS side Chicago Fire, where he took over in 2015. The Serbian led the side to the play-offs in 2017.

After four years at Toyota Park, he left in 2019 And in August 2020, he replaced Mark Bowen as manager of Reading.

The 30-year-old’s next move was across Italy, as he joined Sampdoria. His spell at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris ended after one season, and in August 2019, he joined the Royals on a free transfer.

The goalkeeper is a senior international for Brazil, making his debut against the USA in 2012. He has three caps to his name.

DEFENDER

MICHAEL MORRISON Michael Morrison came through the academy at Cambridge United, and went onto become a regular for the then-Conference club. During his time in the U's first-team, he made over 100 league appearances.

Morrison then had a three-year spell at Leicester, helping the side win League One in 2009. His next club was Sheffield Wednesday, where he spent just over six months, before joining Charlton in the summer of 2011.

The 32-year-old then moved to Charlton, featuring regularly for the Addicks, before switching to Birmingham after a few seasons. In July 2019, he joined Reading on a two-year-deal.

RADAR MIDFIELD

JOSH LAURENT Playing in the academy sides of Redbridge and Wycombe earlier in his youth, Josh Laurent progressed through the system at QPR. He then moved across London, signing for Brentford, with his only appearance coming in a League Cup tie. In February 2016, he moved to Hartlepool, and was a regular for the side in League Two. Laurent then spent 18 months at Wigan, and on loan at Bury.

The 25-year-old joined Shrewsbury in July 2018, and proved himself to be a key player for the Shrews. After two years at the club, he left for Reading.

STRIKER

YAKOU MEITE Born in Paris, striker Yakou Meite began his footballing career with Paris Saint-Germain, mostly featuring for the club’s development sides. He made his one and only first team appearance in Ligue 1 against Guingamp in April 2016.

He joined Reading in July 2016, making 14 league appearances in his first season with the Royals. He would spend the following season on loan in Ligue 2 with Sochaux, before returning to the Madejski.

Meite has been a regular in the Reading team since returning from loan. Internationally, he has been capped by the Ivory Coast national side.

KEEP AN EYE ON...

LUCAS JOAO

Lucas Joao started his professional career in his native Portugal, breaking into the CD Nacional first team.

After three seasons with Nacional, and a loan to Mirandela, he left for Sheffield Wednesday in 2015. Joao spent four years with the Owls, making over 110 Championship appearances.

The 27-year-old joined Blackburn on loan for the second half of the 2016/17 season.

In August 2019, he swapped Sheffield Wednesday for Reading, joining for an undisclosed fee. He has two caps for the Portugal national side, making his debut against Russia in 2015.

Words: Ryan Payne

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 17

CLASSIC CLASH 22.01.2000 | LUTON TOWN 3 READING 1 DIVISION TWO (NOW LEAGUE ONE)

CLUB HISTORIAN ROGER WASH DELVES INTO HIS ARCHIVES...

Luton Manager Lennie Lawrence looked on the home clash with expensively assembled Reading as potentially the toughest of the season as he would be without six first team players through injury, with a late loan bid for Charlton youngster, Scott Parker, rebuffed.

As it turned out the ‘Princes v Paupers’ contest ended in a relatively comfortable 3-1 victory for the latter with Liam George, who had netted only one goal in the previous 13 games, bagging two to sink the Royals.

This was Reading’s 13th game without a victory which was a new club record.

Pictured is Liam George netting the Town’s third goal in the final minute.

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 19

Follow @LTLFC_Official on Twitter for all the latest updates!

LUTON TOWN

LADIES

Words: Thomas Wheatley

E M O C C N O O U YO TERS AT LUTON TOWN LADIES 5 WROXHAM 0

The Hatters put in a five-goal and five-star display against Wroxham last Sunday to earn themselves a home draw against Cambridge City Ladies in the second round qualifying of the Vitality Women's FA Cup. The game started evenly, Wroxham shading possession in the opening ten, but Town had their first clear cut opportunity a couple of minutes later, Leyah Maddix breaking from right-back and leaving it for Jess McKay, whose cross was put behind on the volley by Dionne Manning.

assist to go with her goal. Malika Gille played a great ball in, which Henman did well to keep in before pulling it back from the byline for Heather McDonnell to smash home.

Wroxham had their first opportunity on the half-hour mark, but it could have been three moments later, Henman (involved again) had a one-on-one saved before Manning’s chipped effort fell just the wrong side of the post.

In the minutes before half time, Henman won a penalty after her cross hit a Wroxham arm, which was subsequently saved, the keeper guessing the right way to keep out Manning’s effort.

Then seconds later McKay hit the post with a long-range effort.

It took until the 65th minute for the Town to score a third, McKay chipping the ball over the top once more for Manning to smash home first time.

McKay had a long-range effort whistle Twenty minutes later it was four, Manning grabbing an assist past the woodwork less than a minute this time with a perfectly weighted throughball for substitute Adi later as the Hatters began to control proMilton, and she slid it superbly under the keeper. ceedings before the scoring was opened on 17 minutes by Nicola Henman.

It looked as though the Town were content with four until the 92nd minute, Henman popping up from Kim Newn’s free-kick to McKay played the ball over the defence fire in her second and the Hatters’ fifth. and Henman ran onto it to head it over the keeper. From then, it was all Luton.

An outstanding team performance coupled with incredible A few good chances followed for the individual performances saw the Town into the next round.

Town, before Henman bagged herself an

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V NOTTINGHAM FOREST | 28.10.20 | PAGE 20

THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAPER Written by FLP executive editor JOHN LYONS IT’S not easy to make the transition from one division to the next one up the ladder – and you only have to look at the league tables to see it.

Wycombe are another club who haven’t got the resources of some of the division’s heavyweights, but manager Gareth Ainsworth has prided himself on building a team with real spirit and togetherness.

E M O C N O U O Y S ATTERS Of the three sides promoted to the Premier League, only Leeds have really got to grips with the top-flight. After last weekend’s fixtures both West Brom and Fulham were in the relegation zone and facing a real fight to secure their status in the second half of the season.

Both clubs were impressive in the Championship last term, but have found the step up in class in the Premier League tough to handle. Slaven Bilic was axed by West Brom and now veteran boss Sam Allardyce has the task of pulling off a rescue act, while Scott Parker will be desperate to stop Fulham sliding back down again.

It’s a similar story in the Championship.

Two of the sides promoted from League One last season – Rotherham and Wycombe – are in the drop zone. The Millers have been something of a yo-yo team in recent seasons and manager Paul Warne would no doubt love to establish them in the second tier.

They do have games in hand on the teams above them in the table and will fancy their chances of mixing it with some big-hitters.

That never-say-die attitude will stand them in good stead in their first season in the second tier and no doubt many neutrals will be hoping they can overcome the odds and maintain their position in football’s pecking order.

Some critics argued that the Chairboys would already be cut adrift by now, but they have proven they are made of stern stuff and will be hungry to shock a few more sides before the end of the campaign.

At the time of writing, last term’s League One champions Coventry are a healthy 16th in the table and you have to give manager Mark Robins a lot of credit for that. The former Manchester United striker has done a wonderful job at the Sky Blues helm, often in difficult circumstances, and doesn’t tend to get the plaudits he deserves.

It can’t be easy playing out of town at Birmingham, but Coventry continue to churn out results and show what they’re made of.

Swindon won League Two last term, but currently lodge in the third tier relegation zone, while play-off winners Northampton are straining every sinew to keep out of the bottom four.

Plymouth have had a wobble but look as though they will be okay, while you have to give Crewe boss David Artell a pat on the back for putting the Railwaymen in the top ten after making the step up.

Overall, it’s clear that going up is one thing, staying up is another.

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 21

5 SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE £163!

ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS EVERY YEAR

U T I L I TA .CO. U K / F O OT B A L L

Official Partner of Luton Town FC

By club historian Roger Wash The long awaited Hatters’ Heritage website has now launched with more items being uploaded monthly – have a look on www.hattersheritage.co.uk In turn, we aim to run a series throughout the season showcasing artefacts and memorabilia in our collection reflecting the club’s rich history.

As it is the FA Cup, something from our only appearance in the final at Wembley in 1959 is appropriate. At a post-match dinner at the Piccadilly Hotel the club’s directors presented female guests with an inscribed powder compact – the males receiving a cigarette lighter.

The powder compact is featured, complete with 1959 vintage powder!

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 23

EVERY GOAL EVERY CELEBRATION EVERY MOMENT EVERY TEAM FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE ON

FREE faplayer.thefa.com

WELL DONE GLEN & KIERNAN! The two goalscorers against Bristol City were named in the Sky Bet Championship team of the week, while Kiernan was also voted our Diamond Player of the Month for November and Glen was selected in WhoScored.com's team of December for the second tier. Great work, boys!

REST IN PEACE, PATRICIA PIPKIN It saddens us deeply to hear of the passing of Patricia Pipkin, affectionately known as Pips, at the age of 89.

Pips was a passionate supporter of the Hatters for many years stretching back to the days of Bob Morton and Syd Owen.

In more recent years Ricky Hill was Pips' favourite player and she was so excited to meet him on a number of occasions.

Sadly dementia meant that Pips had not been able to attend matches in recent years. She had a season ticket with her son Ian in Block B of David Preece stand for a number of years.

Those who sat near Pips will remember her allegiance to the team and her generosity with her bags of sweets!!

Pips spent the last two and a half years of her life at Castletroy Care Home in Bushmead, where she was cared for brilliantly.

Despite her dementia there was always a COYH shout every match day!

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 25

THE CAMERA NEVER LIES

The Luton players trudge off at the end of the FA Cup semi-final against Everton at Villa Park in 1985.

The Hatters undeservedly went down 2-1 after extra time in a game that still sticks in the craw almost 36 years on!

Roger Wash

RCP Parking Ltd

Power Court Luton LU1 3JJ Proud supporters of

Luton Town Football Club

C O

KIT SPONSORS 20/21

To find out more information about kit sponsorships, contact our commercial team on 01582 411622 JAMES SHEA 01

H: Available A: Available G: Martin Devereau - Manx Hatter

SONNY BRADLEY 05

H: Available A: Bobbers Travel Club T: Available

DANNY HYLTON

MARTIN CRANIE 02

H: Available A: Available T: Available

MATTY PEARSON 06

H: ABS Thermal Insulations A: Available T: Available

ELLIOT LEE

DAN POTTS 03

HARRY CORNICK 07

RYAN TUNNICLIFFE

H: Doug Knight, Kelly 04 Knight, Mad Hatter, Maddie Knight A: Available T: Available

H: The Banks Family A: Kelly Knight T: Scandinavian Hatters

ANDREW SHINNIE

H: Available A: Available T: Available

LUKE BERRY 08

H: WHOSH A: Available T: Available

SIMON SLUGA

E M O C N O U YO TERS T A 09

H: The Banks Family A: Available T: Available

GEORGE MONCUR

14

H: Tradeline Recruitment Ltd A: Available T: Available

JORDAN CLARK

18

H: Chris & Alex Browne A: Tommy Lennon T: Available

BRENDAN GALLOWAY

23

H: Available A: Available T: Available

SAM NOMBE

27

H: Available A: Available T: Available

SAM BECKWITH

33

H: David Boswell A: Frank & Diane Woodward T: Available

NATHAN JONES

H: Thompsons Chartered Accountants Bedford A: Country Properties

10

H: Julian & Anne Hyde A: Available T: Available

TOM LOCKYER

15

H: Ian, Linda & Joe A: Marston Vale Properties T: Available

JAMES COLLINS

19

H: Tim Fordham A: Available T: Available

RHYS NORRINGTON-DAVIES

24

H: WHOSH A: Available T: Available

JOE MORRELL

28

H: J Block & Luton Awaydays A: Available T: Available

JAKE PECK

34

H: Available A: Available T: Available

MICK HARFORD

H: Carnoisseur Leasing A: Carnoisseur Leasing

11

H: Peter & Linda Little A: Tommy Lennon T: Available

12

H: Kelchner Brewery A: LTFC Fool T: NLAF

17

GLEN REA

16

PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU

HARRY ISTED

21

H: Craig Steeples A: Available T: Available G: Available

KAZENGA LUALUA

25

H: Holly Valentine A: WHOSH T: Available

TIERNAN PARKER

31

H: Available A: Bobbers Travel Club T: Available

COREY PANTER

35

H: NLAF A: Curly, Matt & Jeffrey Guide Dog G: Joe Mentiply & John Wheeler

H: Available A: Available T: Available

PAUL HART

H: Doug Knight A: Available

H: Dean Kemp A: WHOSH T: SAM Beast Consulting Ltd

KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL

22

H: Available A: Available T: Available

JAMES BREE

26

H: DLA Driving School A: SAM Beast Consulting Ltd T: Available

AVAN JONES

32

H: Available A: Available T: Available

JOSH NEUFVILLE

37

H: Jackie Neufville A: Lynn, Ben & Rhiannon T: Available

SIMON PARSELL

H: Bobbers Travel Club A: Available

KIT SPONSORS 20/21

To find out more information about kit sponsorships, contact our commercial team on 01582 411622

YOUTH TEAM JOSH ALLEN

KEY: H: HOME |A: AWAY

EDDIE CORBIT

H: Available A: Available

JOSEPH HALSEY

JACOB COWLER

H: Available A: Available

JAMESON HORLICK

H: Available A: Available

MATTHEW MOLONEY

BEN STEVENS

ED MCJANNET

H: Les Miller - Miller & Company A: Available

TYRELLE NEWTON

CALLUM NICOLSON

H: Available A: Available

H: Gill, Julie, Neil & Yvonne A: Available

CASEY PETTIT

H: Available A: Available

JOSHUA SWAN

H: Available A: Available

H: Available A: Available

TRA LUCAS

H: Available A: Available G: SGW Goalkeeping

H: Blakeney Estates A: Available

AIDAN FRANCIS

H: Available A: Available

H: Gill, Julie, Neil & Yvonne A: TV Sport Blogs

ADAM WEDD

H: Available A: Available

COREE WILSON

H: JB Associates A: The Wedds

H: Liz Evans A: Available

EXECUTIVE BOX HOLDERS 2: Subash Karawadrad 3: UKLand.com

4: Diverse Contractors

5: Gibbs and Dandy Ltd

9: Pictons Solicitors 10: Crannall & 11: Crossco Luton Ltd Thermal Economics

16: Prestige Design

6: GP Quoreenton Ltd 7: Shelley Sandzer & Tiro Partners

8: Melvyn Westwood

GP QUOREENTON LTD

SUBASH KARAWADRA

17: Hardall International Ltd

12: JB Developments

18: CME Heating Ltd

13: Bartham Group

19: Markyate Precision Machining Co Ltd

14: TJ Aldridge Builders

20: Indigo Residential

15: Taylor French Developments Ltd

21: Simon Litchfield & Jensan Ltd

SIMON LITCHFIELD 22: Dot Group International

23: M&S Water Services

24: Riley Accounting Solutions 25: Edmundson Electrical

26: Editquest Electrical

27: SKF UK Ltd

C O

ACADEMY UPDATE

Dan Briard interviews TAFF RAHMAN, who has joined the Hatters academy on a placement as part of the Premier League's Professional Player to Coach scheme...

Football has been a huge part of Taff Rahman’s life ever since he arrived in England from Bangladesh as a seven-year-old, and now he hopes to make a big impact at Luton Town.

that won the FA Youth Cup in 2001, but he was released the following year and went into Non-League football, as well as starting his coaching career on the side.

E M O C N O U YO TERS AT Part of the Premier League’s Professional Player to Coach Scheme, Taff will work as a coach with the Hatters’ academy for the next 23 months as the EFL and the PFA Charity are working together to support more black and Asian players into full-time coaching roles.

It was perseverance that Taff believed saw him through hard times, explaining: “The desire to just keep on going was my big thing. I really wanted to excel and I never really let my head go down. Also, the support of a number of friends and family kept me going was the critical part of it.”

His playing career was blighted by injury as he was forced to stop playing football at the age of 26.

“That’s when I stopped playing because I did my knee for the third time and it was almost like I realised it was the right time to call it,” he says. “Then I went down the coaching pathway.

“Football really started for me at a young age growing up in North West London,” said Taff. “Coming over as a young Bangladeshi kid with limited English or at all any English. I just started playing football in primary school really, ended up joining up with a grass-roots club – Forest United in North West London. That was the building blocks for what followed.”

“It was more so because of the injury and it came about by chance more than anything else. In that way it was something that I suppose it was just a secondary thing you tend to do when you are young.

Taff was picked up by Luton Town following his time playing grass-roots football and for his local district, before moving onto Queens Park Rangers, and then the Arsenal academy at the age of 12.

Taff was recognised for his superb coaching and community work in 2017, when he was awarded with Coach of the Year at the Asian football awards.

He was part of the Arsenal youth team

“It was just a normal transition and I think I was very fortunate because somehow, I ended up doing a Level 1 course in 2004, and then went on to start coaching and playing semi-pro at the same time.”

“I had worked in the academy system for quite some time as a part-time coach and also I was doing a lot of mentoring with young, Asian coaches, all coaches basically,” says Taff.

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 31

by t Luton rain to L from ond ÂŁ11 on Net you .10 * rsel fa savi ng

Book direct and avoid paying a booking fee at thameslinkrailway.com Proudly supporting Luton Town Football Club *Fare stated is based on our Weekend Super Off Peak Day Return ticket from Luton to London Thameslink

(Continued from page 32) "Supporting young players from all backgrounds and at the same time, I was with the FA doing some of the FA coaching education, so I suppose in many ways it came about because of my contribution across the game within football as someone from an Asian heritage that was really trying to make a difference.

“It was a great opportunity to be recognised because there aren’t many young Asian coaches that are in the industry I’m in, or doing what I’m doing. It was a great way to inspire the next generation across the country, from Luton to Birmingham, to the big hub cities.”

Now involved in the coaching set-up with the Luton academy, there is plenty Taff hopes to achieve during his time at the club.

actually fulfil the vision of the club. The overall family feel has been really nice, everyone is wanting to help, everyone is wanting to support and that has been really, really heart-warming.

“My aim is to keep on developing, to build on my elite coaching skill sets and one day work towards becoming a head coach.”

In addition to Taff, Adrian Forbes, Luton’s head of coaching and professional player development, is pleased to be involved in the scheme.

"For me to be a black coach and give someone the opportunity to be part of the world I’m in and potentially follow my footsteps was an opportunity I wasn’t prepared to turn down,” Forbes says. "We’ve found a situation where the Premier League, PFA and EFL are on our side and are trying to almost break down some barriers and change the narrative around black and Asian coaches in the game.

"Our collective of Academy players is very diverse. It’s important players can come in and know there’s someone who will understand their culture, their upbringing."

“There are a few different aspects really.

One is to really get myself embedded within the club itself where I see myself developing in my coaching to my leadership skills.

“At the same time, being part of the bigger vision of where the club is going, building up a new training ground, going from category 3 to category 2. The wider aspects of it, really connecting with the Luton community, Luton as a town. Engrossing myself and making a difference not just at the club but within the town itself.

And during his time with Luton thus far, Taff admits it has been ‘really positive’.

“What I have really enjoyed is the collective family feel there is at the club and how everyone is working together to

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 33

LUTON TOWN COMMUNITY TRUST COMMUNITY TRUST ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 As we look back on 2020 and reflect on an extraordinary year that has brought unparalleled challenges to us all with everyone affected by Coronavirus in some way or another, we send our thoughts and condolences to those who have experienced loss and tough times.

From a work perspective the challenges this year have been unlike any other. We started 2020 in a positive position and were projecting a record year in terms of turnover and activity with several new projects in the pipeline. Fast forward three months and those projects were being put on ice in many cases and replaced with a new ‘build back strategy’ in response to the pandemic.

The response of our team, supported by our Trustee Board, to re-engineer programme delivery and identify and secure new opportunities to support the Trust is something we are all extremely proud of.

None of this has been easy and tough decisions around furlough, cost controls and salary reductions have had to be made to ensure the sustainability of the charity. Difficult messages to convey when so many staff members have gone way beyond their job descriptions to contribute to our survival and success.

The year started so positively as the Trust took over the Bedfordshire FA’s ‘Ability Counts League’, a unique affiliated league that allowed players to compete on equal footing with able bodied players. A flagship project for the Trust which, along with all delivery ceased as lockdown hit, which also dramatically affected all of our disability offering, weekly social club and over 50’s walking footballers, as most were forced to shield.

Quickly we realised face to face delivery was not going to be possible and decisive action was needed to ensure as many projects as possible continued on-line. With support from Bedfordshire Police Crime Commissioner's Office, we designed our ‘Get Up Get Fit’ project of daily online exercise routines for boys and girls aged 14 and above.

The project’s aim was to literally get teenagers up and out of bed and exercise while schools and colleges were closed.

C O

E M O C N O U YO TERS AT It proved extremely popular with twitter and facebook impressions totalling almost 350,000 during the summer.

Our Fit Hatters also went online with exercise routines designed to make sure the gains made pre-Covid were maintained. Staff used their daily exercise allowances to raise £1,500.00 for Luton Foodbank by collectively running 100 kms in a day, and through August and September we helped our friends at Level Trust to sort and deliver school uniforms to low-income families ready for the start of term.

October saw the start of our ‘tackling loneliness together’ project with support from the EFL and DCMS as the government recognised the consequences of millions of people forced to self-isolate or for those living alone during lockdown.

Staff began walking groups, gardening classes, coffee mornings as well as on-line activities including Hatter Chatter our weekly supporters zoom footie catch up. We also teamed up with Active Luton to continue Luton Central Library’s click and deliver book service – almost 4,000 books delivered up to date!

Of course, underpinning these diverse activities is our core schools and football delivery. We experienced huge demand for our summer soccer camps as over 800 kids were desperate to get out after their schools had been closed for months.

Our youth development system returned in July with over 500

recruited boys training each week within strict Covid protocols which also enabled us to re-start our two flagship cohesion projects for young people in Luton, KICKs and Luton Street League.

In October our school sports team slowly began returning to school playing fields to deliver free PE lessons improving the quality of sports delivery in local schools. We expect delivery will be back up to around 50% pre-covid levels in schools by late January – so lots to be positive about!

Whilst our 2019/20 annual report declared our first drop in turnover and financial loss for 10 years, in the last few months we’ve secured new income streams through KickStart, Bedfordshire Police, DCMS and we will still enjoy valuable financial support from both the EFL Trust and Premier League in 2021.

So, we enter 2021 confident, but not complacent, and acutely aware that factors beyond our control will continue to play a large part in our destiny. Our staff will need to continue being agile and flexible and recognise that there are likely to be bumps in the road, however, we are confident that if we continue to show the passion and dedication to overcome the challenges that 2020 presented, we can look forward to a positive year.

Happy New Year everyone!

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 35

C O

PRESS BOX EXTRA

Our Town contributor RYAN PAYNE recalls some of the highlights of 2020 As we enter 2021, and say goodbye to 2020, it’s time to look back on the last 12 months. It’s been a challenging time for everyone, and life as we know it has changed dramatically. It’s been a crazy year for Luton Town too.

with Luton still in the relegation zone. Nine matches to claw themselves out of danger and remain in the second tier. The first three games saw Jones’ side remain unbeaten, winning one and drawing two. A 5-0 loss to Reading followed, but it didn’t leave any lasting effects.

E M O C N O U YO TERS AT At the start of 2020, not many people would’ve thought that the Hatters would still be in the Sky Bet Championship. And yet, here we are. January 1st 2020, a loss away to Millwall sees Luton bottom of the Championship. The next 11 league games see the club stick to bottom place, with the occasional move up to 23rd. Things aren’t looking good.

Then the world changes. A pandemic across the world changes everything.

Everywhere was put into lockdown, and football was suspended. If the Championship had followed the decision made by League One and League Two, the club would have been relegated on PPG. But it would continue, with a difference – behind closed doors. That wasn’t the only change at Luton, with Nathan Jones replacing Graeme Jones as manager in May. The 2019/20 season resumed in June,

A 2-0 win away to Huddersfield saw Luton climb off the bottom of the table after 43 games played. They followed that up with a draw at home to today's opponents, QPR. Then two wins in the final two games of the season saw the Hatters clinch safety, and finish in 19th place. One loss in the last nine games of the season saw Luton fight back against relegation and remain as a Championship club. Something that seemed almost impossible when the season resumed in June.

In the summer, Jones brought fresh faces to Kenilworth Road, with Jordan Clark, Tom Lockyer and Joe Morrell all joining permanently. The squad also welcomed James Bree back on a permanent basis, as well as the loan signings of Rhys Norrington-Davies, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Sam Nombe.

The new season started well, winning against Norwich in the Carabao Cup, as well as back-to-back wins in the first two league games. We also welcomed Man United to the Kenny, just a shame fans weren’t there to pack the old place out.

But in December, 1,000 fans saw the 3-1 win against Norwich.

And 10 days later, 2,000 supporters were in attendance as James Collins netted a hat-trick in a win against Preston.

Hopefully, in the coming months, there will be even more.

2020 proved Luton Town are more than capable of big performances and big moments. It’s a new year, and as the last 12 months have shown, you don't ever rule anything out with the Hatters.

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 37

MENS DESIGNER CLOTHING

High Quality Bespoke Timber Joinery for your home and business

PROMO AUG 19 - 10%DISCOUNT (present this voucher) 5 Chapel Street Luton LU12SE

Open 7 days a week.

storage_clothing

storage clothing ltd

www.knockoutjoinery.co.uk 01582 720276 - 07956 805853 ASK US ABOUT OUR EXCLUSIVE `MAD HATTER` DISCOUNT

Luton Sponsored By Sporting Ads

JUNIOR HATTERS lliant Christmas We hope you had a bri make any new you Did r. and new yea and I are year's resolutions? Hatty boots clean her p going to try and kee you do, ver ate Wh ! tch after every ma nt llia 2021. we hope you have a bri Stay safe!

TINYSTATS READING F.C. 71 18 : ed Form ski Stadium Stadium: Madej61 ,1 24 : Capacity th (Ch) Last season: 14 with Luton: Head to head Luton wins - 38 Draws - 20 36 Reading wins - o Paunović Manager: Veljk

Harry

HARRY'S CODE WHEEL MAKE YOUR OWN 'HARRY'S CODE WHEEL', TO SOLVE OUR CLUES AND MAKE YOUR OWN CIPHERS!

DOWNLOAD YOUR CODE WHEEL PDF NOW: lutontown.co.uk/codewheel ASK A GROWN UP FOR HELP!

VE LARGE WHEEL ABO 1) CUT OUT THE BELOW SMALLER WHEEL 2) CUT OUT THE WINDOW. OUT THE LITTLE 3) CAREFULLY CUT P HEL FOR UP ASK A GROWN

HARRY’S CODE WHEEL

L WHEEL ON TOP 4) PUT THE SMAL L. MAKE SURE OF THE LARGE WHEE UP THE INSIDE LINE THE LETTERS ON OW.

WITH THE WIND

A PAPER 5) CAREFULLY PUSH UGH THE SPOT ON FASTENER THRO TO FASTEN THE HARRY’S NOSE, THER

HARRY’S CODE WHEEL

TWO WHEELS TOGE

L THE SMALLER WHEE 6) SIMPLY TURN N THE LETTER SHOW TO LINE UP WITH ER E DOWN THE LETT ON THE CODE. WRIT THE WINDOW AND THAT APPEARS IN ED! PHER DECI BE YOUR CODE WILL

USE THE CODE WHEEL TO SOLVE THE CIPHERS BELOW:

NHSUHN TWNIX THKIX QWDDRNX XWNNF PZHBDIF YIDDF ZMBBWQJ THKIX XUIH BHN YWSSX XHK NWKPI

mimram *P ONEIL

Efcient, Effective, Engineering Solutions

FULL PAGE

A winning team providing efficient, effective, engineering solutions for all of your electrical and mechanical requirements.

ADVERT www.mimramservices.com 01582 568212 Unit 27, Sundon Industrial Estate Dencora Way Luton LU3 3HP

Proud supporters of our local team

‘Your local fishing tackle and camping retailer’ ‘Visit our website www.cwfishingsupplies.co.uk for over 300 products’

Located in Blackburn Road, Dunstable, LU5 5BQ 07922 902216

HOME Est 1999 RENOVATIONS All aspects of first and second fix carpentry undertaken including: kitchen and bathroom fits; door hanging; bedroom fits; staircases.

Martin Tommey

To reward (in our opinion) the best fans in the world

Carpenter & Joiner

we are offering an exclusive

5% discount to Hatters fans!

Code: LUT5 into any product on

www.bloodsweatandgainz.com

07968756180

homerenovations44@gmail.com https://fb.me/homerenovations44

Luton Sponsored By Sporting Ads

, , Let s get back to the things we ve missed. Fly to your next destination with confidence knowing that your health , , and safety is our top priority at every step. And we ll even give you free COVID-19 cover while you re away*.

*COVID-19 cover is valid until 31 January 2021. The travel regulations are changing frequently. for all our destinations on emirates.com

Check our current destinations and services, our safetyOUR measures and the latest travel requirements TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 45

LUTON 2 BRISTOL C 1

LUTON TOWN

BRISTOL CITY

SLUGA

BENTLEY

PEARSON

HUNT

LOCKYER

VYNER

BRADLEY

KALAS

76'

NORRINGTON-DAVIES

ROWE

REA

SEMENYO

17' 64'

MPANZU

DEWSBURY-HALL TUNNICLIFFE

BAKINSON 68' 64'

NAGY

CORNICK 84'

MARTIN

COLLINS

WELLS

88'

SUBSTITUTES

SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2020 | KENILWORTH ROAD

POTTS

TOWN SCORERS: REA 17', DEWSBURY-HALL 68'

HYLTON

O'LEARY

LEE

MARIAPPA

MONCUR

MOORE

ROBINS SCORER: BRADLEY (OG) 61' ATTENDANCE: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO READ THE FULL MATCH REPORT, VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

www.lutontown.co.uk

59'

MASSENGO

CLARK

64'

84'

ISTED

NOMBE

SMITH PEARSON

GALLOWAY LUALUA

DIEDHIOU

BELL 64'

TOWLER

88'

59' 76'

Manager Nathan Jones was delighted with his side's hard-fought victory against Bristol City and credited the turnaround the squad have made this calendar year.

“Massive victory, especially after the away defeat,” the gaffer began. “I know we had a wonderful draw here (against Bournemouth) but it was good to get back to winning ways.

“It was a big game for us tonight. A year ago we lost 3-0 away to these and this win takes us on to 30 points which is a big milestone as well, so early in the season.

“It's a big, big win for us and I thought we deserved it. We created more chances, had more possession and more shots on goal. And we missed the big chance of the game, so I’m delighted with the win because that is the most important thing.

“That is what we wanted to do, we wanted to be nowhere near where we were last year.

“Every little helps, we had a meeting on Monday and said after these two games, we batten down the hatches and by the time the QPR game finishes, we want our points tally to be more than 27 points, which was what we started the week on. First mission is accomplished, now can we get more?”

LT

BC

POSSESSION:

45%

55%

SHOTS ON TARGET:

5

1

SHOTS OFF TARGET:

6

7

CORNERS:

6

3

FOULS:

15

11

OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 47

KEY:

Starting XI

CRANIE

POTTS

TUNNICLIFFE

BRADLEY

PEARSON

CORNICK

BERRY

HYLTON

LEE

SHINNIE

6

7

8

9

10

11

OPP. SENT OFF

5

W 3-1 W 1-0 W 1-0 W 2-1 L 0-3 L 0-1

BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD

BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD

6 2 7

1 -

1 -

-

-

-

W 2-0 L 0-2 L 0-2 W 1-0 D 1-1 L 0-3

BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD

BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD

5 6 10 9 9 13

-

-

1 1 -

-

1 1 -

• • • • • •

4

POS

SENT OFF

3

AWAY

OWN GOALS

2

ATT

PENALTY (A)

1

SCORE

PENALTY (F)

W 1-0 D 1-1 D 1-1 D 1-1 L 0-4

BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD

BCD BCD BCD BCD BCD

9 10 10 9 12

-

1 -

-

-

-

W 3-1 L 0-2 D 0-0 W 3-0 L 0-1 D 0-0 L 1-2 W 2-1

1,000 BCD BCD 2,000 BCD BCD BCD BCD

N/A BCD BCD N/A BCD BCD BCD BCD

11 12 13 11 13 14 15 13

1 1 -

1 -

1

1 -

1 -

•

c

y

•

•

•

•

b y y y

• • • b • •

y e • •

c e • d

y

a • • ya

• y

c

• • • • •

DATE TIME H/A OPPOSITION SEPTEMBER Sat 5 3.00pm H Norwich (Carabao Cup R1) Sat 12 3.00pm A Barnsley Tue 15 6.00pm A Reading (Carabao Cup R2) Sat 19 3.00pm H Derby County Tue 22 8.15pm A Man Utd (Carabao Cup R3) Sat 26 12.30pm A Watford OCTOBER Sat 3 3.00pm H Wycombe Wanderers Sat 17 3.00pm H Stoke City Tue 20 7.45pm A Millwall Sat 24 3.00pm A Sheffield Wednesday Wed 28 7.45pm H Nottingham Forest Sat 31 3.00pm H Brentford NOVEMBER Wed 4 7.45pm A Rotherham United Sat 7 3.00pm A Huddersfield Town Sat 21 3.00pm H Blackburn Rovers Tue 24 7.00pm H Birmingham City Sat 28 3.00pm A Cardiff City DECEMBER Wed 2 7.45pm H Norwich City Sat 5 3.00pm A Swansea City Tue 8 7.45pm A Coventry City Sat 12 3.00pm H Preston North End Wed 16 7.00pm A Middlesbrough Sat 19 3.00pm H AFC Bournemouth Sat 26 3.00pm A Reading Tue 29 7.45pm H Bristol City JANUARY Sat 9 12.00pm H Reading (FAC R3) Tue 12 7.00pm H QPR Sat 16 3.00pm A AFC Bournemouth Wed 20 7.45pm A Brentford Sat 23 3.00pm H Rotherham United Sat 30 3.00pm A Blackburn Rovers FEBRUARY Sat 6 3.00pm H Huddersfield Town Sat 13 3.00pm A Birmingham City Tue 16 7.00pm H Cardiff City Sat 20 3.00pm A Stoke City Tue 23 7.45pm H Millwall Sat 27 3.00pm H Sheffield Wednesday MARCH Tue 2 7.45pm A Nottingham Forest Sat 6 3.00pm A Norwich City Sat 13 3.00pm H Swansea City Tue 16 7.45pm H Coventry City Sat 20 3.00pm A Preston North End APRIL Fri 2 3.00pm A Derby County Mon 5 3.00pm H Barnsley Sat 10 3.00pm A Wycombe Wanderers Sat 17 3.00pm H Watford Wed 21 7.45pm H Reading Sat 24 3.00pm A Bristol City MAY Sat 1 3.00pm H Middlesbrough Sat 8 3.00pm A QPR

SHEA

FIXTURES 2020-21

c y c e b

a b • b b yb

• c

b a a c a a

•

1

c

c a •

a

b

y

• • • d a • • ya

y

1 1 r

c •

b b b

y c 1d

c

b

• a b b c a e c

c ya c b

• y b c y b • y •

b1 a b a a • • • a a c b •

d a c •

•

FA CUP RULES & REGS As in EFL matches, clubs are be able to name nine players on their bench for today’s third round tie and can use a maximum of five substitutes.

Teams can only take three opportunities to make subs in normal time.

Any unused subs can be carried over into extra-time where teams will also then be able to make a further change.

There will be no replays in the tournament this season but extra-time will remain.

If scores remain level, there will be a penalty shoot-out to decide the winners.

The draw for the fourth round will take place on Monday evening on BT Sport 1 at around 7.10pm, with the fifth round draw to follow immediately afterwards in order to help with fixture scheduling.

The winners of today’s tie will be ball number 26 in the fourth round draw.

Substitute • Unused sub y: yellow card r: red card p: penalty scorer *: penalty missed

•

SLUGA

MONCUR

LOCKYER

REA

MPANZU

CLARK

COLLINS

KIOSO

ISTED

DEWSBURY-HALL

GALLOWAY

NOR'TON-DAVIES

LUALUA

BREE

NOMBE

MORRELL

PEREIRA

BECKWITH

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TOWN'S FIXTURES & RESULTS ONLINE

12

14

15

16

17

18

19 20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

30

33

• •

• • b a • • c c • c c 1a c a •

• •

1b b • a c • b •

y c

• a

• • • b

1y

c • • e

y y

y y •

a 3p • 1 yc 1 • b c1 b • y a b •

•

1 y

a b

1 y

• b c

a d a

• b •

c

ye

d d

c 1

d b

b e • c

• b b a

y

c a •

• • c

c

a a a

b

1 y a

•

b by c

• a b • a

• c • •

a

e 1

y

y

b a ay •

3e b

• • • • • •

c a a c a y a 1

• • • • •

a b b

d1y a

•

a a b • •

•

a

• • b

• d

• • b e • b • •

b • • • •

•

•

SENT OFF

SUB TIMES a

b

c

d

e

L# O# GOAL TIMES

72 62 72 46 76 58

85 81 85 83 76 71

91 93 83 78

-

-

-

-

73 66 60 69 77 37

80 67 69 92 77 46

88 75 87 84 74

-

-

-

71 44 -

59,89 46,55 45+4,79 74 22,64 20,29,76

46 60 59 61 41

64 73 59 70 41

89 - 77 - 76 77 95 - - 60 71 71

-

-

70 21 69,72 23,37 4,9,59,82

46 61 71 74 62 71 46 64

70 62 85 75 62 89 46 64

94 - - - - 15,19, 22,47 82 - - 70 - 2,89 - - - - 80 80 83 - - 20,29,66 75 86 86 - 66 52 91 - - - 46 65 77 - - 9,41,90 84 - - - - 17,61,68

79,81,83,95 71 24 34,52,87 44,88,92 35

GET WITH THE

ED BY:

MATCH SPONSOR

PROGRAMME ORDER YOUR PRINTED VERSION OF OUR MATCHDAY PROGRAMMES FOR JUST £5 - DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR - AT: WWW.HATTERSWORLD.CO.UK

N OUR TOW E 2020-21 EST PROGRAMM MATCHDAY V NOTTINGHAM FOR OFFICIAL TOWN PM | LUTON | KO: 7:45 ISSUE #5 28.10.20

KEY:

: Out on loan |

OR PURCHASE TO READ ONLINE FOR JUST £2 VIA:

ISSUU.COM/LUTONTOWNFC

: Left club | Team name colour: Carabao Cup Match | Team name colour: FA Cup Match

QUEENS PARK RANGERS | 12.01.21 | KO 7PM

UP NEXT

LUTON TOWN PLAYER STATISTICS 2020-21 SEASON LEAGUE

APPS

G

2

1

(0)

0

17

(3)

2

3

0

108

14

Sonny Bradley

20

(0)

0

3

(0)

0

23

(0)

0

2

0

113

3

James Bree

1

(6)

0

1

(0)

0

2

(6)

0

0

0

50

0

Jordan Clark

7

(8)

1

2

(1)

1

9

(9)

2

0

0

18

2

James Collins

17

(2)

6

1

(0)

3

18

(2)

9

2

0

159

68

Harry Cornick

14

(3)

0

1

(1)

0

15

(4)

0

1

0

145

22

FOLLOW THEM ON TWITTER: @QPR

Martin Cranie

15

(0)

0

1

(1)

0

16

(1)

0

5

0

42

2

COLOURS: BLUE & WHITE SHIRTS, WHITE SHORTS

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

13

(2)

1

0

(0)

0

13

(2)

1

1

0

15

1

Brendan Galloway

0

(0)

0

0

(0)

0

0

(0)

0

0

0

5

0

Danny Hylton

5

(5)

0

2

(0)

0

7

(5)

0

3

0

141

58

Peter Kioso

0

(0)

0

1

(1)

0

1

(1)

0

1

0

3

0

Elliot Lee

8

(4)

1

1

(2)

0

9

(6)

1

0

0

122

30

Tom Lockyer

11

(2)

0

2

(0)

0

13

(2)

0

0

0

15

0

Kazenga LuaLua

1

(12)

1

2

(1)

0

3

(13)

1

3

0

75

7

George Moncur

7

(6)

2

2

(0)

0

9

(6)

2

0

0

49

9

Joe Morrell

3

(4)

0

0

(0)

0

3

(4)

0

0

0

7

0

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu

18

(2)

2

1

(0)

0

19

(2)

2

4

0

273

19

Sam Nombe

0

(4)

0

0

(0)

0

0

(4)

0

0

0

4

0

Rhys Norrington-Davies

16

(2)

0

3

(0)

0

19

(2)

0

2

0

21

0

Matty Pearson

19

(1)

2

1

(0)

0

20

(1)

2

1

1

116

10

Dan Potts

6

(2)

0

0

(0)

0

6

(2)

0

1

0

158

10

Glen Rea

19

(0)

2

1

(0)

0

20

(0)

2

6

0

172

7

James Shea

7

(0)

0

3

(0)

0

10

(0)

0

1

0

85

0

Andrew Shinnie

0

(0)

0

2

(0)

0

2

(0)

0

0

0

106

10

Simon Sluga

15

(0)

0

0

(0)

0

15

(0)

0

0

0

49

0

Ryan Tunnicliffe

4

(5)

0

2

(0)

0

6

(5)

0

1

0

51

1

GROUND: KIYAN PRINCE FOUNDATION STADIUM MANAGER: MARK WARBURTON

WHO?

QPR have spent the last six seasons in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League in 2015, spending a third of this decade in England’s top tier. The club's last piece of silverware came in 2011 as they earned promotion to the Premier League as champions, whilst the R’s came close to winning the FA Cup in 1982, losing 1-0 to Spurs in a replay.

GROUND?

Formerly known as Loftus Road, QPR renamed their ground the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in 2019. The Kiyan Prince Foundation was established in 2008 in memory of Kiyan Prince, a 15-year old QPR youth player who was fatally stabbed in 2006, to ‘support young people embroiled in a downward spiral of urban violence.' You can find out more about the foundation and its work at www.thekpf.com

G

APPS

TOTAL

(3)

LAST SEASON: 13TH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

APPS

CARDS

16

NICKNAME: THE R'S

G

TOTAL

Luke Berry

FORMED: 1882

APPS

CAREER CUP

G

2020-21 CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE #

Team

Pl

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Norwich City

23

14

5

4

31

20

11

47

2

Swansea City

23

12

7

4

27

13

14

43

3

Bournemouth

22

11

8

3

37

18

19

38

4

Brentford

22

11

8

3

36

21

15

41

The two sides last met during the Championship restart last season, as the Hatters secured a point at Kenilworth Road to move a step closer to survival. In the reverse fixture last season, QPR ran out 3-2 winners after a concerted but unsuccessful fightback from the Hatters having trailed 3-0 within the opening 30 minutes.

5

Reading

23

12

4

7

34

28

6

40

6

Watford

22

10

7

5

25

17

8

37

7

Middlesbrough

22

10

6

6

28

18

10

36

8

Stoke City

23

9

8

6

26

22

4

35

9

Barnsley

23

10

4

9

27

29

-2

34

10

Bristol City

22

10

3

9

23

24

-1

33

11

Blackburn Rovers

23

9

5

9

38

27

11

32

KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU

12

Preston North End

23

10

2

11

30

31

-1

32

13

Huddersfield Town

23

9

4

10

28

32

-4

31

14

Luton Town

22

8

6

8

20

24

-4

30

15

Cardiff City

22

8

5

9

29

25

4

29

16

Coventry City

23

6

8

9

22

31

-9

26

17

Millwall

21

5

10

6

18

20

-2

25

18

Birmingham City

23

5

8

10

17

29

-12

23

19

Nottingham Forest

23

5

7

11

16

26

-10

22

20

Queens Park Rangers

22

4

9

9

20

30

-10

21

21

Sheffield Wednesday *

23

6

7

10

15

23

-8

19

22

Derby County

22

4

7

11

14

24

-10

19

23

Rotherham United

20

4

4

12

19

29

-10

16

24

Wycombe Wanderers

23

3

6

14

16

35

-19

15

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE?

Current Hatters Kazenga LuaLua and Martin Cranie both enjoyed loan spells at QPR in 2017 and 2016 respectively, with the former scoring one goal in 19 appearances at Loftus Road. Former Hatters Paul Walsh and Tony Thorpe also played for QPR, whilst current assistant coach Paul Hart managed QPR in a five-game spell in 2009/10, with Mick Harford as his assistant during the second of the Hatters legend's two spells coaching at the west London club.

Words: Dylan Bhundia OUR TOWN | LUTON TOWN V READING | 09.01.21 | PAGE 50

GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk

NATHAN JONES

JAMES SHEA MARTIN CRANIE DAN POTTS RYAN TUNNICLIFFE SONNY BRADLEY MATTY PEARSON HARRY CORNICK LUKE BERRY DANNY HYLTON ELLIOT LEE SIMON SLUGA GEORGE MONCUR GLEN REA PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU JORDAN CLARK JAMES COLLINS HARRY ISTED KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL BRENDAN GALLOWAY RHYS NORRINGTON-DAVIES KAZENGA LUALUA JAMES BREE SAM NOMBE JOE MORRELL DION PEREIRA AVAN JONES SAM BECKWITH JAKE PECK COREY PANTER GABRIEL OSHO

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 12 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 35 38

VELJKO PAUNOVIĆ

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 14 15 17 18 20 22 24 28 29 30 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 47

SAM WALKER TOMAS ESTEVES OMAR RICHARDS MICHAEL MORRISON TOM MCINTYRE LIAM MOORE MICHAEL OLISE ANDY RINOMHOTA SAM BALDOCK JOHN SWIFT YAKOU MEITE OVIE EJARIA LEWIS GIBSON ANDY YIADOM LUCAS JOAO FELIPE ARARUNA LUKE SOUTHWOOD SONE ALUKO JOSH LAURENT TOM HOLMES ALFA SEMEDO RAFAEL CABRAL DEJAN TETEK IMARI SAMUELS NELSON ABBEY NAHUM MELVIN-LAMBERT ETHAN BRISTOW JOKULL ANDRESSON GEORGE PUSCAS

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE - DARREN BOND | ASSISTANT REFEREE 1 - LEE VENAMORE ASSISTANT REFEREE 2 - BHUPINDER GILL | FOURTH OFFICIAL - DECLAN BOURNE