The Luton News
Luton Town FC The Story Goes On
Image Courtesy off www.thesecretfootballer.com
The Rise Continues and the Hatters March On We were once a dominant force in after years of despair and agony. English football but seemed to lose The final against Scunthorpe was our way and managed to get rele- like a fairytale, and winning 3-2 in gated all the way down to the con- extra time was part of the script, it ference. The hatters finally seem to was magical.” be showing signs of that dominance He added, “back in 1989 I still again in the lower leagues and blitz remember when we managed to our way to promotion and winning beat Arsenal 3-2 in the league. It the conference last season. At long felt just as good, and it was just a last the fans got that bit of success coincidence that our manager at the that they was waiting for, which time Mick Harford played in that seemed like a never ending cycle of winning team 25 years ago. I just disappointing season after season. tell myself it was part of the script. It all started back in 2007 when Coming up to the Christmas the town suffered three back to period Luton currently are sitting in back relegations and ended up in fourth place in League Two and are lower league football and into the only four points adrift from leaders Conference Premier. The finanWycombe. The town would have cial funding and getting 40 points taken that if told at the beginning of deducted in two seasons didn’t the season. help matters either. The long hefty Being the newly promoted side weight of five years and three inef- they have been on a fantastic run fective play-off campaigns finally and have seemed to carry on the ended last season when they were form from last season, winning 11 crowned champions of the Confer- games and only losing 5. Howevence Premier last season. er the Christmas period were the During that blunt period of Luton games come in abundance will Towns football history the town show the real character of the squad managed to conquer the Johnston’s and show if they have the nerve to Paint Trophy in 2009, a brilliant claim back to back promotions. career at Hull City and went through run in the cup that gave the fans a In form striker Mark Cullen is chance to visit Wembley and give the leading scorer this season for their youth system, making several them the satisfaction of winning a Luton scoring 9 goals in all com- appearances for the first team; howcup that they had craved for years. petitions. Being just 22 years old ever he was released by Hull in 2013. With each high comes a low and many thought that he wouldn’t be Andre gray and Paul Benson kept the town narrowly missed out on able to replace Andre Gray who washim out the first team last season, but promotion that season losing out in the top scorer last season and that Cullen made an impact at the end of the play offs. it would be too big of a task. Cullen last season when Luton needed him at the latter stages of their promoRichard Kilduff, 60, a lifelong has stepped up and it is shining tion. He went on to score three goals fan of Luton Town said “that cup through his magnificent perforin five games and helped Luton run back in 2009 was brilliant; we mances this season. clinch the title and win the league. finally managed to win a trophy The 22 year old started of his
“The final against Scunthorpe was like a fairytale” Players lifting the Jhonstone’s Paint Trophy Image Courtesy off en.wikipedia.org Luton manager John Still always with goals with both feet and his He added “if we manage to stay had faith in him and said: “Although head.” near the top of the table and with Mark has hit the headlines with his Paul Carr a season ticket holder the help of a few new signings we goals in October, his overall perfor- for two years said “Mark Cullen could gain back to back promotion. mances so far this season have been has been superb this season and his This would be great for the club terrific. A lot was made of Andre goals have come at crucial points in financially and going forward into Gray’s departure in the summer. “ games giving us vital points, alnext year. Playing in League one He added “I knew that in Mark though our form has dropped slight-is where a club like Luton Town we had a natural goal scorer. He is ly in November Cullen has been the should be. Beating Bury one nil in capable of scoring any kind of goal, stand out player. He fully deserve histhe FA cup was brilliant and let’s and obviously his hat-trick against Sky Bet player of the month award hope our league form helps us with Dagenham saw him highlight that, in October, he was outstanding.” a decent cup run”
Image Courtesy off www.thesecretfootballer.com Luke Rooney Celebrates his match winning goal against Bury
Luke Rooney Sends Luton Through
Fraser Franks is denied by the post. Luton take the lead in the 47th A brilliant move going forward by minute as they return through the home side and they have showed Luke Rooney, a brilliant shot to the bottom left corner from a difficult Bury their attacking threat. angle, finally a keeper is beaten and Luton win a free kick and the ball a lapse of concentration could be costly here for the away side. was whipped in by Shaun Walley but the attempt was missed by Luke Williamson and headed over the bar.Bury had a number of chance to get Williamson should have done better an equaliser but cant seem to find the back of the net. The best opporLuton went into the game off the with the free header and put the tunity coming in the 90th minute back of a three nil loss in the league home side in front. through Nathan Cameron but his to Morecambe. They had a brilliant opportunity to get back into form Nicky Adams gets two chances to header was saved by the Luton keepput Bury ahead but squanders both er. Luton also failed to find the net and carry on their FA Cup run. opportunities failing to put the away again and had many chances also. Bury started of the brighter in the side into the lead and didn’t even test the keeper. Moments later Luton The final whistle is blown and Luton opening minutes of the first half and Keil O’Brien smashed into get a chance once again to take the are through to the third round of Luton’s Shaun Walley straight away lead but Luke Cullen shoots wide the FA Cup were they meet Camconceding a foul and showing that when he was one on one with the bridge United. Luton defended well as a side and they were really imkeeper. Bury wont just going to sit back pressive going forward. Hopefully and wait for an opportunity. Both sides’ getting numerous chanc- this win encourages them when they meet Newport County in the League Andrew Tutte of Bury has the first es in the first half and they were shot on goal in the 8th minute and coming thick and fast. The sides go on Saturday. tests the keeper. Against the run in all square as the first half draws to of play Luton counter forward and a close. The stage was set at for the 2,932 in attendance at Kenilworth Road for the second round replay between Luton Town and Bury. The first tie away at bury resulted in a 1-1 draw and both teams had opportunities to progress into the third round of the FA Cup, neither failing to take their chances.