HATTERS, TAKE A BOW.

We, as a footballing nation, congratulate Luton Town FC on the winning of the Skrill Conference and hence promotion to the Football League. Football keenos of my age will remember the 1959 FA Cup Final (the third one I remember watching on TV) and their sad loss to Nottingham Forest. Luton had previously hammered Forest 5-1 in a league game, so defeat came as a bit of a shock to Syd Owen their illustrious captain.                              

Luton FC was a serious force once, hard to imagine considering the size and location of the town, not hard core urban, but founded in 1885, the club has had its moments including sporting Eric Morecambe as a patron, being one of the original astro turf clubs and being known as the Hatters, because Luton specialised in making straw hats. (You might want to investigate Stockport County and the influence of HATS in their locality.) Forward, Frank Whitby, is reputed to be the first “southern” footballer to be paid. The south tried to hang on to amateur status for as long as possible in the industrial 19^th century, whilst the northern and midland clubs gave way quite early on, especially as the Scots flooded over the border into the mill towns of Lancashire! So after the loss of the Vauxhall factory that once employed 30,000 men, Luton can claim a rise in fortunes. 

Well done Chairman, Nick Owen and Manager, John Still.