Incredible rise of Luton Town: Ten years ago, Luton Town finished seventh in the National League, England’s fifth tier. Now the club is just one win away from joining the Premier League.
Luton Town one win away from the ultimate football fairy tale
Luton barred Sunderland’s way to the top level on Tuesday evening and will face Coventry City of Middlesbrough in the play-off final at Wembley. A packed Kenilworth Road, soon to be rebuilt, celebrated reaching the final hurdle towards the Premier League with a classic pitch invasion.
“To see Luton in the Premier League would be great,” said Luton star Tom Lockyer, who was responsible for the 2-0 draw against Sunderland at center back, on Sky Sports afterwards. “Almost ten years ago in the non-League and now going down this route, it’s almost a bit of a fairytale. The fans deserve their day out at Wembley and hopefully we can send them home satisfied.”
Rob Edwards, Luton’s trainer since last summer, could hardly believe what he had just experienced. He said, “It is unbelievable. I am so proud of the players and happy for this football club, the fans and everyone associated with the club. To go to Wembley and a final is incredible. If you make it to the finals, it’s about winning, so I’m aware there’s still a job to do. But it’s a great feeling.”
Luton became champion of League One in 2019. This season, the club from the city of the same name, Luton, east of London, finished third in the Championship.
Pitch invader pushes stunned Newcastle manager Howe
Speaking of pitch invasion, the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United (2-2) had a strange outcome on Saturday afternoon. In extra time, a field stormer sought a physical confrontation with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. View the images below.
Leeds had made it 2-2 ten minutes before the end through Rasmus Kristensen, but a final offensive from the home side was nipped in the bud by a red card for Junior Firpo in the 91st minute. The left back knocked down the broken Anthony Gordon.
With eleven against ten, Newcastle also failed to score a winning goal, apparently to the anger of one of the spectators at Elland Road. In the 93rd minute, the man stormed onto the field towards Howe.
The unsuspecting Newcastle manager did not notice this at all at first, but was pushed by the angry field attacker, who was then quickly removed by security guards.
Howe was totally stunned. “That was quite a surprise,” he stammered afterwards in conversation with BT Sport. “I concentrated on the game, this is the last thing you take into account.”
