It’s been five years since Luton Town were crowned Skrill Premier champions, and they’re now back in the second-tier of English football. With fixture release day yesterday, the Hatters return to the Championship for the first time since 2007, and will open the EFL calendar with a home game against Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough.
Luton Town Host Middlesbrough in Opening EFL Game
Surprise Champions
Surprise champions of League One last season with just six defeats, the step up will be something newly-appointed boss Graeme Jones is relishing. “First game of the season, live on Sky, Friday night – it’s all very, very exciting and I’m sure that’s what Luton Town supporters were looking for when we were promoted to the Championship.”
Expectations throughout the last few seasons have been high, ever since the 30-point deduction by the FA in 2008 for financial discrepancies. Since relegation at the end of that season, the club has flirted with wind-up petitions and the threat of being dissolved altogether. Fast-forward five years and the journey back to the Football League was complete. Skrill Premier champions with 101 points were the crowning glory for the Luton faithful.
Chief executive Gary Sweet said to the BBC after promotion that the ambitious Bedfordshire outfit is aiming to be a Premier League side within ten years. Bold of course, however, to reach the Championship by running away with League One and working out League Two, nobody can rule out the long-term future of Luton Town.
Fans will be counting down the days until August 2. The privilege to be the EFL season opener has completed a full-circle. From the dark days not knowing where the club will be, or if it will cease to exist, to being back in the division where all the problems started.
Luton are here for a good time and, hopefully, a long time too.
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