Save Our Town were out in force on Wednesday night to witness an immense performance from the mighty Hatters against the millionaire superstars of Chelsea. They gave the Londoners a huge fright, leading twice before losing 3-2.
Overshadowing the game, and the world right now, was the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the despotic acts of violence and murder of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children.
On the way into Kenilworth Road we saw young children carrying home-made cardboard Ukrainian flags, an elderly Ukrainian man was giving away handfuls of small flags-on-a-stick, we saw yellow and blue ‘bobble hats’ and people dressed in old 1990’s yellow and blue hatters away shirts. The club even managed to discreetly change the corner flags to yellow and blue. It made you proud to be a Lutonian and a Hatter!
Pride of place must go to the Loyal Luton Supporters Club who produced these two very large yellow and blue banners with a message of support in both English and Ukrainian languages. They were held aloft by the tunnel before the start of the match and were clear to see on TV. Be proud of yourselves guys – a great job!
Luton Town know too-well about bullies in high places albeit not deploying bombs, rockets and tanks!
We hope the people of Ukraine (and Russia) who had the ability, and the inclination, to watch the match, that was streamed live around the world, got the very clear message that the people of Bedfordshire and the wider UK stand firmly by Ukraine in these desperate times. May it be some small comfort to Ukrainians, at home and abroad, to know that they are in our thoughts as many shelter from, or try to escape, the barbaric atrocity that is happening in 21st Century Europe!
If you’d like more information on the practical local help needed to support Ukrainians please use this link: Supporting Ukraine