For those Hatters fans among us it’s difficult to over-hype the upcoming lunchtime match at Kenilworth Road against Watford tomorrow.
Some of the younger fans will never have attended this derby fixture before, given that it’s close to two decades since a full house last witnessed it!
Those a bit longer in the tooth will be relishing the resumption of the multi-generational rivalry and the claiming of bragging-rights.
This time it feels a bit different; yes the same three points are available – and ultimately that’s all that matters, – but it is actually the coming together of two fundamentally different Club cultures that have evolved since 2nd January 2006 that stands out.
Shortly after that time Luton were embroiled in financial difficulties and placed in administration. Two years later, in 2009, following three CONSECUTIVE relegations and the deduction of a total of 45 points, The Hatters lost their football League status for the first and only time in their history.
The Club had been rescued from extinction by a group of life-long fans, headed by a certain G. Sweet. They began the restructuring process by instigating a new ethos of financial prudence and a meticulous recruitment programme that delivered polished gems from rough stones. Fourteen years later The Hatters sit in the play-off places of The Championship through stability, grit, determination, a huge team ethic, great player, staff and management appointments and a steadfast refusal to compromise the future of the club by buying success.
Epitomising the difference in culture between the two clubs is the fact that since Luton returned to the Football League (EFL) in 2014, they have had four permanent managers. During the same period Watford have employed and sacked fourteen! It begs the question; why is the person tasked with Manager recruitment still in a job? Highly embarrassing for Hornets fans some of whom are highly critical of the ‘Bounty Hunter’ players on the books and player power in the dressing room!
In an apparent example of an inferiority complex they even claim a date of their foundation as 1881 as opposed to the real date of formation of Watford FC – being 1898.
Win, lose or draw tomorrow Hatters fans can be hugely satisfied that they follow a club now respected among its peers as being a model of long-term sustainability, with real fans as custodians as opposed to a rich man’s plaything that is a bit of a laughing stock.
To put everything into perspective we share with you a short piece about Rob Edwards. The ex-Watford manager (11 matches in charge!) is fast-developing a reputation at Luton as a very astute, capable and humble leader of the playing staff who is grounded and a thoroughly decent bloke.
