Hatters and upstarts: everything you need to know about Luton

Match previews

25 Sep 2023

Crystal Palace are back in Premier League action at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, 25th November (15:00 GMT), and before kick-off, it’s time to get the lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Rob Edwards
Last season: 3rd (Championship - promoted via play-offs)
Nickname: The Hatters
Ground: Kenilworth Road
Founded: 1885 (138 years ago)

What’s the story?

Luton Town’s rise to the Premier League is scarcely believable given their non-league status just over a decade ago, but last season saw them achieve the impossible and reach the top-flight for the first time since 1992.

After a slow start under Nathan Jones – they sat in 12th place on Boxing Day – they recovered their form and moved rapidly towards the play-off places. One defeat in their last 20 league games ensured their position in third.

After a dramatic semi-final victory over Sunderland, where they recovered from a first-leg defeat, a date at Wembley beckoned. Their promotion was sealed in the most remarkable fashion, beating Coventry City in a penalty shoot-out to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.

Since arriving in the Premier League, they have set about aiming to upset the big boys, coming within a minute of defeating Liverpool at Kenilworth Road. Can they defy all expectations and stay up?

The boss

Rob Edwards’ 2022/23 season was just as dramatic as Luton’s, becoming the first manager to be both sacked and promoted in the same Championship campaign.

After his Watford reign was ended in September, Edwards took over from Southampton-bound Nathan Jones and masterminded Luton’s rapid rise to the top-flight.

It marks the next step in an impressive managerial career for the former Aston Villa defender, having been in charge of National League North side AFC Telford United as recently as 2018. England Under-16s and Forest Green Rovers followed, and now he has a Premier League battle for survival on his hands.

Last five

Luton 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Luton Town [Ogbene, Adebayo]
Aston Villa 3-1 Luton [OG]
Luton 1-1 Liverpool [Chong]
Manchester United 1-0 Luton

Next five

All December

Saturday, 2nd: Brentford (A)
Tuesday, 5th: Arsenal (H)
Sunday, 10th: Manchester City (H)
Saturday, 16th: Bournemouth (H)
Saturday, 23rd: Newcastle (A)

The ground

Luton’s Kenilworth Road ground may hold just over 10,000, but the atmosphere created when the Premier League anthem plays for the first time will be enough to create a challenge for even the best sides.

More than 100 years old, the ground has attracted social media attention for its unusual entrance to the Oak Road End, but extensive work is expected to take place before the season-opener in August.

Record against Palace

The two sides’ last meeting came in 2007, as a Clinton Morrison double gave Palace all three points at Selhurst Park.

One of the Eagles’ most consequential victories over Luton came in 1991 in the Zenith Data Systems Cup southern section semi-final, a 3-1 win for Palace sending them to the Southern Area Final. After a 3-1 win over Norwich City on aggregate, Palace would go on to win the national trophy by defeating Everton at Wembley.

Did you know?

There were many clubs in Luton, including the excellently named Luton Excelsior, before in 1885 Luton Wanderers captain George Deacon decided to form a club called ‘Luton Town’ to incorporate all of the town’s best players.

While ‘The Hatters’ nickname reflects Luton’s connection with hat-making, they initially wore white and black for a fifty-year period between 1920 and 1973, before orange began to be gradually incorporated to the kit.

Match details

Saturday, 25th November
15:00 GMT
Kenilworth Road
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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