Luton v Morecambe - Flashback

2009 Article

Article taken from the official match programme of the Luton v Morecambe game December 2008.

LUTON TOWN DIRECTOR AND MUCH LOVED COMEDIAN ERIC MORECAMBE, ALWAYS FOND OF PRACTICAL JOKES, HAD THE TABLES TURNED ON HIM WHEN HE STRAYED TOO CLOSE TO THE LUTON PLAYERS CHANGING ROOM ON THIS MEMORABLE OCCASION.

Morecambe did not mind the soaking though, as he was celebrating promotion back to the old Division One along with everyone else following a home game against Sunderland in May 1974.

The club had now gone full circle in dropping from Division One to the basement and back again in 14 short years and with high profile Eric on the Board and a strong squad of players it tow, supporters were confident that mistakes of the past would not be repeated.

Privately the directors had some misgivings as they felt the club was not yet ready for promotion but on a night like this they had to go along with the flow. The hard job on the playing side had taken place on the previous Saturday when the Hatters returned from West Bromwich with a point which had clinched second spot in Division Two and with it promotion.

A crowd of 20,285 turned out at Kenilworth Road four days later to see the final game of the season against Sunderland and, with nothing to play for, they were intent on turning it into a carnival. Luckily the players, with the pressure off, were happy to join in with the mood of the night and the fans were treated to a display of attacking football with goals flying in from all angles.

The score was an incredible 3-3 at half-time with Sunderland taking the lead three times with rocket shots from outside the area and the Hatters responding in kind. It is difficult to believe but both goalkeepers, Graham Horn for the Town and Jim Montgomery for Sunderland, played blinders pulling off at least half a dozen breathtaking saves each to keep the score down!

The second period did not let up and what it lacked in goals it made up for with fine saves from both goalkeepers once more, as well as many near misses.

The only goal of the half was completely out of keeping with all that had gone on before, with ex-Hatter Vic Halom scuffing a shot past Horn. He looked suitably embarrassed but if he thought he had spoilt the party he was mistaken as at the end of the game the supporters stormed on to the pitch and would not go home until their heroes had appeared in the main stand to take a bow.

It was then on to the relatively easy task of throwing Eric into the bath!


© Luton Town FC 2009