a new season beckons - 1973/1974
The reluctant promotion seekers. By Roger Wash.
A new football season always opens with a great deal of
optimism and 1973/74 was no different. If the away record of the
previous campaign could be harnessed with some sound home performances
then a tilt at promotion back to the top flight could be dreamt about.
The optimism evaporated immediately, however, following a
0-4 thrashing at Nottingham Forest on the opening day which meant that
manager Harry Haslam had to go back to the drawing board. Out went new
signing Peter Cruse and in his place came youngster Tom Finney for the
next game, at home to Carlisle.
Only 7,231, the poorest opening home crowd for several
years, turned out but they were treated to an amazing display of
football which saw the Hatters 6-0 up by half-time with Finney bagging
two. The close season signing from Crusaders followed this up with a
goal in the 3-1 win at Bristol City the next week and the equaliser in a
mid-week draw at Notts County.
Although Finney’s goal supply did eventually dry up the
Town continued their early season form with a fine 1-0 win a the home of
F.A.Cup holders Sunderland and a devastating 3-0 home victory over
Blackpool which pushed them up to a top three position.
Harry Haslam, mindful of the fact that the Hatters had often flattered to deceive in previous years, decided to invest in the squad from a position of strength and paid out £100,000 to Burnley for Alan West who made his debut as the unbeaten record came to an end in a 0-2 defeat at Orient!
The Town then went through a wobbly spell but rode their
luck and managed to pick up several valuable points courtesy of own
goals (Don McAllister of Bolton) and goals from on-loan players (John
Sims on loan from Derby).
Haslam stepped into the transfer market once more and
secured Jim Husband from Everton for £70,000. Husband made his debut
during the first home defeat of the season against a West Bromwich side
that mastered the icy pitch rather better than the Hatters. No more
signings please, chorused the supporters.
An objective view at the time was that Luton were no more
than an average side competing in a poor division. This was evidenced
by Jack Charlton’s Middlesbrough who were steaming ahead at the top and
who were the only side of genuine class.
Barry Butlin’s return to the side, following a broken
jaw, signalled better fortunes as three 1-0 wins in a row testified but
after only one victory from the next six matches you would have expected
the Town to be pushed down the table. That they were not was down to
the sheer inconsistency of the teams around them. It was as if everyone
was fighting to avoid promotion.
After a home thrashing by Division One side Leicester in
the F.A.Cup, giving a stark example of what to expect in the top flight,
the Town players banished such thoughts to the backs of their minds and
beat Crystal Palace the following week, a win that pushed them up to
second spot where they would stay for the rest of the season no matter
how well or badly they played. Creditable wins at Swindon and Hull, and
at home over fellow challengers Orient, were offset by defeats at
Fulham and Bolton and at home to champions elect Middlesbrough.
Easter, so often a disaster time for successive Town
sides, earned only two points from three games but after a 3-0 win at
home to Millwall on the next Saturday and further slip-ups by fellow
challengers it was realised that one point from the final two games
would clinch the runners-up spot.
Butlin headed the Town into an early lead in the
penultimate game at West Bromwich but the home side forced their way
back with a controversial penalty towards the end. Concussed Luton
centre-half John Faulkner held the defence firm in those last nail
biting minutes before the referees whistle signalled promotion.
The last game, at home to Sunderland, was played in a carnival atmosphere and with goals flying in from all angles was a fitting end to the campaign, as was the 3-4 defeat!
The Hatters supporters who engulfed the pitch at the end
did not give a jot that their team would not have gone up in any normal
season. They were just pleased to have a chance at upsetting the big
boys.