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.