Carlton Morris (35 in 108 games - 0.33 GpG) and Elijah Adebayo (44 in 158 games - 0.28 GpG) -  At time of writing

I have debatably included these two, although their histories at Luton Town are still being written. Both have posted very good numbers for the Club. While at time of writing the 24/25 season hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for these two, Carlton is currently keeping his ratio at 1 goal per 3 games, having scored 4 goals in 12 matches. Elijah’s GpG has slipped as a result of Luton Town’s start to the season. Regardless, his pedigree as a goal scorer is still highly regarded due to his 0.30 GpG prior to the start of the current season. Will I be revising this list in a decades time with these two cracking the top list? It remains to be seen! But I’m convinced that Elijah will be banging in the goals for the rest of his time at Luton Town.

Jimmy Husband (48 in 162 games - 0.30 GpG)

The late great Jimmy Husband was Harry Haslam’s final piece of the jigsaw to secure Luton’s first return to the top flight in almost two decades! Fast, skilful and powerful, Jimmy had won the League with Everton in 1970 and across his 4 years with Luton Town was a firm fan favourite. Due to Jimmy not hitting 50 goals for the Town, he is an honourable mention, although his goal scoring consistency is shown by maintaining a GpG of 0.30.

Ron Futcher (43 in 133 games - 0.32 GpG)

We had both Ron and his twin brother Paul, who is sadly no longer with us. Ron announced himself by netting the winner against table topping Ipswich in a 1-0 win, in only his second match, before grabbing a hat trick 2 days later against Wolves in a 3-2 win! He made himself a regular in the Luton team for the latter half of the 74/75 season, although relegated from the top flight, Ron would go onto consistently score for Luton Town as the Hatters pressed for a return to the top flight flight, until he was snapped up by Man City in 1978.

Jack Ball (49 in 74 games - 0.66 GpG)

A ridiculously prolific striker in a pre WW2 Luton Town side, Jack went from Non League Chorley all the way to the heights of Man United, where unfortunately finances and cost cutting (was Sir Jim Ratcliffe in charge?) saw him sold to Sheffield Wednesday where he bagged 94 goals in 135 starts. He moved back to Man United for another short stay before moving to Huddersfield and then to Luton Town after a falling out over his contract at the Terriers. Although Luton Town had him at the tail end of his career, Jack was a tremendous foil for Joe Payne, with the two firing Luton Town to promotion during the 1936/37 season. A remarkable goal scoring return during his 2 years at Luton Town, which would have seen him make the top list had he just scored one more goal!

Lars Elstrup (27 in 70 games - 0.39 GpG)

One who became a cult hero after his record transfer from Odense. A quirky but wonderfully friendly individual who I had the pleasure of interviewing about his career and short stint at Luton Town. Lars started slowly at Luton, with no goals in his first few games, but alas Lars found his shooting boots after a two legged second round League Cup tie against Mansfield during which he scored 5 goals across the two matches. Although Lars’ first season was disrupted by injury, he maintained a good goal scoring return with a GpG of 0.39. Greatly assisted by his second season for Luton where he bagged 18 goals. Although Lars’ exit from Luton was a point of contention at the time, he still remains a fan favourite of those who saw him beat Des Walker for the first of his brace against Nottingham Forest.

Sandy Brown (47 in 96 games - 0.49 GpG)

Another like Jack Ball, who no Hatter can lay claim to have seen him play. Sandy played for Luton Town between 1905-1908 and was interestingly on the pitch at the time of the 1902 Ibrox disaster, which took place during a Scotland vs England British Home Championship match, that was declared void after 25 spectators were killed following the collapse of a stand. The ‘Glenbuck Goal Getter’ was snapped up by Luton Town towards the end of his well travelled career that had seen him move south, as all professional Scotsman footballers had done, to Preston, before playing for Portsmouth, Tottenham and then Middlesbrough, before joining Luton Town, scoring almost a goal every other game and then finishing up his career at Ayr, back in his native Scotland.

John Charles Lomax (7 in 10 games - 0.70 GpG) and George ‘Chubby’ Deacon (8 in 12 games - 0.67 GpG)

My esteemed colleague of the Straw Plaiters variety (and fellow Trustee Brian Webb) would be upset had I not included these two in the honourable mentions list. JC Lomax and George Deacon are two of the most influential characters in the storied history of Luton Town through convening of a public meeting to form a Luton Town Football Club! In addition to their event management abilities, they were also very fine footballers. Sadly their numbers are incomplete as a result of the Town not competing in a Football League until the 1894/95 season, with the majority of appearances and goals coming in (according to our esteemed Chairman, Roger Wash) non competitive local cup competitions and friendlies. Although their goal scoring record in FA Cup competitions are bordering on the higher end of prolific, due to the record keeping at the time, coupled with a lack of journalistic passion towards Football in the early days of the sport, their true goal scoring figures are incomplete and sadly lost to the sands of time - However, Brian has gleaned from industrious newspaper perusal that J.C Lomax had at least 32 confirmed goals to his name for Luton Town. 

Bruce Rioch (52 in 167 games - 0.31 GpG) 

One of the finest strikers to have played for the club, I have been reliably informed by the Hatters’ Heritage Trustees, of a certain vintage. Bruce started young, writing his name into Hatters folklore from the age of 17 and drew attention straight away from scouts higher up the football pyramid. Firing Luton Town to the Division Four title in the 1967/68 season and nearly  achieving a back to back promotion from Division Three the following season. Bruce would move to Aston Villa for a record fee, before moves to Derby and Everton as well as obtaining international recognition where he captained Scotland. Despite his young age during his time at Luton Town, his goalscoring consistency was excellent. 

Brian Stein (154 in 496 games - 0.31 GpG)

You might be thinking, why is the legendary Brian Stein in the honourable mention category? Well, although he is one of our all time top scorers and his GpG is remarkably consistent considering the majority of his football and the bulk of his goals were scored in the top tier of English football, there are players who make the ‘prolific’ list with crazy GpG numbers. Sadly Bruno never got the true international recognition he deserved, but a goal every third game showed what a truly astonishing striker the Hatters’ faithful were treated to during the late 70s and throughout the 80s. 

Phil Gray (53 in 161 games - 0.33  GpG)

First brought to the club by David Pleat and then brought back to the club by Lennie Lawrence, Phil Gray was a remarkably consistent goalscorer in teams that were at times struggling at the wrong end of the division they were in. Phil may have been more of a consistent goalscorer during his first stint at the club but he brought a fair whack of experience and still knew where the back of the net was during his second stint. Not the most thrilling honourable mention, but an honourable mention for Phil Gray nonetheless!

Billy Bingham (33 in 100 - 0.33 GpG)

Billy has the great honour of having played in the clubs sole FA Cup Final during the 1958/59 season. However, Billy also has the honour of being the only player to have scored in every single round leading up to the final. Considering Billy was a right winger, his goal output and consistency speaks for itself. 

Tom Craddock (38 in 86 games - 0.38 GpG)

Unlike Amari Morgan-Smith who actually has the same GpG figure as Tom, Tom played more games for Luton and retained his consistency across his 86 games at Luton. Tom eventually moved on from Luton who were playing in the National League at that time, he had also fallen out of favour with new boss Richard Money by the beginning of the 2010/11 season. But his performances across the doomed 2008/09 season, as well as scoring in the Johnstone Paint Trophy Final will live in all Hatters’ memories. 

Gary McSheffrey (10 in 24 - 0.42 GpG)

Little Sheffs’ initial loan was fantastic and he was bagging goals for fun with 8 goals in 18 starts! However when he returned, Luton had the strike partnership of Steve Howard and Rowan Vine, so game time was harder to come by. Regardless Gary put up remarkable numbers in his brief two stints at Kenilworth Road, and went down as one of the best loan signings this millennium. 

Jesse Pye (36 in 65 games - 0.55 GpG)

Joining Luton Town at the age of 32, people thought Jesse’s best football was behind him. However, he was instrumental in the training of Luton Town legend and record goalscorer Gordon Turner. Jesse was Luton’s top marksman in his first season and although only at Luton for 2 years, Jesse left a lasting impression on Hatters as one of the finest players to wear the shirt as well as one of the most prolific goal scorers seen at Luton Town.

Carl Griffiths (8 in 14 games - 0.57 GpG)

What I wouldn’t have given to have seen Carl Griffiths not get THAT injury. Carl suffered a stress fracture after just 10 games for Luton at the start of the 2001/02 season, he had already bagged 8 goals generating a GpG of 0.80. However, Carl worked to come back, but wasn’t the same player, considering Luton had signed him towards the end of what would have been his career. However, I maintain that he would have easily bagged 30+ goals for Luton Town that season, what with the embarrassment of riches we had in the team behind him and Jean-Louis Valois and Matt Taylor whipping in pinpoint balls for him. Regardless his injury allowed Steve Howard to flourish and form a great partnership with Dean Crowe. 

Rory Allen (6 in 8 games - 0.75 GpG)

Quite possibly the best loan signing in many Hatters memories. Luton Town were once again battling towards the bottom of the division, and Rory Allen being loaned to Luton by David Pleat, then at Tottenham, delayed the impending relegation by another couple of seasons. He was the fox in the box for Lennie Lawrence and he was mopping up and finishing anything in the opposition penalty area. His GpG was staggering, sadly injuries prevented his career from hitting the heights that it should have following his return to Tottenham and subsequent transfer to Portsmouth.

Rory Allen 6 goals in 8 games - 0.75 GpG

John Charles Lomax 7 goals in 10 games - 0.70 GpG **

George ‘Chubby’ Deacon 8 goals in 12 games - 0.67 GpG **

Jack Ball 49 goals in 74 games - 0.66 GpG

Carl Griffiths 8 goals in 14 games - 0.57 GpG

Jesse Pye 36 goals in 65 games - 0.55 GpG

Sandy Brown 47 goals in 96 games - 0.49 GpG

Gary McSheffrey 10 goals in 24 games - 0.42 GpG

Lars Elstrup 27 goals in 70 games - 0.39 GpG

Tom Craddock 38 goals in 86 games - 0.38 GpG

Billy Bingham 33 goals in 100 - 0.33 GpG

Phil Gray 53 goals in 161 games - 0.33  GpG

Carlton Morris 35 goals in 108 games - 0.33 GpG *

Ron Futcher 43 goals in 133 games - 0.32 GpG

Brian Stein 154 goals in 496 games - 0.31 GpG

Bruce Rioch 52 goals in 167 games - 0.31 GpG 

Paul Walsh 28 goals in 89 games - 0.31 GpG

Jimmy Husband 48 goals in 162 games - 0.30 GpG

Cameron McGeehan 31 goals in 102 games - 0.29 GpG

Elijah Adebayo 44 goals in 158 games - 0.28 GpG *

*At time of writing

**Incomplete numbers as a result of friendlies and “non competitive” local cup competitions

Thank you for reading, keep your eyes peeled for Part 2, where we look at the most prolific strikers to have pulled on the famous shirt!