Doug Gardiner

Douglas Gardiner Date of Birth: Mar 29, 1917

Another Luton player to span the war years, Doug was signed from Scottish junior side Auchinleck Talbot in 1938. Spending three years as a prisoner of war after being shot down over Germany, Doug finally made his Hatters League debut mid-way through the 1946/47 season in a 1-2 defeat at Chesterfield.

A hard working, tenacious wing-half and occasional skipper, Doug gave the Town tremendous service over the next five years before being transferred to Bedford in 1951 where he gave equally loyal help and assistance in a variety of roles.

Doug continued to live in Bedford until his death in 1980.