It is an epic that would have its place in a television series. A story that English football fans could tell their children. That of a Petit Poucet who will play among the giants. The club of Luton Town, 50 km north of London, validated this Saturday its ticket for the most prestigious championship in the world.
And even this final final of the Championship playoffs, against Coventry City, had everything of a Hitchcockian scenario (1-1, 5-6 after t.a.b.). Before winning on penalties, Luton led the score, was caught, and had three of his goals disallowed by the refereeing body, including one in the final moments of extra time. But fate was on his side, to conclude in beauty 10 years of a unique epic.
WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE! 🏆 #COVLUT | #COYH pic.twitter.com/gFgR6Ulc3N
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 27, 2023
The club will play in the Premier League next season, for the first time since 1992. But in the meantime he had fallen into amateur football. As of 2014, Luton Town played in the English fifth division. After returning to League Two (D4), the team repeated the feats. In quick succession, the Hatters went from fourth, to third, to the second division, between 2018 and 2020.
A historic first for a player
At the heart of each climb, a man: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu. The Congolese international, who arrived permanently at the club in 2014 after a loan, has known everything at Luton. He has been one of the team's unstoppable starters for nearly a decade. He grew up with the club, accompanied it, until being a starter this Saturday night against Coventry, and celebrating a rise with a particularly special taste for him.
Next season, he would become the first player in history to experience amateur football and the Premier League with the same club.
The first man to go from non-league to the Premier League with one club.@PellyRuddock 🫡 #COVLUT | #COYH pic.twitter.com/3w2te5uUQ3
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 27, 2023
If he lived the best day of his career at the grandiose Wembley stadium this weekend, it is in completely different conditions that he will face the greats of England next season. In a few months, Liverpool, Manchester City, United or Arsenal will move to Kenilworth Road, home of Luton Town since... 1905.
A historic enclosure, which has not really evolved with the times. To access the 10,000 seats, you have to cross one of the archaic entrances to the stadium, integrated into the houses of the district. If you visit the visitor park, the staircase that leads you to your place even overlooks the small gardens of the neighbors, as if nothing had happened.
Luton Town just won the Championship play-off final.
This is the entrance to our stadium.
Incredible to think this ground will be in the Premier League next season 🤯 pic.twitter.com/QPV3ocSYMN
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 27, 2023
Even Luton Town can't believe it. "It's amazing to think about the fact that this stadium will be in the Premier League next season," the club wrote on Twitter, itself surprised by its place among the elite.
"Haaland will go through another entrance!"
"It annoys me and makes me laugh to see so much content on social media talking about the entrance overlooking a garden. But it's been like that since World War II, so why talk about it now? " club chief executive Gary Sweet told The Athletic. "Erling Haaland won't go through this entrance, he'll go through another entrance that we have! There is no big entrance here, that's the way it is, you have to accept it! " he continued.
But the dilapidated facilities will still come at a price. The Bedfordshire club will have to pay around £10 million to bring their stadium up to Premier League standards. Press gallery, quality of projectors, cameras for VAR... Everything has to be redone or almost. Especially since the brand new stadium planned in Luton is not expected to be inaugurated until at least 2025.
