2000–01 Luton Town F.C. season

The 2000–01 season was the 115th season in the history of Luton Town Football Club, the club's 80th consecutive year in the Football League and its 83rd overall. Luton ended the season relegated from the Second Division, dropping into the basement level of League football for the first time since the 1967–68 season. The club went through a total of three managers following the departure of Lennie Lawrence; firstly Ricky Hill, then Lil Fuccillo, and eventually settling on Irishman Joe Kinnear. Under Kinnear's management, Luton underwent an initial resurgence, winning five of out of his first seven games. However, they failed to win any of their games in the final quarter of the season and ultimately slipped into the Third Division. Luton won only nine league games all season, setting a club record for the fewest wins over a 46-game season.

Luton Town
2000–01 season
ChairmanMike Watson-Challis
ManagerLennie Lawrence (until 4 July)
Ricky Hill (from 10 July to 15 November)
Lil Fuccillo (from 16 November to 8 February)
Joe Kinnear (from 8 February)
Second Division22nd (relegated)
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Liam George (7)
All: Liam George (9)
Highest home attendance8,677 (vs. Queens Park Rangers, FA Cup third round, 6 January)
Lowest home attendance3,175 (vs. Peterborough United, League Cup first round, 22 August)
Average home league attendance5,672

This article covers the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.

Background

Luton suffered from severe financial difficulty throughout the 1998–99 season and were forced to sell a number of established players and promising young stars.One of the club's directors, Cliff Bassett, made the decision to place the club into receivership as part of a move to shift controversial[1] owner David Kohler out of the club. Kohler, accused by Luton supporters of selling the club's assets while continuing to draw a large salary of his own and of promoting an unworkable stadium project (known as the 'Kohlerdome') for his own means, relinquished his position as chairman on 20 February 1999 following the discovery of a petrol bomb in his letterbox.[1] Despite his departure, Kohler remained as the majority shareholder and held out from selling until a suitable offer was made. Numerous bids from consortia fell through, unable to meet Kohler's demands, until, after being told by the Football League that the club would be unable to compete in the 1999–2000 season unless it was out of receivership, Bassett himself stepped in hours before the deadline and bought out Kohler's shares. Luton finished the 1999–2000 season in 13th position, relying heavily on players brought through the youth system, such as Emmerson Boyce, Gary Doherty, Matthew Taylor, Matthew Spring and Liam George. Bassett made it clear throughout the season that his intention was to find a new owner for the club and, on 23 May 2000, Luton Town was sold to a consortium led by businessman Mike Watson-Challis.

Season summary

One of new chairman Mike Watson-Challis' first acts was, on 4 July, to sack manager Lennie Lawrence and look to appoint his own man.[2] Ex-player and fan favourite Ricky Hill was appointed a week later, and was provided with the resources to build his own squad.[3] One signing was that of goalkeeper Mark Ovendale from AFC Bournemouth, who cost £425,000; the most the club had spent on a player since the 1995–96 season when they were competing in the First Division.[4] Ovendale struggled to make an impact,[5] which was the story of most of Hill's acquisitions, who included among their number untested foreign players Friedrich Breitenfelder, Petri Helin and Kent Karlsen.

Hill's reign began with a defeat to Notts County and did not improve from there; one win in their first ten league games left Luton in the relegation zone and the fans voicing their displeasure.[6] A penalty shootout victory over Peterborough United in the League Cup set up a tie with Premier League side Sunderland, but Luton collapsed to a 5–1 aggregate defeat. One further league win followed, but even more defeats left Luton in 23rd place by early November. Hill resigned on 15 November to be replaced by his assistant, another former Luton player, Lil Fuccillo.[7] John Moore, who had led the club to their highest-ever league finish in the 1986–87 season and was in charge of the youth team, was installed as Fuccillo's assistant.[7] Luton's fortunes failed to improve under this tenure, suffering seven further league defeats, though a run to the Third Round of the FA Cup did offer some respite.

With the club failing to impress on the pitch and facing the prospect of relegation, Watson-Challis acted to recruit a Director of Football to oversee "all football matters".[8] Former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear was appointed to this role on 8 February, but his first act was to immediately demote Fuccillo to assistant and place himself in charge.[9] Kinnear's arrival prompted an initial resurgence in form – Luton won five of their next seven games and were one point away from 20th position, and safety, by 6 March. However, they failed to win again during the campaign and, on 24 April, were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in 33 years following a 1–0 loss to Rotherham United.[10]

With the season drawing to a close, Kinnear signed striker Steve Howard from nearby Northampton Town for a fee of £50,000, released five players, and transfer listed four others.[11]

Match results

Luton Town results given first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Friendlies
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes
22 July 2000 Bromley Away 5–2 Unknown Fotiadis, George (2), Mark Stein, Brennan [12]
26 July 2000 St Albans City Away 2–1 900 Carter, A. Douglas Luton XI[12]
27 July 2000 Welling United Away 1–0 Unknown Mark Stein [12]
31 July 2000 Grimsby Town Away 1–1 3,475 Fotiadis [12]
2 August 2000 Hull City Away 1–0 1,415 Mark Stein [12]
4 August 2000 Rushden & Diamonds Away 5–1 3,065 Mark Stein (2), Spring (pen), Taylor, Boyce [12]

Football League Second Division
All results, goals, attendances etc. taken from Soccerbase[13]
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes
12 August 2000 Notts County Home 0–1 7,059 –
19 August 2000 Wigan Athletic Away 1–2 6,518 Watts
26 August 2000 AFC Bournemouth Home 1–0 5,221 Spring (pen)
28 August 2000 Wycombe Wanderers Away 1–1 6,001 Kandol
2 September 2000 Rotherham United Away 1–1 4,061 Fotiadis
9 September 2000 Northampton Town Home 0–2 6,712 –
12 September 2000 Walsall Home 0–0 4,362 –
16 September 2000 Swansea City Away 0–4 6,011 –
23 September 2000 Swindon Town Home 2–3 4,933 Stein, George
30 September 2000 Bristol Rovers Away 3–3 7,901 Kandol (2), George
8 October 2000 Millwall Home 0–1 5,345 –
13 October 2000 Cambridge United Away 1–2 6,191 Stein
17 October 2000 Oxford United Away 0–0 4,537 –
21 October 2000 Brentford Home 3–1 5,382 Stuart Douglas (2), Spring (pen)
28 October 2000 Wrexham Home 3–4 5,341 Stein, Watts, George
4 November 2000 Bury Away 1–1 2,861 Helin
11 November 2000 Bristol City Home 0–3 6,595 –
25 November 2000 Port Vale Home 0–3 4,194 –
2 December 2000 Stoke City Away 3–1 12,389 McLaren, Thomson (2)
16 December 2000 Colchester United Home 0–3 4,791 –
23 December 2000 Reading Away 1–4 10,771 Nogan
26 December 2000 Peterborough United Home 3–2 7,374 Spring, Holmes, Boyce
30 December 2000 Wigan Athletic Home 0–2 5,332 –
1 January 2001 AFC Bournemouth Away 2–3 5,411 Fotiadis, Locke
12 January 2001 Wycombe Wanderers Home 1–2 4,551 Locke
23 January 2001 Oldham Athletic Home 0–2 3,011 –
10 February 2001 Northampton Town Away 1–0 6,633 Douglas
13 February 2001 Notts County Away 3–1 4,333 Boyce, George, Fotiadis
17 February 2001 Swansea City Home 5–3 7,085 Mansell (2), Douglas, Rowland, George
20 February 2001 Walsall Away 1–3 4,816 Spring
24 February 2001 Swindon Town Away 3–1 7,160 Rowland, Boyce, Mansell
28 February 2001 Bristol Rovers Home 0–0 7,405 –
6 March 2001 Cambridge United Home 1–0 6,370 Taylor
10 March 2001 Millwall Away 0–1 11,691 –
27 March 2001 Peterborough United Away 1–1 5,425 Mansell
31 March 2001 Colchester United Away 1–3 4,271 Howard (pen)
3 April 2001 Reading Home 1–1 6,132 own goal
7 April 2001 Stoke City Home 1–2 6,456 Mansell
10 April 2001 Oxford United Home 1–1 6,010 Watts
14 April 2001 Oldham Athletic Home 0–0 4,886 –
16 April 2001 Wrexham Away 1–3 3,339 Watts
21 April 2001 Bury Home 1–2 4,902 George
24 April 2001 Rotherham United Home 0–1 4,854 –
28 April 2001 Bristol City Away 1–3 9,161 George
3 May 2001 Brentford Away 2–2 3,287 Howard, McLaren
5 May 2001 Port Vale Home 1–1 5,260 Howard

FA Cup
For information on this season's FA Cup, see 2000–01 FA Cup.
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes
First round 17 November 2000 Rushden & Diamonds Home 1–0 5,771 George
Second round 9 December 2000 Darlington Away 0–0 3,667 –
Second round replay 19 December 2000 Darlington Home 2–0 3,563 Nogan, McLaren
Third round 6 January 2001 Queens Park Rangers Home 3–3 8,677 Fotiadis, George, Douglas
Third round replay 17 January 2001 Queens Park Rangers Away 1–2 14,395 Mansell

Football League Cup
For information on this season's Football League Cup, see 2000–01 Football League Cup.
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes
First round first leg 22 August 2000 Peterborough United Home 0–0 3,175 –
First round second leg 5 September 2000 Peterborough United Away 2–2 (aet) 4,286 Stein, Scarlett [A]
Second round first leg 19 September 2000 Sunderland Away 0–3 24,668 –
Second round second leg 26 September 2000 Sunderland Home 1–2 5,262 Kandol

Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes
Southern Section First Round 5 December 2000 Peterborough United Away 0–1 2,075 –

League table
Main article: 2000–01 Football League § Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Swindon Town 46 13 13 20 47 65 −18 52
21 Bristol Rovers 46 12 15 19 53 57 −4 51 Relegated
22 Luton Town 46 9 13 24 52 80 −28 40
23 Swansea City 46 8 13 25 47 73 −26 37
24 Oxford United 46 7 6 33 53 100 −47 27
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Player statistics
Last match played on 5 May 2001. Players with a zero in every column only appeared as unused substitutes.[14]
Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
MF Matthew Taylor 45140401054100
MF Matthew Spring 41450401051400
FW[15] Liam George 37 (6)7423 (1)00044 (7)900
DF[16] Emmerson Boyce 4232 (1)0400048 (1)300
GK Paul McLaren 35231401043300
FW[17] Mark Stein 19 (11)31 (1)0310 (1)023 (13)400
DF Julian Watts 26 (2)430400033 (2)400
GK Mark Ovendale 26020401033000
DF Adam Locke 17 (8)22 (1)01 (1)01021 (10)200
DF Petri Helin 23130001027100
FW Andrew Fotiadis 12 (10)331101017 (10)400
DF Stuart Fraser 10 (5)040401019 (5)000
GK Nathan Abbey 20030000023000
FW Stuart Douglas 15 (6)41 (1)1000016 (7)500
MF Peter Holmes 12 (6)1102 (1)00015 (7)100
DF Richard Dryden 20000000020000
MF Lee Mansell 17 (1)511000018 (1)600
FW Trésor Kandol 6 (7)3002 (1)1008 (8)400
FW Peter Thomson 4 (7)21 (1)01 (1)0107 (9)200
DF Adrian Whitbread 9040000013000
FW[18] Steve Howard 12300000012300
DF Keith Rowland 12200000012200
MF Andre Scarlett 5 (4)00 (1)021007 (5)100
MF Dean Brennan 2 (7)0001 (2)0003 (9)000
DF Marvin Johnson 9020000011000
FW Lee Nogan 7131000 (1)010 (1)200
DF Jude Stirling 5 (4)00 (2)000005 (6)000
DF Kent Karlsen 4 (2)02000107 (2)000
FW Paul Shepherd 700000007000
GK Gavin McGowan 5 (1)01000006 (1)000
DF Friedrich Breitenfelder 2 (3)00000002 (3)000
FW Rocky Baptiste 0 (3)00000000 (3)000
DF James Ayres 000000101000
GK Scott Ward 0 (1)00000000 (1)000

Managerial statistics
Only competitive games from the 2000–01 season are included.
Name Nat. From To Record Honours
PLDWDLGFGAGDW%
Ricky Hill 10 July 2000 11 November 2000 21 2 8 11 20 36 −16 009.5 –
Lil Fuccillo 16 November 2000 8 February 2001 15 4 2 9 17 28 −11 026.7 –
Joe Kinnear 8 February 2001 – 20 5 7 8 25 29 −4 025.0
Total 56 11 17 28 62 93 −31 019.6

Transfers

In
Date Player From Fee Notes
14 July 2000 Mark SteinAFC BournemouthFree[19]
1 August 2000 Friedrich Breitenfelder St. PöltenFree[19]
2 August 2000 Peter HolmesSheffield WednesdayFree[19]
7 August 2000 Mark OvendaleAFC Bournemouth£425,000[19]
10 August 2000 Dean BrennanSheffield WednesdayFree[19]
11 September 2000 Peter Thomson NAC Breda£100,000[19]
24 October 2000 Rocky BaptisteHayesFree[19]
2 November 2000 Petri Helin FC JokeritFree[19]
3 November 2000 Kent Karlsen VålerengaFree[19]
23 November 2000 Lee NoganDarlingtonFree[19]
2 February 2001 Richard DrydenSouthamptonFree[19]
22 March 2001 Paul ShepherdScunthorpe UnitedFree[19]
22 March 2001 Steve HowardNorthampton Town£50,000[19]

Out
Date Player To Fee Notes
1 July 2000 Michael McIndoeHereford UnitedFree[19]
16 July 2000 Alan WhiteColchester UnitedFree[19]
17 July 2000 Phil GrayBurnleyFree[19]
24 July 2000 Efe SodjeCrewe AlexandraFree[19]
24 November 2000 Paul ReadExeter CityFree[19]
11 January 2001 James AyresReleased[19]
12 February 2001 Lee NoganYork CityFree[19]
20 April 2001 Nathan AbbeyReleased[11]
20 April 2001 Rocky BaptisteReleased[11]
20 April 2001 Friedrich BreitenfelderReleased[11]
20 April 2001 Gavin McGowanReleased[11]
20 April 2001 Andre ScarlettReleased[11]
31 May 2001 Mark SteinReleased[19]
31 May 2001 Julian Watts Northern SpiritFree[19]
8 June 2001 Paul McLarenSheffield WednesdayFree[19]

Loans in
Date Player From End date Notes
25 January 2001 Keith RowlandQueens Park Rangers8 May 2001
23 November 2000 Adrian WhitbreadPortsmouth24 January 2001

See also

Footnotes
A. ^ Luton progressed into the Second Round on the away goals rule.

References
  1. "Kohler goes after bomb in letterbox". The Guardian. 20 February 1999. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  2. "Lennie leaves Luton". BBC Sport. 4 July 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  3. "Hill is new boss". BBC Sport. 10 July 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. "Luton complete Ovendale move". BBC Sport. 7 August 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  5. "Hill explains why he axed Ovendale". BBC Sport. 19 October 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  6. "Hill looks for lift". BBC Sport. 25 September 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  7. "Fuccillo is new Luton boss". BBC Sport. 16 November 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  8. "Kinnear joins struggling Luton". BBC Sport. 8 February 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  9. "Kinnear: I'm the boss". BBC Sport. 8 February 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  10. "Luton 0–1 Rotherham". BBC Sport. 24 April 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  11. "Clear-out begins at Luton". BBC Sport. 20 April 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  12. "Fixtures – 2000–01". LutonFC.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  13. "Luton 2000–2001 results". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  14. "Luton 2000–2001 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  15. George was born in Luton, England, but also qualified to represent the Ireland internationally through his mother and represented Ireland at U-21 level.
  16. Boyce was born in Aylesbury, England, but also qualified to represent Barbados internationally through his parents and would make his international debut for Barbados in March 2008.
  17. Stein was born in Cape Town, South Africa.
  18. Howard was born in Durham, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and would make his international debut for Scotland B in November 2007.
  19. "Luton Town transfers 2010–11". Soccerbase. CenturyComm Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
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