2009–10 Luton Town F.C. season

Luton Town competed in the South West Challenge Cup during July, and were drawn to play against Bideford and Wycombe Wanderers in Group C.[11] However, a waterlogged pitch caused the Wycombe game to be cancelled, and Luton were given passage into the semi-finals based on having a higher goal difference than Wycombe.[12] Luton beat Exeter City 3–2 in the semi-final,[13] setting up the final against Grimsby Town. Grimsby, though, refused to play in the final due to safety concerns over a 6:00 pm kick-off time, and no compromise with the tournament organisers could be reached. As a result, Belgian club Montegnée, originally knocked out in the group stages, were invited to play in the final at Grimsby's expense.[14] Luton went on to win the South West Challenge Cup with a 3–1 victory over Montegnée.[15]

Friendlies were arranged against St Neots Town, Hitchin Town (as a Luton XI), Spalding United (as a Luton XI), Swindon Town, Peterborough United, Manchester United, Biggleswade Town in the Bedfordshire Premier Cup (as a Luton XI), and Hampton & Richmond.[13]

On 8 July, it was announced that four players had not been offered new contracts, and were therefore released from the club. Ian Henderson was the only senior player to be released, along with three youth team players – Riccardo Biggi, Mark Farthing and Harry Hogarth.[16][17]

On 22 July, Luton signed Shane Blackett on a two-year contract from Peterborough United. The transfer was funded from the proceeds of a friendly with Peterborough, which took place on 25 July.[18] Five days later, Luton-born defender Callum Reynolds signed on loan from Portsmouth until January.[19]

On 29 July, striker Drew Talbot joined Chesterfield on a free transfer after failing to agree a new contract at Luton.[20] The next day, defender Ian Roper signed for Kettering Town on a free transfer.[21]

Luton revealed new kits for the coming season on 30 July, reverting the home strip back to the orange colours that the club used primarily in the 1970s. A new two-year shirt sponsorship deal was announced with easyJet, whose headquarters are located at the nearby London Luton Airport.[22]

On 6 August, striker Steve Basham penned a one-year contract with the club,[23] and one day later, goalkeeper Shane Gore signed a one-month contract, acting as cover for Mark Tyler.[24]

Luton began life in non-league football with a 1–1 draw away to AFC Wimbledon. Tom Craddock scored an early penalty before Wimbledon pegged Luton back with a penalty of their own late on, which saw Shane Blackett sent off on his debut.[25]

On 11 August, with the news that left-back Lewis Emanuel was to be sidelined for three months with a broken toe sustained in the game at Kingsmeadow, Luton signed Grays Athletic defender Fred Murray on a six-month loan deal.[26] Murray started in the team on the same day in Luton's first home game of the season – a 4–1 victory over Mansfield Town that saw centre-back George Pilkington score his first two goals for the club.[27] Luton continued with victories over Gateshead[28] and Forest Green Rovers,[29] before labouring to a 0–0 home draw with Chester City.[30] Long-term injuries to forwards Ryan Charles and Liam Hatch left Luton short on attacking options, resulting in striker George Donnelly signing on a one-month loan from Plymouth Argyle on 28 August.[31] Luton ended August unbeaten with a draw at Kettering Town, placing them third in the table.[32]

Luton secured a fourth consecutive clean sheet with a 3–0 victory over Crawley Town at Kenilworth Road, keeping in touch with early league leaders Oxford United and Mansfield Town.[33]

A poor run of form throughout the rest of September saw Luton pick up just seven points from six games – including away losses at Oxford[34] and Wrexham,[35] the latter of which manager Mick Harford described as "the worst performance in Luton Town's history".[36] A brief respite was found in an extraordinary comeback victory over Cambridge United. Losing 2–0 at half-time and with a man sent off, Luton rallied to a 4–3 win by full-time, Kevin Gallen scoring twice.[37] However, just three days later, Luton suffered a home defeat after a lifeless performance to local rivals Stevenage Borough.[38]

Peterborough United striker Ben Wright signed on a one-month loan on 29 September, boosting Luton's attacking options in the wake of further injuries and suspensions.[39]

On 1 October, manager Mick Harford parted company as the club's manager by mutual consent. Luton were 13 points from the top of the table and, in a club statement, managing director Gary Sweet admitted that results and performances were not up to the standards expected at the beginning of the season. First-team coach Alan Neilson was named caretaker manager until a replacement for Harford could be found.[1] Neilson's first game ended in a 2–1 victory over Tamworth.[40]

Neilson continued on an unbeaten run of five matches, including an FA Cup victory over Grays Athletic, until Luton appointed former Walsall boss Richard Money as permanent manager on 30 October. Neilson continued working at the club as Money's assistant manager and former Cambridge United manager Gary Brabin was named as the club's chief scout.[2] Luton lost their second home game of the season the next day, Rushden & Diamonds inflicting a 2–0 defeat with two late goals.[41]

The month began with a thrilling 3–3 draw at home to League Two side Rochdale in the FA Cup on 7 November, resulting in a replay at Spotland four days later.[42] Luton won the tie 2–0 to set up a second round encounter with Rotherham United.[43]

Richard Money made his first signings a day later – experienced Notts County goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington signed on a one-month loan to act as cover for the injured Mark Tyler,[44] whilst striker Mark Nwokeji was drafted in on loan until January 2010 from Dagenham & Redbridge.[45] Both players made their debuts in a 2–0 win over Grays Athletic on 14 November.[46] A 2–2 home draw with Cambridge United the next week saw Luton let in two late goals; a game that could have ended in a loss had Kevin Pilkington not saved a penalty.[47] The scheduled game against Mansfield Town on 24 November was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Field Mill.[48]

On 26 November, the day of the loan transfer deadline, Coventry City winger Ashley Cain was signed for one month.[49] Midfielder Andy Burgess, who was signed only in May 2009 and had made 10 appearances for the club, joined promotion rivals Mansfield Town on an initial one-month loan with a permanent transfer arranged for January 2010.[50] In a busy day of transfer dealing, striker Steve Basham, sparsely used since his arrival in the summer, completed a two-month loan to Hayes & Yeading United.[51] Luton signed Kidderminster Harriers' top scorer Matthew Barnes-Homer on a two-and-a-half-year contract for a five-figure fee, with the permanent transfer taking place in January 2010. Barnes-Homer would play until then on loan, with young Luton striker Ryan Charles heading to Kidderminster on loan for one month as part of the deal.[52]

Two days later, Luton drew 2–2 in the FA Cup with Rotherham United, once more forcing a replay in the competition.[53]

A 1–0 home defeat to Kettering Town on 2 December, followed by a 0–0 draw to Chester City three days later, resulted in Luton finding themselves in seventh place in the table and four points off of a play-off position, albeit with two games in hand over some teams.[54][55]

On 8 December, Luton beat League Two side Rotherham United 3–0 in an FA Cup Second Round replay at Kenilworth Road, setting up a Third Round encounter at League One side Southampton.[56] Four days later, Cambridge United knocked Luton out of the FA Trophy with a 3–1 win at the Abbey Stadium.[57]

A series of postponements to games due to snow and ice left a sparse fixture list for the rest of the month, with Luton's only other game resulting in a 4–1 victory over Eastbourne Borough on 28 December, Matthew Barnes-Homer scoring his first goal for the club.[58][59][60]

Luton were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton, a side two leagues higher, on 2 January in a narrow 1–0 defeat.[61]

On 5 January, with the transfer window now open, Luton signed young St Albans City players Jonathan O'Donnell and Godfrey Poku on 18-month contracts.[62] O'Donnell had previously spent time in the youth set-up at Luton's local rivals Watford and Milton Keynes Dons, while Poku was highly rated by St Albans manager Steve Castle.[63][64] On 30 January, the two players were loaned back to St Albans for a period of one month.[65]

Further postponements due to the adverse weather meant Luton had played just one league game in seven weeks, leaving a further 23 games to be played in three months.[66][67][68] In contrast, the first 23 league games had been played over a period of five months.

Experienced trio Kevin Nicholls, Alan White and Kevin Gallen were placed on the transfer list by Richard Money on 12 January.[69] White joined his previous club Darlington on loan for the rest of the season three days later.[70] Midfielder Keith Keane, who had started his career with Luton, was placed on the transfer list on 15 January. Keane's refusal to sign a new contract, which would expire at the end of the season and effectively mean he would leave the club on a free transfer, was cited as the reason.[71] Striker Mark Nwokeji, meanwhile, extended his loan agreement with Luton until the end of the season, while the permanent transfers of Matthew Barnes-Homer and Fred Murray, who had both previously been playing for the club on loan, were confirmed.[72]

On 22 January, York City winger Craig Nelthorpe signed for Luton on loan for the rest of the season.[73] He made his debut one day later as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over Gateshead – Luton's first game in 21 days.[74]

Hungarian central defender János Kovács was signed on a free transfer from Lincoln City on 26 January. Kovács signed a five-month contract until the end of the season.[75] He started in the team, and scored the opening goal, in a 2–0 win over Histon a day later. This game also saw Liam Hatch make his first appearance in nearly four months upon his return from an ankle injury.[76]

Luton fell to their fourth home defeat of the season with a 3–2 loss against Ebbsfleet United on 30 January, Hatch scoring his first goal for the club.[77]

A busy February period of six games in three weeks started with a 1–0 away win over Barrow, Hatch once again scoring.[78] A 2–1 win over league leaders Oxford United was secured on 9 February, with Luton scoring both goals in added time – the winner was scored by captain Keith Keane direct from a corner in the last minute of the game, which propelled the club into the play-off positions for the first time since early November. Keane was then sent off for celebrating the goal with Luton fans. This game also saw the highest turnout at Kenilworth Road in over two seasons, with 8,860 fans in attendance.[79] Four days later, Luton won a third consecutive game with a 1–0 away victory over Eastbourne Borough, an Asa Hall strike from 25 yards proving the match winner.[80]

Luton's ten-game unbeaten away record in the league continued with a 0–0 draw at their promotion rivals York City on 16 February, pushing the club up to fourth place in the table.[81] The club's poor league form at Kenilworth Road, in which only three games out of ten had ended in Luton winning, continued with a fifth home defeat – a 2–1 loss to AFC Wimbledon. Tom Craddock scored his tenth goal of the season for Luton, making him the top scorer at the club.[82] A loss to Crawley Town left Luton in fifth place in the table, and also saw the club's record-equalling run of away form come to an end.[83]

The backlog of postponed games from the winter period meant Luton were to play 8 games over March. This began with a 0–0 draw away to Mansfield Town on 2 March, with a 3–2 victory over Hayes & Yeading United coming four days later.[84][85]

A last minute winner from Tom Craddock in a 2–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers on 9 March propelled Luton to third place in the table, the club's highest position since early September.[86]

On 12 March 2010, Luton signed midfielder Simon Heslop from Championship side Barnsley on a 28-day emergency loan.[87] He played in a 1–0 victory over Wrexham a day later as Luton kept their first home clean sheet since September 2009.[88] A third home game in a row on 16 March resulted in a 3–1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers, Kevin Gallen scoring twice.[89]

Luton recorded their biggest win of the season on 20 March, with a 6–1 victory away at Ebbsfleet United. Winger Claude Gnakpa scored a hat-trick in the club's biggest victory since a 5–0 win over Bristol City in 2005.[90]

Richard Money added two players to the squad before the loan and free transfer deadline on 25 March. Kenyan international striker Taiwo Atieno, who started his career when Money was manager of Walsall and had most recently played football in the US, was signed on a free transfer until the end of the season. Defender Gavin Caines was signed on loan until the end of the season from Kidderminster Harriers, where he had been a regular member of the squad.[91]

Luton's 6–1 winning result the previous week was then bettered with an emphatic 8–0 home victory over Hayes & Yeading United on 27 March.[92] The club's run of goals continued three days later with a 4–0 win against Salisbury City, their seventh consecutive victory.[93]

Luton's good form during the month did not go unnoticed, with Richard Money claiming the March Conference Manager of the Month award, and Claude Gnakpa named as Player of the Month.[94][95]

Luton, who were at this point second in the table, faced a key clash with league leaders Stevenage Borough on 3 April. Luton secured a 1–0 win at Broadhall Way in a tightly contested game, Matthew Barnes-Homer scoring the winning goal just moments after his introduction as a substitute, and inflicted Stevenage's first home defeat since November 2008. Luton were now only two points behind Stevenage, though the leaders had a game in hand.[96] A ninth consecutive victory was assured two days later as Luton beat already relegated side Grays Athletic 6–0 at Kenilworth Road, with Kevin Gallen scoring the first hat-trick of his career.[97]

Luton's nine game-winning run was halted on 10 April with a 1–1 draw away to Tamworth, which saw the club fall to four points behind leaders Stevenage.[98] However, Luton's scoring form soon returned in a 6–3 home win against Histon three days later – a game that marked Tom Craddock's first senior hat-trick.[99]

A 0–0 home draw on 17 April with Altrincham, coupled with Stevenage's victory over Kidderminster that led to them being crowned as Conference Premier champions, meant that Luton's only hope of promotion was now through the play-offs.[100]

The last league game of the season on 24 April resulted in a 1–1 draw with play-off rivals Rushden & Diamonds, which meant Luton ended the season with a second-place finish. Results elsewhere left Luton to play York City in the two-legged play-off semi-final on 29 April and 3 May.[101]

Luton lost the first leg at Bootham Crescent 1–0, an 89th-minute goal from Richard Brodie leaving them having to win the return game to have any chance of playing in the final.[102]

Another 1–0 defeat in the home leg knocked Luton out of the play-offs, condemning them to at least another season in the Conference Premier.[103]

The clear out of players began on 7 May as Luton prepared for their second season in the division. Four players – Steve Basham, Shane Gore, Asa Hall and Rossi Jarvis – were released from their contracts, while a further four – Gavin Caines, Liam Hatch, Craig Nelthorpe and Mark Nwokeji – left the club as their loan period had ended.[104] As well as the changes to playing staff, the coaching staff were also subject to restructuring in the wake of the season ending. Chief scout Gary Brabin was promoted to the role of assistant manager, replacing Alan Neilson. Neilson was instead appointed to a coaching and youth development role, while first-team coach Kevin Watson left the club.[105]

Luton made their first signing of the season on 19 May, with Cambridge United defender Dan Gleeson making the move to Kenilworth Road on a free transfer.[106] Goalkeeper and former loanee Kevin Pilkington signed a permanent one-year contract a day later, having been released from Notts County. Striker Danny Crow, who had finished the season as Cambridge United's top scorer, signed on a free transfer on 21 May, penning a two-year contract.[107]

Luton were also boosted by Player of the Year George Pilkington and 18-goal striker Kevin Gallen signing contract extensions.[108][109]

On 27 May, Luton announced they were to sign Stevenage midfielder Andy Drury, who had played 30 league games during the season as the club claimed the Conference title, on a two-year contract beginning from 1 July 2010.[110]

Striker Ryan Charles and defender George Beavan were released from the club on 31 May.[111]

On 9 June, midfielder Keith Keane signed a new two-year contract.[112] On 28 June, defender János Kovács left the club and signed for Hereford United on a two-year contract.[113]