1974–75 Luton Town F.C. season

Luton Town
197475 season
Chairman Robert Keens (until 21 December 1974)[1]
Len Hawkins (from 21 December 1974)[1]
Manager Harry Haslam
Football League First Division 20th (relegated)
FA Cup Third Round
Football League Cup Third Round
Texaco Cup Group Stage
Top goalscorer League:
Adrian Alston (7)

All:
Adrian Alston (8)
Highest home attendance 23,096 vs Chelsea (First Division, 11 January 1975)
Lowest home attendance 10,073 vs Bristol Rovers (Football League Cup, 11 September 1974)
Average home league attendance 17,396[2]
Home colours
Away colours

The 197475 season was the 89th season in the history of Luton Town Football Club. It was Luton Town's 55th consecutive season in the Football League, and their 58th overall. It was also the team's first season in the First Division since 195960, and their sixth overall. The season saw Luton narrowly relegated back to Division Two.

This article covers the period from 1 July 1974 to 30 June 1975.

Background

Following promotion from the Fourth Division in 1966–67, Luton consolidated under first Allan Brown, then Alec Stock before rising another division following a successful 1969–70 campaign in which Malcolm Macdonald scored 28 goals. Macdonald scored 31 during 1970–71 as Luton finished sixth in the Second Division, and was sold to Newcastle United at the end of the season to ease the club's financial worries. Harry Haslam replaced Stock in 1972, and along with him came the ambition to return to Division One after a 12-year absence. Luton fans would have to wait two more years for Haslam to deliver the third promotion; in 1973–74 the team finished second in Division Two behind Middlesbrough, and ensured that for 1974–75 Luton would be a top division club once again.

Review

JulySeptember

After failing to progress past the group stage of the Texaco Cup, Luton began the campaign badly. The first victory came in the League Cup, as Luton beat Bristol Rovers on 11 September; in the league, a series of losses and draws prevailed. On the 28th, Luton finally won a league match, beating Carlisle United 31. This win lifted Luton out of the relegation places, and up to 17th in the division.

OctoberDecember

The team then went 11 matches without a victory, including a run of six straight defeats. Luton crashed out of the League Cup and by mid-December, they were bottom of the league and eight points away from safety. Starting with a 10 home win over Derby County, Luton suddenly won three successive matches and reduced the gap to five points.

JanuaryMarch

A draw with Chelsea meant that Luton came off the foot of the table, but it was followed by defeat in the FA Cup to Birmingham City. A disappointing home loss at the hands of Burnley sent Luton straight back to the bottom of the league, and put them six points behind 19th placed Chelsea. A draw at Sheffield United, followed by a victory over Newcastle United and another draw with Stoke City, saw Luton come within four points of survival. A 31 defeat at Everton on 25 February resulted in no further ground being made up.

Two more straight defeats followed, and the gap remained four points. Luton then won three matches on the trot, against Carlisle, Leeds and Arsenal, to be only two points behind Chelsea. The team were brought back down to earth sharply towards the end of March by a 50 annihilation at Derby County and a 52 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers these put Luton back down to 21st, though still only three points behind Leicester City in 19th.

AprilMay

Defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on 5 April sent Luton back to the bottom of the league and increased the gap to five points with only eight left to gain from Luton's final four matches. Luton managed a 21 home win over Everton, before beating Leicester 30 to be only one point away. A 41 victory at Birmingham put Luton level on points with Tottenham, with the North London team ahead on goal average. Manchester City would visit Luton on 26 April for their final match, while Tottenham would have to travel to Highbury to face their rivals Arsenal before entertaining Leeds United two days later. Luton could only draw with Manchester City, while Tottenham were defeated 10 at Arsenal; Luton therefore rose out of the relegation zone for the first time since October. However, Tottenham beat Leeds 42 on the 28th, and therefore leapfrogged Luton into 19th place. Thus, Luton were sentenced to Division Two football in 197576.

Match results

Luton Town results given first.[3]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

For information on this season's First Division, see The Football League 1974–75.
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes
17 August 1974LiverpoolHome1–221,216Butlin
19 August 1974West Ham UnitedAway0–223,182
24 August 1974MiddlesbroughAway1–121,478Butlin
28 August 1974West Ham UnitedHome0–016,931
31 August 1974Queens Park RangersHome1–118,535John Ryan
7 September 1974Leeds UnitedAway1–126,516Butlin
14 September 1974Ipswich TownHome1–417,577Alston
21 September 1974ArsenalAway2–221,649Alston, Shanks
24 September 1974Coventry CityAway1–215,643Jimmy Ryan (pen)
28 September 1974Carlisle UnitedHome3–112,987Anderson, Alston, Jimmy Ryan (pen)
5 October 1974Leicester CityAway0–019,024
12 October 1974Birmingham CityHome1–315,097Hindson
16 October 1974MiddlesbroughHome0–110,464
19 October 1974Manchester CityAway0–130,649
26 October 1974Tottenham HotspurHome1–122,420Aston
2 November 1974Newcastle UnitedAway0–130,141
9 November 1974Sheffield UnitedHome0–112,670
16 November 1974Stoke CityAway2–420,646Anderson, Garner
30 November 1974BurnleyHome2–311,816Faulkner, Spiring
7 December 1974ChelseaAway0–219,009
14 December 1974LiverpoolAway0–235,151
21 December 1974Derby CountyHome1–012,862Jimmy Ryan (pen)
26 December 1974Ipswich TownAway1–023,406R. Futcher
28 December 1974Wolverhampton WanderersHome3–219,642R. Futcher (3)
11 January 1975ChelseaHome1–123,096Husband
18 January 1975BurnleyAway0–117,237
1 February 1975Sheffield UnitedAway1–117,270Anderson
8 February 1975Newcastle UnitedHome1–018,019R. Futcher
22 February 1975Stoke CityHome0–019,894
25 February 1975EvertonAway1–335,714Aston
1 March 1975Queens Park RangersAway1–219,583Alston
8 March 1975Coventry CityHome1–314,423Aston
15 March 1975Carlisle UnitedAway2–18,339Aston, R. Futcher
22 March 1975Leeds UnitedHome2–123,048Aston, Anderson
25 March 1975ArsenalHome2–122,120Jimmy Ryan (pen), R. Futcher
29 March 1975Derby CountyAway0–524,619
31 March 1975Wolverhampton WanderersAway2–522,689Seasman, Jimmy Ryan
5 April 1975Tottenham HotspurAway1–225,796Alan West
9 April 1975EvertonHome2–113,437Anderson (2)
12 April 1975Leicester CityHome3–018,298Alston, own goal, Husband
19 April 1975Birmingham CityAway4–128,755Jimmy Ryan, Alston (2), Husband
26 April 1975Manchester CityHome1–120,768Jimmy Ryan

FA Cup

For information on this season's FA Cup, see FA Cup 1974–75.
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes
3rd Round4 January 1975Birmingham CityHome0–117,543

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes
2nd Round11 September 1974Bristol RoversHome1–010,073Alston
3rd Round8 October 1974Sheffield UnitedAway0–214,150

Texaco Cup

For information on this competition, see Texaco Cup.
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes
Group stage3 August 1974SouthamptonHome1–1unknownButlin
Group stage7 August 1974West Ham UnitedAway2–1unknownAnderson, Husband
Group stage10 August 1974OrientAway2–2unknownButlin, Husband

League table

P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GAvg
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1Derby County (C)4221111067491.36753European Cup 1975–76
First round
2Liverpool4220111160391.53851UEFA Cup 1975–76
First round
3Ipswich Town422351466441.50051
4Everton421618856421.33350
5Stoke City4217151064481.33349
6Sheffield United4218131158511.13749
7Middlesbrough4218121254401.35048
8Manchester City4218101454541.00046
9Leeds United4216131357491.16345
10Burnley4217111468671.01545
11Queens Park Rangers4216101654541.00042
12Wolverhampton Wanderers4214111757541.05639
13West Ham United4213131658590.98339UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1975–76
First round
14Coventry City4212151551620.82339
15Newcastle United421591859720.81939
16Arsenal4213111847490.95937
17Birmingham City421491953610.86937
18Leicester City4212121846600.76736
19Tottenham Hotspur421382152630.82534
20Luton Town4211112047650.72333Relegation to
Second Division
21Chelsea429151842720.58333
22Carlisle United421252543590.72929

Player details

Last match played on 26 April 1975.
Players arranged in order of starts (in all competitions), with the greater number of substitute appearances taking precedence in case of an equal number of started matches.[3]
Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Texaco Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
MFEngland Alan West 421102030481
MFEngland Peter Anderson 406102031467
DFEngland John Ryan 381102010421
FWEngland Jimmy Husband 333102032395
MFScotland Jimmy Ryan 30 (1)710103035 (1)7
FWEngland John Faulkner 341100000351
MFEngland John Aston 32510000 (1)033 (1)5
GKEngland Keith Barber 26000200 (1)028 (1)0
DFEngland Steve Buckley 240101000260
MFEngland Gordon Hindson 171002030230
DFEngland Bobby Thomson 170001030210
FWAustralia Adrian Alston 18 (3)700210020 (3)8
DFEngland Paul Futcher 19010000 (1)020 (1)0
GKEngland Brian Horn 160100030200
DFEngland Don Shanks 15 (1)100202019 (1)1
FWEngland Ron Futcher 16 (1)710000017 (1)7
DFEngland Steve Litt 120001030160
DFEngland Alan Garner 91001 (1)03013 (1)1
FWEngland Barry Butlin 93001032135
MFEngland Brian Chambers 6000000060
FWEngland Peter Spiring 5 (2)10000005 (2)1
FWEngland Rodney Fern 3000000030
MFEngland John Seasman 1 (1)00000001 (1)0
MFEngland Lil Fuccillo 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
MFEngland Andy King 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
FWScotland Maitland Pollock 000 (1)000000 (1)0
own goal 10001

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 Collings (1985) p. 141.
  2. Collings (1985) p. 350.
  3. 1 2 Bailey (1997) p. 62.
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