1974–75 Luton Town F.C. season
English football club season
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The 1974–75 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 1959–60, and their sixth overall. The season saw Luton narrowly relegated back to Division Two.
| 1974–75 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] | ||
| Biggest win | 4–1 v Birmingham City (A), First Division, 19 April 1975 | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–5 v Derby County (A), First Division, 29 March 1975 | ||
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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
July–September
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 3–1. This win lifted Luton out of the relegation places, and up to 17th in the division.
October–December
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 1–0 home win over Derby County, Luton suddenly won three successive matches and reduced the gap to five points.
January–March
A draw with Chelsea meant that Luton came off the foot of the table, but defeat at Burnley sent them straight back to the bottom, 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 3–1 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 5–0 annihilation at Derby County and a 5–2 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers – these put Luton back down to 21st, though still only three points behind Leicester City in 19th.
April–May
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 2–1 home win over Everton, before beating Leicester 3–0 to be only one point away. A 4–1 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 1–0 at Arsenal; Luton therefore rose out of the relegation zone for the first time since October. However, Tottenham beat Leeds 4–2 on the 28th, and therefore leapfrogged Luton into 19th place. Thus, Luton were sentenced to Division Two football in 1975–76.
Match results
Texaco Cup
| 3 August 1974 Group B | Luton Town | 1–1 | Southampton | Luton |
Butlin  40' |
Chatterley 54' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 8,445 |
| 7 August 1974 Group B | West Ham United | 1–2 | Luton Town | London |
| Bonds 72' (pen.) |
Husband 9' Anderson 49' |
Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 14,705 |
| 10 August 1974 Group B | Orient | 2–2 | Luton Town | London |
| Walley 21' Queen 87' |
Husband 56' Butlin 58' |
Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 5,443 |
First Division
| 17 August 1974 1 | Luton Town | 1–2 | Liverpool | Luton |
| Butlin 27' |
Smith 32' Heighway 74' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 21,216 |
| 19 August 1974 2 | West Ham United | 2–0 | Luton Town | London |
| Lampard 4' Bonds 18' |
Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 23,182 |
| 24 August 1974 3 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Luton Town | Middlesbrough |
| Mills 18' |
Butlin 89' |
Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 21,478 |
| 28 August 1974 4 | Luton Town | 0–0 | West Ham United | Luton |
| Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 16,931 |
| 31 August 1974 5 | Luton Town | 1–1 | Queens Park Rangers | Luton |
| John Ryan 7' |
Bowles 34' (pen.) |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 18,535 |
| 7 September 1974 6 | Leeds United | 1–1 | Luton Town | Leeds |
| Clarke 27' |
Butlin 32' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 26,516 |
| 14 September 1974 7 | Luton Town | 1–4 | Ipswich Town | Luton |
| Alston 67' |
Talbot 9', 58' (pen.) Hamilton 29'Whymark 80' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 17,577 |
| 21 September 1974 8 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Luton Town | London |
| Kidd 43', 62' |
Alston 53' Shanks 81' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 21,649 |
| 24 September 1974 9 | Coventry City | 2–1 | Luton Town | Coventry |
| Stein 8' Cross 40' |
Jimmy Ryan 84' (pen.) |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 15,643 |
| 28 September 1974 10 | Luton Town | 3–1 | Carlisle United | Luton |
| Anderson 12' Alston 56'Jimmy Ryan 78' (pen.) |
Laidlaw 37' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,987 |
| 5 October 1974 11 | Leicester City | 0–0 | Luton Town | Leicester |
| Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 19,024 |
| 12 October 1974 12 | Luton Town | 1–3 | Birmingham City | Luton |
| Hindson 11' |
Francis 3', 5', 70' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 15,097 |
| 16 October 1974 13 | Luton Town | 0–1 | Middlesbrough | Luton |
| Foggon 16' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 10,464 |
| 19 October 1974 14 | Manchester City | 1–0 | Luton Town | Manchester |
| Summerbee 67' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 30,649 |
| 25 October 1974 15 | Luton Town | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Luton |
| Aston 87' |
Chivers 67' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 22,420 |
| 2 November 1974 16 | Newcastle United | 1–0 | Luton Town | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Tudor 76' |
Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 30,141 |
| 9 November 1974 17 | Luton Town | 0–1 | Sheffield United | Luton |
| Currie 58' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,670 |
| 16 November 1974 18 | Stoke City | 4–2 | Luton Town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Hudson 2' Robertson 60'Greenhoff 62', 67' |
Anderson 29' Garner 73' |
Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 20,646 |
| 30 November 1974 19 | Luton Town | 2–3 | Burnley | Luton |
| Faulkner 42' Spiring 52' |
Hankin 36', 54' James 49' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 11,816 |
| 7 December 1974 20 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Luton Town | London |
| Hutchinson 49' Kember 75' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 19,009 |
| 14 December 1974 21 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Luton Town | Liverpool |
| Toshack 47' Heighway 84' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,151 |
| 21 December 1974 22 | Luton Town | 1–0 | Derby County | Luton |
| Jimmy Ryan 80' (pen.) |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,862 |
| 26 December 1974 23 | Ipswich Town | 0–1 | Luton Town | Ipswich |
| R. Futcher 90' |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 23,406 |
| 28 December 1974 24 | Luton Town | 3–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Luton |
| R. Futcher 38', 42', 83' |
Munro 23' Powell 69' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 19,642 |
| 11 January 1975 25 | Luton Town | 1–1 | Chelsea | Luton |
| Husband 63' |
Kember 82' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 23,096 |
| 18 January 1975 26 | Burnley | 1–0 | Luton Town | Burnley |
| Ingham 34' |
Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 17,237 |
| 1 February 1975 27 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Luton Town | Sheffield |
| Woodward 28' |
Anderson 81' |
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 17,270 |
| 8 February 1975 28 | Luton Town | 1–0 | Newcastle United | Luton |
| R. Futcher 56' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 18,019 |
| 22 February 1975 29 | Luton Town | 0–0 | Stoke City | Luton |
| Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 19,894 |
| 25 February 1975 30 | Everton | 3–1 | Luton Town | Liverpool |
| Telfer 15' Dobson 26'Latchford 52' |
Aston 68' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 35,714 |
| 1 March 1975 31 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–1 | Luton Town | London |
| Givens 38' Rogers 83' |
Alston 39' |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 19,583 |
| 8 March 1975 32 | Luton Town | 1–3 | Coventry City | Luton |
| Aston 55' |
Alderson 9', 25' Green 78' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 14,423 |
| 15 March 1975 33 | Carlisle United | 1–2 | Luton Town | Carlisle |
| Laidlaw 56' |
Aston 62' R. Futcher 87' |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 8,339 |
| 22 March 1975 34 | Luton Town | 2–1 | Leeds United | Luton |
| Aston 3' Anderson 12' |
Jordan 88' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 23,048 |
| 25 March 1975 35 | Luton Town | 2–0 | Arsenal | Luton |
| Jimmy Ryan 48' (pen.) R. Futcher 56' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 22,120 |
| 29 March 1975 36 | Derby County | 5–0 | Luton Town | Derby |
| Davies 8', 12', 33', 78', 86' |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,619 |
| 31 March 1975 37 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5–2 | Luton Town | Wolverhampton |
| Carr 7' Hibbitt 33' (pen.), 42', 57'Withe 60' |
Seasman 15' Jimmy Ryan 29' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 22,689 |
| 5 April 1975 38 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–1 | Luton Town | London |
| Duncan 19' Conn 85' |
West 26' |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 25,796 |
| 9 April 1975 39 | Luton Town | 2–1 | Everton | Luton |
| Anderson 40', 44' |
Latchford 20' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 13,437 |
| 12 April 1975 40 | Luton Town | 3–0 | Leicester City | Luton |
| Alston 22' Weller  36' (o.g.)Husband 77' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 18,298 |
| 19 April 1975 41 | Birmingham City | 1–4 | Luton Town | Birmingham |
| Francis 61' |
John Ryan 13' Alston 44', 48'Husband 75' |
Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 28,755 |
| 26 April 1975 42 | Luton Town | 1–1 | Manchester City | Luton |
| Jimmy Ryan 72' |
Tueart 13' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 20,768 |
League Cup
| 11 September 1974 2nd Round | Luton Town | 1–0 | Bristol Rovers | Luton |
| Alston 36' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 10,073 |
| 8 October 1974 2nd Round | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Luton Town | Sheffield |
| Eddy 14' Bradford 58' |
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 14,150 |
FA Cup
| 4 January 1975 3rd Round | Luton Town | 0–1 | Birmingham City | Luton |
| Kendall 47' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 17,543 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Leicester City | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 46 | 60 | 0.767 | 36 | |
| 19 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 52 | 63 | 0.825 | 34 | |
| 20 | Luton Town (R) | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 47 | 65 | 0.723 | 33 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 21 | Chelsea (R) | 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 42 | 72 | 0.583 | 33 | |
| 22 | Carlisle United (R) | 42 | 12 | 5 | 25 | 43 | 59 | 0.729 | 29 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated
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.[4]
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Texaco Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| MF |  Alan West |
42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 1 |
| MF | Peter Anderson |
40 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 46 | 7 |
| DF | John Ryan |
38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| FW | Jimmy Husband |
33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 39 | 5 |
| MF |  Jimmy Ryan |
30 (1) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 35 (1) | 7 |
| FW | John Faulkner |
34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| MF | John Aston |
32 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 33 (1) | 5 |
| GK | Keith Barber |
26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 28 (1) | 0 |
| DF | Steve Buckley |
24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| MF | Gordon Hindson |
17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| DF | Bobby Thomson |
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| FW |  Adrian Alston |
18 (3) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 (3) | 8 |
| DF | Paul Futcher |
19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 20 (1) | 0 |
| GK | Graham Horn |
16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| DF | Don Shanks |
15 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 (1) | 1 |
| FW | Ron Futcher |
16 (1) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 (1) | 7 |
| DF | Steve Litt |
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| DF | Alan Garner |
9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 (1) | 1 |
| FW | Barry Butlin |
9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 5 |
| MF | Brian Chambers |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | Peter Spiring |
5 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (2) | 1 |
| FW | Rodney Fern |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | John Seasman |
1 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 |
| MF | Lil Fuccillo |
0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| MF | Andy King |
0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| FW | Maitland Pollock |
0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| — | own goal | — | 1 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 1 |