Peter Kioso became Luton’s first signing of the January transfer window, when he moved from Hartlepool United to the Championship club.
If the 20-year-old right back plays against Derby County on Tuesday night it will be his Football League debut, having been released by MK Dons in 2017 and resurrecting his career at Southern League outfit Dunstable Town.
He moved to the north-east in the summer of 2018, where his performances for the Pools alerted Town to his talents.
But Kioso is not the first Luton player to have been plucked from the non-league. So, who are Town’s most successful signings from lower down the football pyramid?
Here’s our rundown of the best of a bunch that could went on to cut it in the Football League….
8. Dave Pacey
Dave Pacey was born in Luton but he began his career at neighbouring Hitchin Town, signing for the Hatters in 1957 at the age of 21.
He played for Town for eight years, scoring in the 1959 FA Cup Final as they lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest.
7. Andre Gray
Signed from Hinckley Town in 2012 after impressive performances against Luton in the FA Trophy, Andre Gray was initially signed on loan, with a view to a permanent move. But his love affair with Luton began immediately when scored in his Luton debut, a 1-1 draw with Grimsby, and then notched in his next three games, becoming the first player in the club’s history to score in his opening four games.
His goals would fire Town to Wembley for a play-off final against York City and though he notched in 74 seconds the Hatters lost 2-1.
But his form was enough to be offered a two-year deal and by the end of it, he’d fired 30 goals in 45 appearances, to shoot Luton back to the Football League after five years away.
While he didn’t feature for Town in the Football League, after Brentford bought him in the summer of 2014, he adapted seamlessly to the Championship, which is one of the most recent blueprints that Luton’s latest signing Peter Kioso can make the grade in the second tier.
6. Bernard Streten
Goalkeeper Bernard Streten move to Luton from then non-league Shrewsbury Town in 1947, making 276 Football League appearances for Town and winning one international cap for England as the Three Lions beat Irelands 9-2 on 16 November 1949.
5. Bob Morton
Bob Morton holds the record for the most appearances for Luton Town with 550, including 495 in the Football League.
Town took him from Waterlows in 1945, initially on amateur forms and then on a professional contract a year later.
It would not be until 1948 that he made his debut, but he was a mainstay of the team until he left in 1964.
4. Joe Payne
Joe Payne still hold the Football League record of most goals in one game, when he smashed ten past Bristol Rovers in a 12-0 Luton win on April 13, 1936.
A coalminer as a teenager, he was spotted by the Hatters playing as a centre forward for Derbyshire side Bolsover Colliery in 1934.
Payne also notched a a club record 55 goals in 39 matches, firing Town to the Third Division South Championship, He scored 87 goals in 77 appearances for Hatters and also bagged a brace in his only England appearance, an 8-0 triumph over Finland.
3. Ron Baynham
Goalkeeper Ron Baynham moved from Worcester City to Luton in 1951, striking up a healthy competition with Bernard Streten. Baynham became Town’s regular number one in 1955, going on to make 434 appearances for the club, including in the 1959 FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
He won three caps for England, but continued to play for Luton until his retirement at the age of 35, in 1964.
Ron celebrated his 90th birthday last year and on May 2 was made a guest of honour at Kenilworth Road for the 60th anniversary of the club’s only FA Cup Final appearance.
2. Mal Donaghy
A mainstay of Luton’s defence during their most successful period in the top flight of English football, Mal Donaghy was spotted playing for Northern Ireland amateur side Cromac Albion in 1978 and, after playing just 20 games for the club, was signed by David Pleat for £20,000.
In a decade at Kenilworth Rd the defender helped the Hatters to promotion from the Second Division as champions and was part of the 1988 Littlewoods Cup Final winning team that beat Arsenal 3-2.
During his time at Town he won 91 caps with Northern Ireland, playing in both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups finals.
But after 488 appearances, the defender was signed by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for £650,00 in 1988 at the age of 31.
1. Brian Stein
The legendary Luton striker was plucked from Edgeware Town in 1977 by then Hatters manager David Pleat.
Stein went on to play for Town in two spells spanning 13 years, scoring 154 goals in 496 appearances. Though only third in the club’s all-time goalscorer list, he scored arguably his most famous Luton goals of the modern era, when he bagged a brace and set up the other in the 3-2 1988 Littlewoods Cup Final victory against Arsenal.
His second strike at the death ensured the Hatters won 3-2, picking up their first and only major trophy.
Stein also won an England cap in 1984 and after retiring in 1993 he had spells as Luton’s reserve team coach, assistant manager and caretaker manager.
Can you think of any more Hatters that made the successful switch from non-league to the Football League?
Enoch Showumni scouted playing park football and Isaac Vassell from Truro City.
Emeka Nwaijobi. Check the spelling.