A new book telling the remarkable story of Luton Town’s meteoric rise from the depths of non-league football to the Premier League has just been released — and it’s the definitive account of one of football’s greatest modern fairytales.
“Luton Town’s Miracle – The Fairytale Rise From Non-League to The Premier League” is the work of lifelong Hatters fan and journalist Rob Hadgraft, who has followed the club home and away for over 50 years.
From cold, rainy afternoons in Braintree and Eastbourne to hosting the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal at Kenilworth Road, the book captures the emotion, setbacks and triumphs of a decade that defied all odds.
Luton Town spent five long years stuck in the Conference between 2009 and 2014, following financial collapse, boardroom mismanagement and points deductions. But after years of play-off heartbreak, the club finally clawed its way back to the Football League — and from there began a jaw-dropping nine-year ascent that culminated in a Wembley play-off final win in 2023, securing a place among the elite of English football.
What makes this story even more extraordinary is that no other club has ever achieved such a rise in such a short space of time, especially on the sort of budget that Luton operated on.
The book is told month-by-month, offering a detailed look at the key moments, matches and milestones of the decade that changed everything. It mixes fan perspective, behind-the-scenes context and wry humour, making it a must-read for anyone who lived through the journey — or still finds it hard to believe.
The foreword is written by fellow Luton fan and broadcaster Faye Carruthers (Sky Sports, Talksport), who reflects on what the club’s rise has meant to supporters everywhere.
Having previously written books on sporting history, Hadgraft’s tome aims to tell the full story, not just of the Premier League season, but how the Hatters got there — the whole journey.
“Luton Town’s Miracle” is available now in paperback from Amberley Publishing, Amazon, Waterstones and as a digital download via Kindle, Kobo and Apple Books.
