A week ago, Rob Edwards and his coaching staff celebrated a year in charge at Kenilworth Road and as it fell during an international break I had plenty of time to reflect on what a special 12 months it has been.
A year ago we were all watching the World Cup, eagerly awaiting the return of club football to see what the second post-Nathan Jones era would have to offer.
I interviewed Rob for the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust podcast the week of his first match away to Middlesbrough and the confidence and clarity that he spoke with reassured me that we were going to be fine, moving forward, but even I didn’t foresee the standout year it has been.
While that match at Middlesbrough ended in late disappointment, it didn’t take long for things to pick up speed under Edwards and in the ensuing 11 months I have been treated to some of the best memories I have ever had at football, ones I will never ever forget.
From seemingly smaller moments at the time which you look back on as being big, such as the Cauley Woodrow winner against Norwich or that classic away display at Sheffield United in March, to huge occasions like those wins over Watford and Sunderland and the day none of us will forget at Wembley in May, it has been such a fun ride.
Given where we were just 10 years ago, I never thought I’d see Luton play in the Premier League but Edwards is the man who delivered that dream for us all and what an enjoyable journey it has been, even though we probably deserve more points than we’ve got.
Once again, those who were at Goodison Park in September will remember the day for a while, as will those who were lifting the roof off the Kenny when Tahith Chong put us 1-0 up against Liverpool at the beginning of the month.
What has been most pleasing about the path that Rob and his coaching staff have taken us on is it has been done with a humility and a calmness that we have all fallen in love with.
He invited us onto the journey and advised us to dream big and then delivered those dreams for all of us and hopefully the direction of travel continues to go forward for some time yet.
This has probably been my most enjoyable year as a Luton fan. It has included so many special memories and taken me to places such as Stamford Bridge, Goodison Park, Old Trafford and all the other great grounds to come which seemed out of reach not too long ago.
It has been a brilliant first year under Edwards and co and given how good it has been I hope there are plenty more years to come with him in charge.
