Here we are then. 15 years since the last time it happened, we face our rivals from down the road at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
A few weeks ago on the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust podcast, I almost dismissed the game due to the fact that none of us will be there, rendering it just a game of football in a sterile setting, but as I write this column less than 48 hours before kick off, I now realise I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I notice that Nathan Jones has played down the game a touch in the lead-up to it, which is understandable, but everyone at the club knows just what this game means, particularly in light of our defeat down there earlier in the season.
A derby is about rivalry, passion, tension, intimidation, pride and everything that goes with it and although some of that will inevitably be dulled down on Saturday with no fans there to watch it, none of it means any less overall.
I’m fortunate enough to have been a Luton fan for more than 30 years. I’ve experienced this derby many times. Some of my best memories as a Hatter come from this game – Marvin’s equaliser, the 4-2 win at their place, THAT goal from Springy on that magical night, Berko’s equaliser and plenty more besides.
Luton hated Watford long before I arrived on the scene and we’ll still hate Watford long after I can physically drag myself over to Power Court to watch the Town play, so we might not be there on Saturday in body but we’ll all be there in spirit and it will mean just as much as if we were there.
We’re having a good season and a win on Saturday will crown it nicely. It is the sort of game that if someone who hasn’t had a great campaign scores the winner all will be forgiven. If it is someone who has had a good year that player will be remembered for a while.
Here’s hoping that someone in orange is a hero on Saturday and in doing so goes a long way to scuppering their promotion hopes so that we can have this fixture next season when we can all attend and enjoy everything about the game.
Then it really will mean absolutely everything!
