Today, Luton will play for a place in the Premier League for the first time in our history – but the ramifications for the Town are just as important.
In a weird twist of fate, the final is 20 years to the day that the very existence of the club was under threat, as fans took to the streets of Oak Road and Maple Road to protest against anonymous new owners.
We all know the journey in those two decades, two administrations, 40 points deducted, three relegations and the club literally on its knees. If it was a normal club it would have gone out of business, folded meekly like the authorities wanted it to do.
Thankfully Luton Town is no ordinary club and us fans refused to let it die. We suffered. We went through five years of hurt and embarrassment in non-league, losing to clubs you needed a sat nav to know where in the country they were, but then along came our saviour John Still and after he turned it all around the rise has been extraordinary.
Three promotions, a great escape and a brilliant season which could have ended in play-off glory but for injuries and simply running out of legs, the climb back has been as incredible as the demise and now we face the biggest day in our history.
90 minutes, potentially 30 more and maybe even a few extra kicks from a place in the Premier League, the competition we voted for but are yet to kick a ball in.
A spot at the top table again doesn’t just complete the circle, the comeback and the amazing story, it sets up our future financially for years to come. It will also boost our town in a way nothing has before. Luton as a whole will be able to shine bright and show how great it is. As a Lutonian born and bred, that means as much, if not more, than any football outcome.
Today more than 37,000 of us will descend on Wembley. Some will have endured, and at times enjoyed, the last two decades, some will have begun the journey midway through and some will have picked up with the good times.
That doesn’t matter. Today is for all of us as we get to show the world how special our club is on the very doorstep of those who didn’t want us in existence.
We all deserve our day out. Hopefully it pans out the way we all want it to but whatever happens, just to make it this close to the promised land again from where we were 20 years ago gives us all reason to be extremely proud.
Come on you Hatters!
