Amari’i Bell says Luton’s historic play-off final victory are what “dreams are made of” as they clinched promotion to the Premier League in a penalty shootout victory over Coventry City.
The two teams couldn’t be separated after extra-time with the scores at 1-1 so the shot at glory went down to the lottery of spot-kicks.
Town scored all six of theirs but a historic fourth promotion in nine years was confirmed when Fankaty Dabo blasted his sudden death kick high and wide.
It sparked huge scenes of joy in the Luton end of Wembley, where the penalties were taken, in front of fans who, ten years ago, were watching their team in the non-league.
“It’s what dreams are made of. Everybody associated with the club, they’re over the moon, as I am.
“It’s been a tough season, but we did it in the end. There’s no better way to do it. You can go up automatically but to go to the playoffs and go through that way it’s an experience and it’s amazing.”
Bell was part of the Luton side that missed out in the play-off semi-final last term and asked if he thought Town could win promotion when he signed from Blackburn Rovers, he said: I saw how the club had improved year by year, and there was something I wanted to be a part of. It’s gone from strength to strength and it’s just been amazing.
“I did believe it, especially after the first season, that was amazing. But the second season, now, with the experience from last year, we went all the way and did it.”
But Bell had to miss part of the celebrations when he was called in for a random drugs test.
“What a day to pick it. It was a nightmare but luckily, I did it quick and go back to the celebrations.”
And those festivities are expected to see Luton jet off to Las Vegas this week to celebrate and Bell said: “That’s probably going to be a plan. But we’re just going to enjoy the moment.”
First Bell was on the open top bus parade through Luton yesterday where thousands of Hatters gathered to get a glimpse of their newly promoted heroes. The defender told the club’s website: “You can see how much it means to everybody, the community to the football club, to us. This doesn’t come around every day so I think everyone’s just enjoying the moment.”
Bell scored the goal that effectively sealed the Conference title for Luton in 2014 when his goal opened the scoring for Kidderminster Harriers in a 2-0 win over Cambridge United, who were on the heels of the Hatters. That was confirmation of the start of Luton’s rise up the leagues.
Asked if he thought, back then, he’d be a Premier League player, the Jamaica international said: “Honestly? Yeah. I did think that. I had the belief. I thought it would’ve come sooner than now, but now’s the time. I’m delighted.
“It’s special. The people here, the boys, like everyone says, we love each other. The chemistry we’ve got is great. (It’s the) Premier League next season and we’ve got to work hard to compete in that league.”
The major downside to the final was that Bell’s centre back partner Tom Lockyer was stretchered off early in the game after he collapsed.
The 29-year-old said: “It was definitely quite concerning because I knew there was nobody around him and obviously, I saw him on the floor on his face and he did not look good so it was a bit worrying for me.
“I didn’t know whether to turn him over, but I thought I’d leave him to the medical staff because he’s in good hands there.
“There’s a lot of people we had to do it for and he’s one of them.”
The message from boss Rob Edwards to his players that they should win it for Lockyer, who was still in hospital so couldn’t make the trophy parade through town yesterday.
Bell said: “Before the gaffer said that anyway, we knew that stop we knew that we had to do it for him we knew that we had to do it for ourselves, for families, coming for the boys around the bench and in the stands watching on because they can’t affect the games, we had to do for them.”
