London Luton Airport has unveiled a huge grass painting of Hatters history-maker Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu that will be seen from the skies to mark the football club’s debut season in the Premier League.
The Town midfielder became the first ever player to get promoted from the non-league to the top flight with the same club when he helped them to victory in the Championship play-off final in May.
One more piece of history awaits the DR Congo international if he features in Saturday’s Premier League curtain-raiser at Brighton and Hove Albion. If he does he be the first ever player to play in all top five English divisions with the same club.
The 2,275sqm grass painting in Stockwood Park, which sits beneath the airport’s flight path and close to the team’s training ground, will be seen by travellers taking off and landing at the town’s airport and features the tongue-in-cheek slogan ‘Pundits. Prepare to eat your hats’, after Luton have been installed as favourites to get relegated.
Mpanzu said: “The journey that this team and I have been on personally throughout my 10 years at Luton Town FC has been incredible. I’ve been bowled over by the love of the community during my years playing for the club, but seeing London Luton Airport create this today to cheer the team on has been out of this world.
“I can’t believe they’ve committed to showing their support by bringing their message and me to life on such a huge scale. We’re feeling confident for our first game and we’ll do all we can to prove people wrong.”
Hatters manager, Rob Edwards, said: “I speak on behalf of the whole team when I say that we are filled with immense pride and gratitude to our community. A tremendous thank you to London Luton Airport, for its remarkable show of support through the creation of this impressive good luck message on their flight path. This symbol of community will inspire the players for the games ahead and we hope we give fans a season to be proud of.”
The huge painting measures 55 by 45 metres, which is the same width as the airport’s runway (45m) and the size of 87 London buses.
The installation took over two days to create with over 500 litres of environmentally friendly paint and is set to be viewed by thousands of holidaymakers set to travel through the airport next week.
Kerri Skingle, a member of the Guest Experience team at London Luton Airport and an avid Luton Town fan said: “The team’s promotion to the Premier League means so much to the people of the town and it’s amazing that LLA wants to show the players this simple and friendly demonstration of support for the upcoming season.
“It means a lot to the local community for the airport to stand behind the team on such a large scale and I feel really proud to be a part of it. We’re all behind the club and we wish them the best of luck in the match against the Seagulls [Brighton and Hove Albion football team] this Saturday.”
Neil Thompson, Operations Director at London Luton Airport, said: “As members of the local community for the past 85 years, we felt it was important to commemorate this historic moment for the town and for the team and wanted to cheer them on from a high-altitude, as well as on the ground. We’re hoping Pelly and the rest of the team can spend the season in the Premier League flying high, but whatever happens, we’ll be there alongside the fans to support them. Up the Hatters!”
