JAMES' SEASON REVIEW

The 2001-02 season will most certainly go down as the best season Luton Town Football Club have had in the past 10 years.  With a vastly experienced and astute manager in Joe Kinnear, many never doubted that the Hatters would bounce back into Division Two at the first attempt - and so it proved.

Manager Joe Kinnear.

Kinnear (pictured)made endless changes to the playing staff during the pre-season, allowing no less than 13 players to leave on free transfers - Nathan Abbey, Rocky Baptiste, Friedrich Breitenfelder, Kent Karlsen, Gavin McGowan, Paul Shepherd, Andre Scarlett, Julian Watts, Mark Stein, Tresor Kandol, Petri Helin and Dean Standen.  Kinnear also lost the services of last season's captain - Paul McLaren - who left for First Division Sheffield Wednesday on a Bosman free transfer after being offered more money by the Owls than Luton could afford to pay him.

Aaron Skelton: Returned.

However, new faces were also arriving - and the quality proved to be far superior to the players that had lost Luton's Second Division status.  The first new face was, in fact, an old face - Aaron Skelton (pictured), who had been released by Lennie Lawrence during his time as Hatters boss, came back to Kenilworth Road from Colchester United on a Bosman free transfer, and he was immediately installed as club captain.

Then, in came a new goalkeeper to compete with Mark Ovendale - Walsall shot-stopper Carl Emberson on a free transfer, and he proved to be a more than adequate Third Division goalkeeper, keeping Ovendale on the bench for the majority of the campaign.

Solid: Summer signing Kevin Nicholls.

Kinnear then made what some would say was the best signing of Luton's season - Wigan Athletic midfielder Kevin Nicholls (pictured), a £25,000 capture from the Latics.  Nicholls, a midfielder who was described as "Fiery and competitive" by Kinnear, would go on to earn the captaincy and play a key role in the promotion-drive. 

Another midfielder joined, Paul Hughes, on a free transfer after being released by Southampton, while £65,000 was spent on signing Norwich City's Adrian Forbes, a pacy and tricky winger who could also operate in attack.

Kinnear then spent a further £65,000 on a player he described as a "Natural goal scorer", Leyton Orient's Carl Griffiths, who had scored goals for fun for the O's and was looking to join an ambitious club.

Defender Russell Perrett signed from Cardiff City, again on a free transfer, as Kinnear used his old Wimbledon connections with Bluebirds chairman Sam Hammam to steal a player who was steady, reliable and experienced.

Kinnear now had what he felt were the foundations to build a successful campaign on - although there were to be plenty more faces arriving in Bedfordshire as the season progressed.

The season opened with a long trip to perennial strugglers Carlisle United - and the Hatters gave the 1,000 travelling Luton supporters plenty to cheer about - a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Griffiths, on his debut, and Hughes, also on his debut.

2-0: Carl Griffiths scores v Cheltenham.

Another new face arrived prior to the first home match of the campaign, as defender Ian Hillier joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and he made his debut as Cheltenham Town visited, and Hughes and Griffiths (pictured) did the trick again as Luton sealed a 2-1 win.  Successive defeats then followed, with a 4-0 thumping at Reading in the League Cup and a 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers in the League.  But, the Hatters were back to winning ways in a 2-0 win over Southend United at Kenilworth Road, Griffiths scoring again, with substitute Andrew Fotiadis netting a late second.

I am taking it: Howard argues at York.

New signing Hillier scored the winner in a 2-1 victory at York City, and he had done enough to persuade Kinnear to sign him permanently, a £30,000 fee exchanging hands between Luton and Tottenham for the Wales U-21 captain.  However, Hatters striker Steve Howard - still looking for his first goal of the season - was at the centre of controversy at York (pictured), as he missed a penalty and then, after the referee ordered it to be re-taken, took the penalty and missed again after being ordered by Kinnear not to take it.  He was subsequently substituted after arguing with his own players and his future with Luton looked bleak.

Luton had already started to push hard for an automatic promotion place, but Kinnear was less than happy with the amount of goals that were being conceded, so central defender Chris Coyne, a former Australia U-23 international, joined from Dundee for £50,000, and he formed a solid partnership in the centre of defence with fellow new-boy Russell Perrett.  He made his debut, but scored an own goal, as Lincoln City came away from Kenilworth Road with a point from a 1-1 draw.

C'est Magnifique: Valois on his debut.

But, later that week, another new signing came in...and many people did not know much about the new arrival.  Frenchman Jean-Louis Valois joined on a free transfer from Lille, and Kinnear told supporters that he was a "Left-winger" who "Could play a bit."  And boy could he!  He made his debut at home to Torquay United on September 22nd 2001 and many described his debut (pictured) as the best ever seen of a Luton player!  He was classy, jinxing through the Gulls defence and supplying copious amounts of sublime crosses for the Luton strikers Griffiths and Howard - who had been reinstated to the side and given a second chance by Kinnear.  Griffiths bagged a hat-trick, while Howard also netted - his first goal of the season.  But, it was Valois who stole the show and scored what was eventually voted the 'Goal of the Season' with a 35-yard strike that flew into the top corner of the net.  Hatters supporters were astounded that a player of his unquestionable ability would have pulled on a Luton shirt.  Surely he was too good for Third Division football?  Or was it a one-off?  In the meantime, Luton won the game 5-1 and moved up to 3rd place in the table.

Griffiths: Out for season.

A 3-1 win at Leyton Orient followed, which put Luton top of Division Three.  Valois was again magnificent, and he fired his second goal in as many games, with another long-range thunderbolt.  Luton supporters mouths were watering at the prospect of seeing him for the rest of the season.  The only worry was whether Luton could keep hold of him.  There was, however, bad news for Kinnear...top goal scorer Carl Griffiths (pictured), who had scored 7 goals in 10 games, broke his leg in the win at Brisbane Road and would miss the rest of the season - a huge blow for Kinnear, who now had to find a new natural goal scorer to play alongside Steve Howard, who had scored just 2 goals, against Torquay and in the win at Leyton Orient.

And the striker duly arrived in time to make his debut at Plymouth Argyle.  Dean Crowe joined on loan from Second Division Stoke City with a view to a permanent transfer.  He scored after 13 minutes of his debut at Home Park, but Luton lost 2-1, a result which saw them drop to 3rd.

Crowe celebrates his goal.

They were back on top again, though, a week later thanks to a 5-2 home win over Darlington, with Howard netting his 3rd goal of the season and Crowe (pictured) again on target to make it 2 goals from 2 games.  It was Valois who stole the show again though with his dazzling skills and yet another 30-yard strike into the top corner.

Yet another new face arrived prior to the trip to Scunthorpe, as Croatian midfielder Ahmet Brkovic signed after a successful trial.  Brkovic, who had left Leyton Orient under freedom of contract, made his debut as a second-half substitute at Glanford Park as Luton ran out 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Adrian Forbes and Russell Perrett (pictured).

Perrett: Sealed the points at Scunny.

A 0-1 home defeat to Rochdale followed, which was extremely disappointing as it saw Rochdale move to the top of Division Three, but the Hatters bounced back with a 4-2 win at struggling Halifax Town, Kevin Nicholls netting his first Luton goal in the process, and Dean Crowe notching another 2 goals, which earned him a permanent move to Kenilworth Road, on a free transfer.

A 3-0 home win over Swansea saw the Hatters regain the top position, before Joe Kinnear fielded a reserve team at Dagenham & Redbridge in the LDV Vans Trophy, and the Hatters lost 3-2 to end their interest (or lack of!) in the competition.

The Hatters then made the trip to Mansfield Town as the November fixtures were underway, and it was a crucial match as the Stags were also challenging for promotion themselves.  But, Luton put in a dire performance and were turned over 4-1, slipping to 4th in the table.

A Matthew Spring goal restored normality with a 1-0 home win over Shrewsbury Town in the following game (pictured), before an injury-hit Luton travelled to Southend United in the FA Cup 1st Round, but the Hatters lost 3-2, Brkovic scoring his first Luton goal - and it left Luton with just the League to concentrate on.

Another new face came in as Joe Kinnear continued to try to improve Luton's squad.  Midfielder Kevin Street signed on loan from Crewe Alexandra, but he only appeared twice and then got injured before returning to Gresty Road.

Promotion-chasing Hull City then came to Kenilworth Road for a Tuesday night match and did the same as Rochdale in that they inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Luton, and Luton dropped to 4th in the table.  The Hatters lost again in their following match - 4-1 at strugglers Macclesfield Town, who had just appointed ex-Hatters star David Moss as their new manager.  The Hatters were now enduring their worst run of form of the season and dropped to 5th place.

David Bayliss: Joined from Rochdale.

Kinnear, always attempting to strengthen the Hatters squad, increased his defensive options by signing Rochdale defender David Bayliss (pictured) on a free transfer until the end of the season, and he became a regular in the Luton rearguard, and was such a success he was offered a new two-year deal at the end of the season.

Bayliss made his Hatters debut as Luton took advantage of not being in the FA Cup 2nd Round by bringing forward their trip to Hartlepool and it did the trick as goals from Dean Crowe and Matthew Taylor, who had been in tremendous form all season, gave them a 2-1 win.

Liam George: Released by Kinnear.

Manager Joe Kinnear also begun to trim the squad by releasing midfielder Dean Brennan from his contract and allowing the ex-Sheffield Wednesday youngster to try to find another club.  Brennan eventually joined non-league Hitchin Town.  Perhaps more surprising was the departure of striker Liam George (pictured).  The once highly-promising youngster and automatic-choice had turned down a new contract during the summer, and George had stayed at Kenilworth Road on a week-to-week contract.  He could have started the season as Luton's main striker, but after turning down the contract offer, Kinnear signed several strikers and George was deemed surplus to requirements.

George had hardly featured during the campaign and his days at Kenilworth Road were numbered and, after initially turning down an approach from Second Division Colchester, he had a re-think, and looked all set to sign for the U's for a nominal fee at the end of November 2001.  However, George surprisingly failed a medical and the move to Layer Road was called off.  He returned to Kenilworth Road, but after a couple of weeks, his contract was paid up by mutual consent and he left Bedfordshire in the search for a new club, failing to impress at Gillingham, Sheffield United, Leyton Orient and Clydebank during trial spells.  He eventually signed for Conference outfit Stevenage Borough just prior to the 2001-02 transfer deadline day, linking up with ex-Luton assistant manager Wayne Turner, who had just been appointed as the new Stevenage manager.

Johnson celebrates a rare goal.

Kinnear had proved to be a ruthless manager and it was working - he had built a good side, and they were now starting to prove it as they beat Rushden & Diamonds 1-0 at Kenilworth Road and then a rare Marvin Johnson goal earned a 2-2 draw with Hartlepool (pictured).

Four consecutive away games looked difficult over the Christmas period, but the Hatters were in fine form, winning 2-1 at Oxford on Boxing Day, 2-1 at Southend three days later and then 4-1 at Kidderminster.  The fourth of the away games, at play-off chasing Cheltenham Town, finished 1-1, with Steve Howard scoring his 3rd goal in 5 games to make it 6 goals for the season.

Plymouth Argyle were the side that remained top, Paul Sturrock's men matching Luton's efforts every step of the way and continuing to surprise people with their run which had seen them rise up the table.

Another player then left Kenilworth Road.  Striker Peter Thomson, who had been signed for £100,000 from Dutch side NAC Breda by former manager Ricky Hill, was released.  Thomson was made available on a free transfer and he had a spell on loan at Rushden & Diamonds during the season, scoring on his debut in a win over Halifax, but in the two months period he was at Nene Park he failed to net again, and was told he would not be signed permanently after his 4 appearances.

He made just one appearance for Luton during the season - and scored - in the 3-2 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge in the LDV Vans Trophy. Having previously refused to have his contract paid up, Thomson finally decided in late January 2002 that he would never make the grade with the Hatters and he left, signing for Conference side Morecambe after an unsuccessful trial spell with Chester City. 

On the pitch, Luton just had to keep trying to win, but a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Carlisle United did not help matters, and neither did a 3-2 defeat at Darlington in the following game.

Job done: Howard sees off Plymouth..

However, Luton could try to peg back some points as Plymouth visited Kenilworth Road on February 2nd 2002 for the biggest game of the Hatters season.  A packed Kenilworth Road saw Luton win 2-0 with a Kevin Nicholls penalty and a Steve Howard header (pictured).  Howard was now scoring freely and was starting to earn rave reviews for his all-action style and goal scoring prowess.

A 1-0 defeat at Rochdale, who had now done the double over Luton, was another setback for the Hatters, and Joe Kinnear tried to halt the slide by signing former Scotland striker Gary McSwegan on loan from Hearts.  He made his debut at home to Scunthorpe, but he had a poor game, as most of the Luton players did, and Scunthorpe ran out 3-2 winners.  He returned to Scotland after 3 appearances and without a goal.

Hat-trick Hero: Steve Howard.

That was to be Luton's last defeat of the season, as they embarked on a magnificent run which saw them win 12 straight matches starting with a 3-0 home win over Bristol Rovers.  The run saw away wins over Torquay United, Lincoln City, Rushden & Diamonds, Swansea City and Hull City, with home wins over Bristol Rovers, York City, Leyton Orient, Exeter City, Kidderminster Harriers, Halifax Town and promotion-chasing Mansfield Town.  The goals were flying in, too.  Halifax were beaten 5-0, Mansfield were thumped 5-3 and Hull were beaten 4-0 on their own patch - Steve Howard netting the first ever hat-trick of his career (pictured).  Howard had now firmly caught the eye and was scoring for fun, the hat-trick at Hull taking his tally for the season to 23 - which made him the Division Three top goal scorer.  It was quite amazing, seeing as he had scored only 4 goals by Christmas.  Matthew Taylor was also catching the eye, his consistent performances alerting the attention of Premiership sides Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham, although Joe Kinnear stated he would only be sold if he received an offer of £2 million.  He had, prior to the Swansea away trip, scored 10 goals, a remarkable tally for a player who predominantly played at left-back.

Alan Neilson: Signed on a free transfer.

In between all of this, former Wales international defender Alan Neilson (pictured) had arrived on a free transfer, signing until the end of the season, after being released by Premiership Fulham.  Neilson had just spent a loan period at First Division Grimsby Town and he made his Hatters debut in the home win over York City on February 23rd 2002.  Neilson, like fellow new defender David Bayliss, was a consistent performer and was also offered a two-year deal at the end of the season, having only originally joined until the end of the season.

Promoted: After the win at Swansea.

The Hatters travelled to Swansea on March 30th 2002 knowing that a win would guarantee them promotion back to Division Two at the first attempt, and they duly responded by winning 3-1, Taylor, Howard and substitute Peter Holmes netting the crucial goals (pictured).  Plymouth had already secured their Second Division status for the 2002-03 season, but the Championship was still very much a two-horse race.

Kinnear had signed a new player on transfer deadline day - Steve Kabba, a pacy young striker from Crystal Palace had joined on loan until the end of the season, and he was an unknown quantity.  He did reasonably well during his time with Luton, but it remains to be seen whether he will be offered a permanent deal.

Another two players had also left.  Defender Jude Stirling joined Stevenage on loan under manager Paul Fairclough, but Fairclough was sacked in recent weeks. However, Stirling had done enough to be offered a permanent deal at Broadhall Way by his successor Wayne Turner and he signed for Stevenage.  Defender Stuart Fraser was paid £10,000 to terminate his contract, and he also joined Stevenage Borough, linking up with his ex-Luton teammate Stirling.

Luton knew that they had to win their remaining 2 games - at home to Macclesfield and away to Shrewsbury - to have any sort of chance of catching Plymouth and winning the Division Three Championship.  However, a 0-0 home draw with Macclesfield, which ended the run of 12 consecutive victories, which had set a club record, also ended the hopes of Luton taking the Championship.  Plymouth won their remaining matches anyway, so they were crowned Division Three Champions for the 2001-02 season.

Steve Howard: Golden Boot winner.

The Hatters did, however, end the season with a 2-0 win at Shrewsbury, as Steve Howard scored his 24th goal of a terrific season to claim the Division Three Golden Boot award (pictured).  Luton had won their first promotion for 20 years and Joe Kinnear has built a squad that is fit for Division Two - especially when he adds another 4 or 5 new players to it!

A great season - let's hope for more of the same from the 2002-03 campaign!

James Garley.