The Glorious rise of Luton town

 The English Football League (EFL) Championship stories tend to receive less media coverage compared to the Premier League and other major competitions for a few reasons due to less media coverage, non lucrative broadcasting environment of the EFL, the competitive nature of football globally, the lack of high-profile players and the league's localized support limits its broader visibility beyond dedicated fans. However, it's important to acknowledge that Championship stories still hold significance to passionate followers of the league.

Luton Town, blew out of the water, finishing in the playoff places to get within a chance of reaching the Premier League, an achievement that would’ve sent shockwaves across the English Footballing League......similar to how Leicester won the EPL in 2015 against the odds

For a club that was plying their trade in the Conference, or the fifth tier in 2013-14, Luton’s march up the English footballing pyramid gives inspiration and hope to any team that they can make it to the top, no matter what league they are currently in. As long as the correct decisions are made when it comes to players and managers to lead the team — it will be a straight one-way road, only going up. 

Between the seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19, back-to-back promotions were achieved for Luton Town, mainly under Nathan Jones’ first tenure. With Jones leaving the Bedfordshire club on 9 January 2019 to join Stoke City in the Championship, Mick Harford then took on the role, where he would lead the Hatters to promotion after taking the reigns for the second half of the season before deciding to step aside for Graeme Jones to be appointed.

A disappointing season under Jones saw Luton Town stranded at second from bottom in the league before the Championship was suspended due to the COVID pandemic. This would see Graeme Jones depart the club with Nathan Jones being re-appointed to commence his second tenure at the club.

For Luton Town to go one further than playoffs and reach the Premier League, it would send a statement throughout the nation — a team who were playing non-league football less than ten years ago making their way to the highest tier of English football. 

Players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Joe Morrell arrived for next to nothing as The Hatters reinforced their squad.

The other player is Kal Naismith, who had just left League One side Wigan Athletic by mutual consent. Many eyebrows were raised when the 28-year-old made the move to Luton on January 15, 2021, but Nathan Jones envisioned a perfect role for the Glasgow native, with Naismith becoming a stalwart center-back.

The 2011 film Moneyball details the true story of the MLB team Oakland Athletics and their attempts to compete with teams who have far more money than them such as the New York Yankees with their unique, data-driven recruitment. By bringing in players who were overlooked by other teams but who could perfectly fit the system, they were able to achieve more with less, and that is exactly what Luton have done.

They have been clever in their recruitment — they haven’t dumped millions of pounds on a single player but instead have picked up lesser-known players and inserted them into a system that has gotten the most out of their abilities. It is precisely this ‘Moneyball’ approach that has allowed Luton to rise through the English footballing pyramid.

Following a 19th-place finish in 2019/20, Luton would finish 12th in the following season before bringing in various players such as Cameron Jerome, a 34-year-old striker with ample Premier League experience. Whilst Jerome is no longer the slim chicken he once was, he has nevertheless proven a shrewd addition in coming off the bench and mentoring younger players.

Luton Town have shown their expertise in getting the very best out of these players they recruited.  

Nine years after playing non-league football, Luton Town defied the odds and came within inches of a Premier League berth. They have dug themselves out of the hole and can almost see the promised land, and if they can return to the top-flight for the first time in three decades, they will stamp themselves into history as one of English football’s greatest underdog histories. If there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s underestimate Luton Town.