Luton Town debuts in Premier League

Luton Town will debut in the Premier League next season. The final of the playoffs at a packed Wembley produced no winner (1-1), after which Coventry City succumbed after penalties.

Gustavo Hamer, once active at Feyenoord, Dordrecht and PEC Zwolle, ushered in a blood-curdling final phase with his 1-1. The midfielder brought Coventry City back into the game with a placed shot, as initially Luton Town were in control after Jordan Clark’s early opening goal.

The stakes were a place in the top division of English soccer and thus the roughly 200 million euros in television money that came with it. And the excitement was unrelenting for the fans at one point.

Luton seemed to secure victory in the second half of the extension, but Joe Taylor’s goal was disallowed due to hands after interference from the video referee. So penalty kicks had to bring the decision. Both teams exploited the first five penalties flawlessly.

So Luton may join the mighty Premier League for the first time in its 138-year existence. Although the club had already been active at the highest level, it was relegated the year the much-reformed league was introduced (1992).

At Kenilworth Road, meanwhile, time has stood still. The cozy stadium in the middle of a residential area has barely changed in all these years. Luton has gone through a deep valley. Ten seasons ago Luton was still playing in the fifth tier.