Luton Town F.C. season 2001–02
Encyclopedia
The 2001–02 season was the 116th season in the history of Luton Town Football Club
. The club's 22nd place finish in Division Two
in 2000–01 meant they competed in Division Three
for the first time in 33 years. After a summer of upheaval from manager Joe Kinnear
, the club comfortably secured automatic promotion by finishing in second place in the league, 18 points ahead of their nearest rivals. Cup competitions proved to be far less of a success, with Luton exiting all three cups at the first hurdle.
The 2001–02 season is also notable for Kinnear creating the nucleus of the successful Luton team of future years: centre-back Chris Coyne
, midfielders Kevin Nicholls
and Ahmet Brkovic
, and striker Steve Howard
would all go on to prove themselves as fully adept at playing at a higher level for the club.
This article covers the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002.
and Lil Fuccillo
, establishing themselves as too far out of their depth in management to secure Luton's survival in Division Two
. An underperforming squad, expensive signings, and poor quality, untested players from abroad had resulted in Luton winning just four games out of a possible twenty-six by February and left them languishing deep in the relegation zone.
Ex-Wimbledon
boss Joe Kinnear
was appointed, initially, as director of football on 8 February 2001, but his first act in the job was to immediately demote Fuccillo to an assistant role and install himself as manager. Kinnear's arrival saw Luton win five of their next seven games, raising hopes of an escape from the drop-zone. However, the team's good form soon collapsed as they failed to win again that season. The damage had been done long before Kinnear's appointment, as Luton slipped into the bottom tier of league football for the first time since 1968.
Kinnear started a revival in playing staff before the 2000–01 season had even finished, releasing players he deemed as surplus to requirements, and notably signing striker Steve Howard
for £50,000 from Northampton Town
on transfer deadline-day.
was installed as first-team coach in early July, as Kinnear continued his overhaul of the club. Former Luton youth player Aaron Skelton
came from Colchester United
on a free transfer to boost the defence, goalkeeper Carl Emberson
was drafted in from Walsall
, and prolific lower-league striker Carl Griffiths
was signed from Leyton Orient
for £65,000. Winger Adrian Forbes
and midfielder Paul Hughes
were signed from Norwich City
and Southampton
respectively, whilst the only player to leave was Finnish defender Petri Helin. What would prove later to be a shrewd signing was the capture of influential midfielder Kevin Nicholls
for just £25,000 from Wigan Athletic
.
, Aaron Skelton and Adrian Forbes. The team managed to secure good results despite an ever-changing squad, with just one loss in the first six league games. New signing Carl Griffiths proved to be a natural in front of goal, hitting the net three times as Luton hovered near the top of the table. Reading
knocked Luton out of the League Cup
with a 4–0 hammering at the Madjeski Stadium.
Meanwhile, members of the playing staff continued to change – right-back Ian Hillier
was signed on a three-month loan from Tottenham
in mid-August, and centre-back Russell Perrett
was drafted in on a free transfer from Cardiff City
. Players from the previous regime were released from their contracts, as Kinnear looked to trim the squad.
A 2–1 victory over York City
on 15 September was marred by an incident involving Steve Howard
. With Luton awarded a penalty
, the striker took it, but it was promptly saved. However, the referee had seen an infringement and Luton were ordered to re-take the penalty. Much to his team-mates protests, Howard grabbed the ball from captain, and designated penalty-taker, Skelton and placed it on the spot. Once again, he saw it saved. A seething Howard was immediately substituted for eventual match-winner Ian Hillier, storming down the tunnel. Manager Joe Kinnear later branded Howard a "disgrace", and even considered placing him on the transfer list.
Australia
n centre-back Chris Coyne
signed from Dundee
for £50,000 on 17 September on a three-year contract, and was immediately placed into the team which drew 1–1 with Lincoln City
; a team minus Steve Howard, whom Kinnear had dropped.
French
winger Jean-Louis Valois
was signed on a one-year contract from Lille on 21 September, and put in a stunning performance in a 5–1 demolition of Torquay United
the next day, setting up two goals and scoring from 40 yards in a game that saw Griffiths grab a hat-trick.
Striker Dean Crowe
signed on a one-month loan on 28 September from Stoke City
after news that leading scorer Carl Griffiths
was ruled out through injury - later revealed to be a fractured leg that would keep him out for the rest of the season.
After a 2–1 loss away to Plymouth Argyle
ended Luton's seven game unbeaten run, the team found themselves in third place in the table at the end of September.
: Paul Hughes was ruled out for three months; captain Aaron Skelton had suffered a broken foot; striker Andrew Fotiadis
was still recovering from an ankle injury; and veteran defender Marvin Johnson
needed specialist treatment. On 4 October Ahmet Brkovic
, a Croatia
n midfielder who had most recently played for Leyton Orient
, signed on a free transfer.
By the end of October, Luton found themselves topping the table, despite suffering their first home defeat of the season to Rochdale. The LDV Vans Trophy
saw an inexperienced Luton side knocked out by non-league Dagenham & Redbridge
in the second round.
Players continued to move in and out of the club, with forwards Stuart Douglas
and Peter Thomson
going out on loan to Oxford United
and Rushden & Diamonds
respectively, and both Ian Hillier
and Dean Crowe
making their own loan moves at Luton permanent; Hillier for £30,000, and Crowe for free. With the loan places in the squad now freed up, Kinnear moved to sign Crewe Alexandra
midfielder Kevin Street
on a one-month loan.
November saw the team grind to a halt – just one win in five games led to the club falling to fifth in the league. Two heavy defeats to Mansfield Town
and Macclesfield Town
, a home loss to Hull City
, and Southend United
knocking Luton out of the first round of the FA Cup
meant the Hatters needed a good spell of form over the winter to maintain their promotion ambitions.
led to the cancellation of the game at Kidderminster Harriers
, which, combined with injuries, left Luton with fewer than eleven players to choose from.
Defender David Bayliss
was signed from Rochdale
on 7 December, as Luton looked to patch up their injury-hit squad. Bayliss started in the game at Hartlepool United
, where Luton got back to winning ways with a 2–1 victory.
A swift return to their early season form left Luton safely in the automatic promotion places by mid-January, thanks to an eight game unbeaten streak and a hot scoring run from Dean Crowe
.
Striker Liam George
and midfielder Dean Brennan
were released from their contracts on 23 December. In addition, Stuart Douglas
was sent on a two-month loan to Rushden & Diamonds
after his spell at Oxford came to an end. Peter Thomson
, after an unsuccessful loan at Rushden, was released by Luton on 31 January.
from Fulham
. To balance this, Jude Stirling
was sent on loan to neighbouring team Stevenage Borough
, which was later turned into a permanent deal. Strikers Gary McSwegan
and Steve Kabba
were signed on one-month loans from Hearts
and Crystal Palace
, respectively, to provide competition for places up front. Long-term injury victim Stuart Fraser
was released on 21 March, bringing an end to a five year spell at Luton.
Another stutter in the promotion bid came when Luton picked up just five points from a possible eighteen through late-January to mid-February. A 2–0 victory, the only win in this period, over leaders Plymouth Argyle
saw the highest attendance at Kenilworth Road
in over seven years, when Luton were in Division One
, as 9,585 fans packed in. Fellow promotion hopefuls Rochdale
ground out a 1–0 victory to close the gap between the clubs, and Scunthorpe United
scored a last-minute winner at Kenilworth Road - this saw Luton balanced precariously between the automatic promotion places and the playoffs.
However, a storming run of twelve consecutive victories, with a 3–1 win away to Swansea City on 30 March clinching the club's first promotion in twenty years, ensured Luton went back to the Second Division
with four games left to play, breaking several long-standing club records in the process. Steve Howard
hit a glorious run of form, scoring thirteen goals in those twelve games and finishing the season as top scorer of the Third Division
with twenty-four goals.
Luton finished a highly comfortable eighteen points ahead of third-placed Mansfield Town
and just five points behind leaders Plymouth Argyle. The club claimed the highest goal difference
and goals scored in the league, averaging just over two goals every game. Matthew Taylor
, naturally a left-back, but pushed forward by Kinnear often, won the PFA
Third Division player of the year award, scoring eleven goals in total. Taylor was also included in the PFA Division Three Team of the Season, the only Luton player to do so.
, David Bayliss
, Alan Neilson
, Ahmet Brkovic
and Paul Hughes
. Highly-rated midfielder Matthew Spring
, who had come through the youth ranks and was coming close to the end of his contract, signed a new two-year deal. His fellow academy graduate Matthew Taylor
refused a new contract, and, as he was under 24 years old, Luton were entitled to a fee from any club that bought his services. That club proved to be Division One
side Portsmouth
, who offered £150,000. Kinnear reacted furiously, claiming that "at least Dick Turpin
had the decency to wear a mask." The two clubs eventually reached a deal for an initial £400,000, rising to £750,000 based on appearances.
Former Luton fan favourite Tony Thorpe
returned to the club on 12 June, signing a two-year contract. Preston North End
midfielder and Northern Ireland
international Steve Robinson
joined Luton for a fee of £50,000 two weeks later.
}
|-
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|31 July 2001||Queens Park Rangers
||align="center"|Home||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|3,049||align="center"|Griffiths
||align="center"|
|-
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|4 August 2001||Norwich City
||align="center"|Home||align="center"|1–3||align="center"|3,294||align="center"|Fotiadis
||align="center"|
|-
|-style="background: #ffffdd;"
|7 August 2001||Tottenham Hotspur
||align="center"|Home||align="center"|1–1||align="center"|9,175||align="center"|Skelton
||align="center"|
|-
|}
Football League Third Division
FA Cup
Football League Cup
Football League Trophy
}
|-
|}
}
|-
|align="left"|Young Player of the Season||align="left"|
Kevin Foley
||align="left"|–||align="left"|DF||align="center"|
|-
|align="left"|Young Members' Player of the Season||align="left"|
Kevin Nicholls
||align="left"|8||align="left"|DF||align="center"|
|-
|align="left"|Goal of the Season||align="left"|
Jean-Louis Valois
||align="left"|28||align="left"|MF||align="center"|
|}
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. The club's 22nd place finish in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 2000–01 meant they competed in Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
for the first time in 33 years. After a summer of upheaval from manager Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
, the club comfortably secured automatic promotion by finishing in second place in the league, 18 points ahead of their nearest rivals. Cup competitions proved to be far less of a success, with Luton exiting all three cups at the first hurdle.
The 2001–02 season is also notable for Kinnear creating the nucleus of the successful Luton team of future years: centre-back Chris Coyne
Chris Coyne
Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:...
, midfielders Kevin Nicholls
Kevin Nicholls
Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds....
and Ahmet Brkovic
Ahmet Brkovic
Ahmet Brković is a former Croatian footballer. His position is midfielder.Brković started off his career in 1999 for HNK Dubrovnik in Croatia. When he was made available for transfer, clubs from the Football League expressed an interest in taking him on trial. Lennie Lawrence, then manager of...
, and striker Steve Howard
Steve Howard
Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength...
would all go on to prove themselves as fully adept at playing at a higher level for the club.
This article covers the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002.
Background
Instability and inexperience had proved to be Luton's downfall in the previous season, with two former players, Ricky HillRicky Hill
Ricky Hill is a former English footballer and the current head coach for Tampa Bay in the second division North American Soccer League.He was born in Paddington.-Playing career:...
and Lil Fuccillo
Lil Fuccillo
Pasquale "Lil" Fuccillo is a former footballer and is currently chief scout for Swansea City .-Playing career:Fuccillo was born in Bedford to Italian parents and joined Luton Town from school. He established himself in the their starting line-up, and there was even talk of a call-up to the Italian...
, establishing themselves as too far out of their depth in management to secure Luton's survival in Division Two
Division Two
Division Two may refer to either:* Football League Two the current fourth tier of the English football league system* The Football League Second Division, the former second and later third tier of the English football league system...
. An underperforming squad, expensive signings, and poor quality, untested players from abroad had resulted in Luton winning just four games out of a possible twenty-six by February and left them languishing deep in the relegation zone.
Ex-Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
boss Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
was appointed, initially, as director of football on 8 February 2001, but his first act in the job was to immediately demote Fuccillo to an assistant role and install himself as manager. Kinnear's arrival saw Luton win five of their next seven games, raising hopes of an escape from the drop-zone. However, the team's good form soon collapsed as they failed to win again that season. The damage had been done long before Kinnear's appointment, as Luton slipped into the bottom tier of league football for the first time since 1968.
Kinnear started a revival in playing staff before the 2000–01 season had even finished, releasing players he deemed as surplus to requirements, and notably signing striker Steve Howard
Steve Howard
Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength...
for £50,000 from Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on transfer deadline-day.
Pre-Season
Luton Town favourite Mick HarfordMick Harford
Michael Gordon "Mick" Harford , is an English former football player turned manager. He is former manager of Rotherham and Luton Town and has also been caretaker manager of Nottingham Forest and QPR...
was installed as first-team coach in early July, as Kinnear continued his overhaul of the club. Former Luton youth player Aaron Skelton
Aaron Skelton
Aaron Skelton is a former professional footballer who played at right-back, right-wing, center-midfield and center-back during his time at Luton Town and Colchester....
came from Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
on a free transfer to boost the defence, goalkeeper Carl Emberson
Carl Emberson
Carl Wayne Emberson is a retired English football goalkeeper and coach at Bristol Rovers.-Career:He played in the 1990–91 Final of the FA Youth Cup with Millwall, but failed to make a first-team appearance for the club.He joined Colchester United for ₤25,000 in 1994, where he had previously been...
was drafted in from Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, and prolific lower-league striker Carl Griffiths
Carl Griffiths
Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later...
was signed from Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
for £65,000. Winger Adrian Forbes
Adrian Forbes
Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward...
and midfielder Paul Hughes
Paul Hughes
Paul Hughes is a retired English footballer who played in midfield.Hughes began his career with his local side, Chelsea, and started well, scoring on his debut against Derby County with an impressive solo effort...
were signed from Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
respectively, whilst the only player to leave was Finnish defender Petri Helin. What would prove later to be a shrewd signing was the capture of influential midfielder Kevin Nicholls
Kevin Nicholls
Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds....
for just £25,000 from Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
August and September
Luton began the season with a number of injuries to key players, including Matthew SpringMatthew Spring
Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997...
, Aaron Skelton and Adrian Forbes. The team managed to secure good results despite an ever-changing squad, with just one loss in the first six league games. New signing Carl Griffiths proved to be a natural in front of goal, hitting the net three times as Luton hovered near the top of the table. Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
knocked Luton out of the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
with a 4–0 hammering at the Madjeski Stadium.
Meanwhile, members of the playing staff continued to change – right-back Ian Hillier
Ian Hillier
Ian Hillier is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.-Career:A Welsh under-21 international, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Luton Town on loan in August 2001...
was signed on a three-month loan from Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in mid-August, and centre-back Russell Perrett
Russell Perrett
Russell Perrett is a former footballer who spent most of his career with Portsmouth and Luton Town.Perett joined Luton Town in the summer of 2001, after spells with [AFC Lymington], Portsmouth and Cardiff City...
was drafted in on a free transfer from Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. Players from the previous regime were released from their contracts, as Kinnear looked to trim the squad.
A 2–1 victory over York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on 15 September was marred by an incident involving Steve Howard
Steve Howard
Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength...
. With Luton awarded a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, the striker took it, but it was promptly saved. However, the referee had seen an infringement and Luton were ordered to re-take the penalty. Much to his team-mates protests, Howard grabbed the ball from captain, and designated penalty-taker, Skelton and placed it on the spot. Once again, he saw it saved. A seething Howard was immediately substituted for eventual match-winner Ian Hillier, storming down the tunnel. Manager Joe Kinnear later branded Howard a "disgrace", and even considered placing him on the transfer list.
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n centre-back Chris Coyne
Chris Coyne
Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:...
signed from Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
for £50,000 on 17 September on a three-year contract, and was immediately placed into the team which drew 1–1 with Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
; a team minus Steve Howard, whom Kinnear had dropped.
French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
winger Jean-Louis Valois
Jean-Louis Valois
Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:...
was signed on a one-year contract from Lille on 21 September, and put in a stunning performance in a 5–1 demolition of Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
the next day, setting up two goals and scoring from 40 yards in a game that saw Griffiths grab a hat-trick.
Striker Dean Crowe
Dean Crowe
Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:...
signed on a one-month loan on 28 September from Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
after news that leading scorer Carl Griffiths
Carl Griffiths
Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later...
was ruled out through injury - later revealed to be a fractured leg that would keep him out for the rest of the season.
After a 2–1 loss away to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
ended Luton's seven game unbeaten run, the team found themselves in third place in the table at the end of September.
October and November
Injuries persisted at Kenilworth RoadKenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
: Paul Hughes was ruled out for three months; captain Aaron Skelton had suffered a broken foot; striker Andrew Fotiadis
Andrew Fotiadis
Panos Andrew "Andy" Fotiadis is a former English Cypriot footballer, best known for his time at Luton Town, who retired from the professional game after a succession of injuries.- Club career :...
was still recovering from an ankle injury; and veteran defender Marvin Johnson
Marvin Johnson (footballer)
Marvin Anthony Johnson is an English former professional footballer who spent his entire career at Luton Town.-Playing career:...
needed specialist treatment. On 4 October Ahmet Brkovic
Ahmet Brkovic
Ahmet Brković is a former Croatian footballer. His position is midfielder.Brković started off his career in 1999 for HNK Dubrovnik in Croatia. When he was made available for transfer, clubs from the Football League expressed an interest in taking him on trial. Lennie Lawrence, then manager of...
, a Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n midfielder who had most recently played for Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
, signed on a free transfer.
By the end of October, Luton found themselves topping the table, despite suffering their first home defeat of the season to Rochdale. The LDV Vans Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
saw an inexperienced Luton side knocked out by non-league Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
in the second round.
Players continued to move in and out of the club, with forwards Stuart Douglas
Stuart Douglas
Stuart Douglas is an English football player.-Career:Douglas began his career with Luton Town as a youth player, going on to make 146 football league appearances for the club...
and Peter Thomson
Peter Thomson (footballer born 1977)
Peter Thomson was a professional footballer, He retired from competative football in 2007 making his last appearance for fc United.Thomson began his career with Bury 1995....
going out on loan to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
and Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
respectively, and both Ian Hillier
Ian Hillier
Ian Hillier is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.-Career:A Welsh under-21 international, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Luton Town on loan in August 2001...
and Dean Crowe
Dean Crowe
Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:...
making their own loan moves at Luton permanent; Hillier for £30,000, and Crowe for free. With the loan places in the squad now freed up, Kinnear moved to sign Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
midfielder Kevin Street
Kevin Street
Kevin Street is an English footballer whose playing position is as a midfielder for Stafford Rangers.-Playing career:...
on a one-month loan.
November saw the team grind to a halt – just one win in five games led to the club falling to fifth in the league. Two heavy defeats to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
and Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
, a home loss to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, and Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
knocking Luton out of the first round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
meant the Hatters needed a good spell of form over the winter to maintain their promotion ambitions.
December and January
An outbreak of fluInfluenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
led to the cancellation of the game at Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, which, combined with injuries, left Luton with fewer than eleven players to choose from.
Defender David Bayliss
David Bayliss
David Bayliss is a professional footballer, currently joint-manager of Barrow in the Conference National with Darren Sheridan...
was signed from Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on 7 December, as Luton looked to patch up their injury-hit squad. Bayliss started in the game at Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, where Luton got back to winning ways with a 2–1 victory.
A swift return to their early season form left Luton safely in the automatic promotion places by mid-January, thanks to an eight game unbeaten streak and a hot scoring run from Dean Crowe
Dean Crowe
Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:...
.
Striker Liam George
Liam George
Liam Brendan George is an English-born Irish footballer, who represented Ireland in the Under 18 European Youth Championship, and who is currently playing for Hitchin Town on a part-time basis, having signed for them in December 2008.Liam's family originates from Saint Lucia and Church Street,...
and midfielder Dean Brennan
Dean Brennan
-External links:...
were released from their contracts on 23 December. In addition, Stuart Douglas
Stuart Douglas
Stuart Douglas is an English football player.-Career:Douglas began his career with Luton Town as a youth player, going on to make 146 football league appearances for the club...
was sent on a two-month loan to Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
after his spell at Oxford came to an end. Peter Thomson
Peter Thomson (footballer born 1977)
Peter Thomson was a professional footballer, He retired from competative football in 2007 making his last appearance for fc United.Thomson began his career with Bury 1995....
, after an unsuccessful loan at Rushden, was released by Luton on 31 January.
February, March and April
Further changes were afoot, with Kinnear signing defender Alan NeilsonAlan Neilson
Alan Neilson is a German born Welsh former professional footballer turned coach, currently with Conference National side Luton Town...
from Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. To balance this, Jude Stirling
Jude Stirling
Jude Barrington Stirling is an English footballer playing for Notts County. He is most comfortable at right or left back, but is also able to play as a centre-back, winger or defensive midfielder.-Luton Town:...
was sent on loan to neighbouring team Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
, which was later turned into a permanent deal. Strikers Gary McSwegan
Gary McSwegan
Gary John McSwegan is a Scottish professional footballer currently without a club following his release from Clyde...
and Steve Kabba
Steve Kabba
Sorfitu Tejan "Steve" Kabba is an English professional footballer. He is of Sierra Leonean origin. He plays as a striker for Football League Two side Barnet...
were signed on one-month loans from Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
and Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, respectively, to provide competition for places up front. Long-term injury victim Stuart Fraser
Stuart Fraser (footballer born 1980)
Stuart Fraser is a Scottish footballer and a former under-21 international. He currently plays for Musselburgh Athletic....
was released on 21 March, bringing an end to a five year spell at Luton.
Another stutter in the promotion bid came when Luton picked up just five points from a possible eighteen through late-January to mid-February. A 2–0 victory, the only win in this period, over leaders Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
saw the highest attendance at Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
in over seven years, when Luton were in Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, as 9,585 fans packed in. Fellow promotion hopefuls Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
ground out a 1–0 victory to close the gap between the clubs, and Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
scored a last-minute winner at Kenilworth Road - this saw Luton balanced precariously between the automatic promotion places and the playoffs.
However, a storming run of twelve consecutive victories, with a 3–1 win away to Swansea City on 30 March clinching the club's first promotion in twenty years, ensured Luton went back to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
with four games left to play, breaking several long-standing club records in the process. Steve Howard
Steve Howard
Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength...
hit a glorious run of form, scoring thirteen goals in those twelve games and finishing the season as top scorer of the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
with twenty-four goals.
Luton finished a highly comfortable eighteen points ahead of third-placed Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
and just five points behind leaders Plymouth Argyle. The club claimed the highest goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
and goals scored in the league, averaging just over two goals every game. Matthew Taylor
Matthew Taylor (footballer)
Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:...
, naturally a left-back, but pushed forward by Kinnear often, won the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
Third Division player of the year award, scoring eleven goals in total. Taylor was also included in the PFA Division Three Team of the Season, the only Luton player to do so.
May and June
Joe Kinnear immediately set about keeping his squad for the next season, securing contract extensions for Kevin NichollsKevin Nicholls
Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds....
, David Bayliss
David Bayliss
David Bayliss is a professional footballer, currently joint-manager of Barrow in the Conference National with Darren Sheridan...
, Alan Neilson
Alan Neilson
Alan Neilson is a German born Welsh former professional footballer turned coach, currently with Conference National side Luton Town...
, Ahmet Brkovic
Ahmet Brkovic
Ahmet Brković is a former Croatian footballer. His position is midfielder.Brković started off his career in 1999 for HNK Dubrovnik in Croatia. When he was made available for transfer, clubs from the Football League expressed an interest in taking him on trial. Lennie Lawrence, then manager of...
and Paul Hughes
Paul Hughes
Paul Hughes is a retired English footballer who played in midfield.Hughes began his career with his local side, Chelsea, and started well, scoring on his debut against Derby County with an impressive solo effort...
. Highly-rated midfielder Matthew Spring
Matthew Spring
Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997...
, who had come through the youth ranks and was coming close to the end of his contract, signed a new two-year deal. His fellow academy graduate Matthew Taylor
Matthew Taylor (footballer)
Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:...
refused a new contract, and, as he was under 24 years old, Luton were entitled to a fee from any club that bought his services. That club proved to be Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, who offered £150,000. Kinnear reacted furiously, claiming that "at least Dick Turpin
Dick Turpin
Richard "Dick" Turpin was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin may have followed his father's profession as a butcher early in life, but by the early 1730s he had joined a gang of deer thieves, and later became a poacher,...
had the decency to wear a mask." The two clubs eventually reached a deal for an initial £400,000, rising to £750,000 based on appearances.
Former Luton fan favourite Tony Thorpe
Tony Thorpe
Anthony "Tony" Thorpe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Thurmaston Town. As a professional he notably played for Luton Town, Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers. He also played in the Football League for Reading, Rotherham United, Swindon Town, Colchester United and Grimsby Town...
returned to the club on 12 June, signing a two-year contract. Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
midfielder and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international Steve Robinson
Steve Robinson (Northern Irish footballer)
Stephen "Steve" Robinson is a Northern Ireland former footballer currently working for the Irish Football Association.-Club career:...
joined Luton for a fee of £50,000 two weeks later.
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Friendlies
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 July 2001 | Boreham Wood Boreham Wood F.C. Boreham Wood F.C. are a football club based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, at Meadow Park football ground. They were established in 1948, and have reached the FA Cup 2nd Round proper twice in their history. For 2011-12 they will play in Conference South... |
Away | 3–1 | N/A | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... , Mansell Lee Mansell Lee Richard Samuel Mansell is an English footballer, who can play in midfield but is occupying the right back position for Torquay United and is the current captain.... |
|
| 23 July 2001 | Dundee Dundee F.C. Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from... |
Away | 2–3 | 0 | Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... , own goal Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... |
|-
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|31 July 2001||Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
||align="center"|Home||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|3,049||align="center"|Griffiths
Carl Griffiths
Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later...
||align="center"|
|-
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|4 August 2001||Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
||align="center"|Home||align="center"|1–3||align="center"|3,294||align="center"|Fotiadis
Andrew Fotiadis
Panos Andrew "Andy" Fotiadis is a former English Cypriot footballer, best known for his time at Luton Town, who retired from the professional game after a succession of injuries.- Club career :...
||align="center"|
|-
|-style="background: #ffffdd;"
|7 August 2001||Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
||align="center"|Home||align="center"|1–1||align="center"|9,175||align="center"|Skelton
Aaron Skelton
Aaron Skelton is a former professional footballer who played at right-back, right-wing, center-midfield and center-back during his time at Luton Town and Colchester....
||align="center"|
|-
|}
Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
- All results, goals, attendances etc. taken from Soccerbase and verified with official Luton Town match reports.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 August 2001 | Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
Away | 2–0 | 4,432 | Hughes Paul Hughes Paul Hughes is a retired English footballer who played in midfield.Hughes began his career with his local side, Chelsea, and started well, scoring on his debut against Derby County with an impressive solo effort... , Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... |
|
| 18 August 2001 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
Home | 2–1 | 6,177 | Hughes Paul Hughes Paul Hughes is a retired English footballer who played in midfield.Hughes began his career with his local side, Chelsea, and started well, scoring on his debut against Derby County with an impressive solo effort... , Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... |
|
| 25 August 2001 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
Away | 2–3 | 9,057 | Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... , Mansell Lee Mansell Lee Richard Samuel Mansell is an English footballer, who can play in midfield but is occupying the right back position for Torquay United and is the current captain.... |
|
| 27 August 2001 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
Home | 2–0 | 6,496 | Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... , Fotiadis Andrew Fotiadis Panos Andrew "Andy" Fotiadis is a former English Cypriot footballer, best known for his time at Luton Town, who retired from the professional game after a succession of injuries.- Club career :... |
|
| 1 September 2001 | Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
Away | 2–2 | 3,088 | Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... (2) |
|
| 8 September 2001 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
Home | 1–1 | 6,736 | Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... |
|
| 15 September 2001 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
Away | 2–1 | 3,247 | Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... , Hillier Ian Hillier Ian Hillier is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.-Career:A Welsh under-21 international, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Luton Town on loan in August 2001... |
|
| 18 September 2001 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
Home | 1–1 | 5,066 | Skelton Aaron Skelton Aaron Skelton is a former professional footballer who played at right-back, right-wing, center-midfield and center-back during his time at Luton Town and Colchester.... |
|
| 22 September 2001 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
Home | 5–1 | 6,392 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... (3), Valois Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... |
|
| 25 September 2001 | Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
Away | 3–1 | 6,540 | Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... , Valois Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... , Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
|
| 29 September 2001 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
Away | 1–2 | 5,782 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... |
|
| 5 October 2001 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
Home | 5–2 | 7,219 | Spring Matthew Spring Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997... , Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... (pen Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), Valois Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... |
|
| 13 October 2001 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
Away | 2–0 | 3,959 | Forbes Adrian Forbes Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward... , Perrett Russell Perrett Russell Perrett is a former footballer who spent most of his career with Portsmouth and Luton Town.Perett joined Luton Town in the summer of 2001, after spells with [AFC Lymington], Portsmouth and Cardiff City... |
|
| 20 October 2001 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
Home | 0–1 | 7,696 | – | |
| 23 October 2001 | Halifax Town | Away | 4–2 | 2,140 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... (2), Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... , Forbes Adrian Forbes Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward... |
|
| 27 October 2001 | Swansea City | Home | 3–0 | 6,705 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Perrett Russell Perrett Russell Perrett is a former footballer who spent most of his career with Portsmouth and Luton Town.Perett joined Luton Town in the summer of 2001, after spells with [AFC Lymington], Portsmouth and Cardiff City... , Forbes Adrian Forbes Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward... |
|
| 3 November 2001 | Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
Away | 1–4 | 5,973 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... |
|
| 9 November 2001 | Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
Home | 1–0 | 6,809 | Spring Matthew Spring Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997... |
|
| 20 November 2001 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
Home | 0–1 | 7,214 | – | |
| 24 November 2001 | Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town F.C. Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium... |
Away | 1–4 | 2,250 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
|
| 8 December 2001 | Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
Away | 2–1 | 3,585 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
|
| 15 December 2001 | Rushden & Diamonds Rushden & Diamonds F.C. Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of... |
Home | 1–0 | 7,495 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... |
|
| 22 December 2001 | Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
Home | 2–2 | 6,739 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Johnson Marvin Johnson (footballer) Marvin Anthony Johnson is an English former professional footballer who spent his entire career at Luton Town.-Playing career:... |
|
| 26 December 2001 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
Away | 2–1 | 11,121 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Spring Matthew Spring Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997... |
|
| 29 December 2001 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
Away | 2–1 | 5,973 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
|
| 8 January 2002 | Kidderminster Harriers Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed... |
Away | 4–1 | 4,147 | Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... , Spring Matthew Spring Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997... (2), Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
|
| 12 January 2002 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
Away | 1–1 | 5,026 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
|
| 19 January 2002 | Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
Home | 1–1 | 6,647 | Perrett Russell Perrett Russell Perrett is a former footballer who spent most of his career with Portsmouth and Luton Town.Perett joined Luton Town in the summer of 2001, after spells with [AFC Lymington], Portsmouth and Cardiff City... |
|
| 26 January 2002 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
Away | 2–3 | 3,560 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Valois Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... |
|
| 2 February 2002 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
Home | 2–0 | 9,585 | Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... (pen Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
|
| 9 February 2002 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
Away | 0–1 | 4,306 | – | |
| 16 February 2002 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
Away | 2–3 | 6,371 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
|
| 19 February 2002 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
Home | 3–0 | 5,651 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Coyne Chris Coyne Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:... , Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... (pen Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ) |
|
| 23 February 2002 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
Home | 2–1 | 6,188 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... (2) |
|
| 26 February 2002 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
Away | 1–0 | 2,921 | Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
|
| 2 March 2002 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
Away | 1–0 | 3,280 | Brkovic Ahmet Brkovic Ahmet Brković is a former Croatian footballer. His position is midfielder.Brković started off his career in 1999 for HNK Dubrovnik in Croatia. When he was made available for transfer, clubs from the Football League expressed an interest in taking him on trial. Lennie Lawrence, then manager of... |
|
| 5 March 2002 | Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
Home | 3–0 | 6,683 | Coyne Chris Coyne Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:... , Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Forbes Adrian Forbes Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward... |
|
| 9 March 2002 | Rushden & Diamonds Rushden & Diamonds F.C. Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of... |
Away | 2–1 | 5,876 | Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
|
| 12 March 2002 | Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
Home | 3–0 | 6,327 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... (2), Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
|
| 16 March 2002 | Kidderminster Harriers Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed... |
Home | 1–0 | 6,488 | Hughes Paul Hughes Paul Hughes is a retired English footballer who played in midfield.Hughes began his career with his local side, Chelsea, and started well, scoring on his debut against Derby County with an impressive solo effort... |
|
| 23 March 2002 | Halifax Town | Home | 5–0 | 6,830 | Spring Matthew Spring Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997... , Coyne Chris Coyne Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:... , Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... , Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Valois Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... |
|
| 30 March 2002 | Swansea City | Away | 3–1 | 5,436 | Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... , Holmes Peter Holmes Peter James Holmes is an English footballer who plays for Dunstable Town as a midfielder.Holmes started his career with Sheffield Wednesday and after failing to make any first team appearances he joined Luton Town. He was released by the club due to financial reasons in the summer of 2003, but was... , Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
|
| 1 April 2002 | Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
Home | 5–3 | 8,231 | Valois Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... , Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... , Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... (pen Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... (2) |
|
| 6 April 2002 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
Away | 4–0 | 9,379 | Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... (3), Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... |
|
| 13 April 2002 | Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town F.C. Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium... |
Home | 0–0 | 7,873 | – | |
| 20 April 2002 | Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
Away | 2–0 | 7,858 | own goal Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... , Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | 17 November 2001 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
Away | 2–3 (aet) | 6,526 | Forbes Adrian Forbes Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward... , Brkovic Ahmet Brkovic Ahmet Brković is a former Croatian footballer. His position is midfielder.Brković started off his career in 1999 for HNK Dubrovnik in Croatia. When he was made available for transfer, clubs from the Football League expressed an interest in taking him on trial. Lennie Lawrence, then manager of... |
|
Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | 21 August 2001 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
Away | 0–4 | 5,115 | – | |
Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Round | 30 October 2001 | Dagenham & Redbridge Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham... |
Away | 2–3 (aet) | 2,433 | Brennan Dean Brennan -External links:... , Thomson Peter Thomson (footballer born 1977) Peter Thomson was a professional footballer, He retired from competative football in 2007 making his last appearance for fc United.Thomson began his career with Bury 1995.... |
|-
|}
League table
| P |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... (C) (P) |
46 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 71 | 28 | 102 | Automatic promotion Promotion and relegation In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season... to Second Division Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... |
| 2 | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... (P) |
46 | 30 | 7 | 9 | 96 | 48 | 97 | |
| 3 | Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... (P) |
46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 72 | 60 | 79 | |
| 4 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... (P) |
46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 66 | 49 | 78 | Qualification to Playoffs Football League Third Division The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two... |
| 5 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 65 | 52 | 78 | |
| 6 | Rushden & Diamonds Rushden & Diamonds F.C. Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of... |
46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 69 | 53 | 73 | |
| 7 | Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
46 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 74 | 48 | 71 | |
| 8 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 74 | 56 | 71 | |
| 9 | Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 64 | 53 | 70 | |
| 10 | Kidderminster Harriers Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed... |
46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 56 | 47 | 66 | |
| 11 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 57 | 51 | 61 | |
| 12 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 51 | 54 | ||
| 58 | |||||||||
| 13 | Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town F.C. Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium... |
46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 41 | 52 | ||
| 58 | |||||||||
| 14 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 54 | 67 | ||
| 57 | |||||||||
| 15 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 60 | 71 | ||
| 56 | |||||||||
| 16 | Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 48 | 73 | ||
| 55 | |||||||||
| 17 | Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 48 | 56 | ||
| 52 | |||||||||
| 18 | Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 52 | 71 | ||
| 52 | |||||||||
| 19 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 46 | 53 | ||
| 51 | |||||||||
| 20 | Swansea City | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 53 | 76 | ||
| 51 | |||||||||
| 21 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 53 | 62 | ||
| 47 | |||||||||
| 22 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 44 | 62 | ||
| 46 | |||||||||
| 23 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 40 | 60 | ||
| 45 | |||||||||
| 24 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... (R) |
46 | 8 | 12 | 26 | 39 | 84 | ||
| 36 | Relegation Promotion and relegation In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season... to Football Conference Football Conference The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional... |
Player statistics
- Last match played on 20 April 2002. Players with a zero in every column only appeared as unused substitutes.
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Total | Discipline | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |  |
 |
|||
| 1 | GK | Mark Ovendale |
13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Aaron Skelton Aaron Skelton Aaron Skelton is a former professional footballer who played at right-back, right-wing, center-midfield and center-back during his time at Luton Town and Colchester.... |
9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Matthew Spring Matthew Spring Matthew John Spring is an English central midfielder who plays for Leyton Orient.-Luton Town:Spring started his career at Luton, making his debut as a half-time substitute in a 3–0 loss to Bristol City on 27 September 1997... |
40 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Russell Perrett Russell Perrett Russell Perrett is a former footballer who spent most of his career with Portsmouth and Luton Town.Perett joined Luton Town in the summer of 2001, after spells with [AFC Lymington], Portsmouth and Cardiff City... |
40 (1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 (1) | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Marvin Johnson Marvin Johnson (footballer) Marvin Anthony Johnson is an English former professional footballer who spent his entire career at Luton Town.-Playing career:... |
11 (7) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 (7) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Adrian Forbes Adrian Forbes Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward... |
15 (25) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 (25) | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Kevin Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... |
41 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 5 | 14 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | Stuart Douglas Stuart Douglas Stuart Douglas is an English football player.-Career:Douglas began his career with Luton Town as a youth player, going on to make 146 football league appearances for the club... |
2 (7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (8) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | FW |  Carl GriffithsCarl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... |
10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Liam George Liam George Liam Brendan George is an English-born Irish footballer, who represented Ireland in the Under 18 European Youth Championship, and who is currently playing for Hitchin Town on a part-time basis, having signed for them in December 2008.Liam's family originates from Saint Lucia and Church Street,... |
2 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 (3) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF |  Chris CoyneChris Coyne Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:... |
29 (2) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 (2) | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 13 | DF |  Stuart FraserStuart Fraser (footballer born 1980) Stuart Fraser is a Scottish footballer and a former under-21 international. He currently plays for Musselburgh Athletic.... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Andrew Fotiadis Andrew Fotiadis Panos Andrew "Andy" Fotiadis is a former English Cypriot footballer, best known for his time at Luton Town, who retired from the professional game after a succession of injuries.- Club career :... |
0 (8) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (9) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Matthew Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
43 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| 16 | GK | Carl Emberson Carl Emberson Carl Wayne Emberson is a retired English football goalkeeper and coach at Bristol Rovers.-Career:He played in the 1990–91 Final of the FA Youth Cup with Millwall, but failed to make a first-team appearance for the club.He joined Colchester United for ₤25,000 in 1994, where he had previously been... |
33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | DF |  Emmerson BoyceEmmerson Boyce Emmerson Orlando Boyce is an English-born professional footballer who has represented Barbados at international level. He is currently a player at Wigan Athletic, and usually plays as a right back, but can also play in the centre of defence.Boyce started his career at the age of sixteen as an... |
30 (7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 (7) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Adam Locke |
1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Steve Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
42 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 24 | 11 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Peter Holmes Peter Holmes Peter James Holmes is an English footballer who plays for Dunstable Town as a midfielder.Holmes started his career with Sheffield Wednesday and after failing to make any first team appearances he joined Luton Town. He was released by the club due to financial reasons in the summer of 2003, but was... |
4 (3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 (4) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Richard Dryden Richard Dryden Richard Dryden is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:A very experienced defender, Richard started his career in 1986 as a trainee with Bristol Rovers, joining them as a professional in July 1987... |
2 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Dean Brennan Dean Brennan -External links:... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Jude Stirling Jude Stirling Jude Barrington Stirling is an English footballer playing for Notts County. He is most comfortable at right or left back, but is also able to play as a centre-back, winger or defensive midfielder.-Luton Town:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | GK | Scott Ward |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | Peter Thomson Peter Thomson (footballer born 1977) Peter Thomson was a professional footballer, He retired from competative football in 2007 making his last appearance for fc United.Thomson began his career with Bury 1995.... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Paul Hughes Paul Hughes Paul Hughes is a retired English footballer who played in midfield.Hughes began his career with his local side, Chelsea, and started well, scoring on his debut against Derby County with an impressive solo effort... |
12 (10) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 (10) | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 28 | MF | Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... |
32 (2) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 (2) | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | David Bayliss David Bayliss David Bayliss is a professional footballer, currently joint-manager of Barrow in the Conference National with Darren Sheridan... |
15 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 (3) | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 31 | MF | Kevin Street Kevin Street Kevin Street is an English footballer whose playing position is as a midfielder for Stafford Rangers.-Playing career:... |
1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | Lee Mansell Lee Mansell Lee Richard Samuel Mansell is an English footballer, who can play in midfield but is occupying the right back position for Torquay United and is the current captain.... |
6 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | Ian Hillier Ian Hillier Ian Hillier is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.-Career:A Welsh under-21 international, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Luton Town on loan in August 2001... |
11 (12) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 (12) | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 34 | FW | Dean Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... |
33 (2) | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 (2) | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 35 | MF |  Ahmet BrkovicAhmet Brkovic Ahmet Brković is a former Croatian footballer. His position is midfielder.Brković started off his career in 1999 for HNK Dubrovnik in Croatia. When he was made available for transfer, clubs from the Football League expressed an interest in taking him on trial. Lennie Lawrence, then manager of... |
17 (4) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 (4) | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | Rob Gillman |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | Daryl Murphy Daryl Murphy Daryl Murphy is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Ipswich Town on loan from Scottish Premier League club Celtic.-Waterford United:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | MF | Steven O'Leary Steven O'Leary Stephen Michael O'Leary is an English-born Irish footballer . He previously played in the Football League for Luton Town, Tranmere Rovers, Hereford United and Bradford City.-Career:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | FW | James Osborn |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | FW | Gary McSwegan Gary McSwegan Gary John McSwegan is a Scottish professional footballer currently without a club following his release from Clyde... |
2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | DF | Alan Neilson Alan Neilson Alan Neilson is a German born Welsh former professional footballer turned coach, currently with Conference National side Luton Town... |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 44 | FW | Steve Kabba Steve Kabba Sorfitu Tejan "Steve" Kabba is an English professional footballer. He is of Sierra Leonean origin. He plays as a striker for Football League Two side Barnet... |
0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Managerial statistics
- Only competitive games from the 2001–02 season are included.
| Name | Nat. | From | To | Record | Honours | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLD | W | D | L | GF | GA | W% | |||||
| Joe Kinnear Joe Kinnear Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United.... |
|
8 February 2001 | 23 May 2003 | 49 | 30 | 7 | 12 | 100 | 58 | 61.2 | Promoted to Second Division Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... as runners-up |
Awards
- Awarded on 21 April 2002.
| Award | Name | No. | Pos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player of the Season | Steve Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... |
19 | FW | |
| Players' Player of the Season | Steve Howard Steve Howard Steven John "Steve" Howard is a Scottish-English footballer currently playing for Championship side Leicester City.Howard is renowned for his aerial strength... / Matthew TaylorMatthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
19/15 | FW/DF |
|-
|align="left"|Young Player of the Season||align="left"|
Kevin FoleyKevin Foley (footballer)
Kevin Patrick Foley is an English-born Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Republic of Ireland national football team. Foley previously spent twelve years at Luton Town...
||align="left"|–||align="left"|DF||align="center"|
|-
|align="left"|Young Members' Player of the Season||align="left"|
Kevin NichollsKevin Nicholls
Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds....
||align="left"|8||align="left"|DF||align="center"|
|-
|align="left"|Goal of the Season||align="left"|
Jean-Louis ValoisJean-Louis Valois
Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:...
||align="left"|28||align="left"|MF||align="center"|
|}
In
| Date | Player | From | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2001 |  Aaron SkeltonAaron Skelton Aaron Skelton is a former professional footballer who played at right-back, right-wing, center-midfield and center-back during his time at Luton Town and Colchester.... |
Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
Free | |
| 10 July 2001 | Carl Griffiths Carl Griffiths Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later... |
Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
£65,000 | |
| 14 July 2001 | Carl Emberson Carl Emberson Carl Wayne Emberson is a retired English football goalkeeper and coach at Bristol Rovers.-Career:He played in the 1990–91 Final of the FA Youth Cup with Millwall, but failed to make a first-team appearance for the club.He joined Colchester United for ₤25,000 in 1994, where he had previously been... |
Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
Free | |
| 16 July 2001 | Adrian Forbes Adrian Forbes Adrian Emmanuel Forbes is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town. His primary position is as a right midfielder, but he also capable of playing as a forward... |
Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
£60,000 | |
| 9 August 2001 | Kevin Nicholls Kevin Nicholls Kevin John Richard Nicholls is an English former footballer who played in midfield. He is currently a coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.... |
Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
£25,000 | |
| 10 August 2001 | Russell Perrett Russell Perrett Russell Perrett is a former footballer who spent most of his career with Portsmouth and Luton Town.Perett joined Luton Town in the summer of 2001, after spells with [AFC Lymington], Portsmouth and Cardiff City... |
Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
Free | |
| 10 August 2001 | Paul Hughes Paul Hughes Paul Hughes is a retired English footballer who played in midfield.Hughes began his career with his local side, Chelsea, and started well, scoring on his debut against Derby County with an impressive solo effort... |
Southampton Southampton F.C. Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club... |
Free | |
| 17 September 2001 | Chris Coyne Chris Coyne Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:... |
Dundee Dundee F.C. Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from... |
£50,000 | |
| 21 September 2001 |  Jean-Louis ValoisJean-Louis Valois Jean-Louis Valois is a French retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr.-Career:... |
Lille Lille OSC LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the... |
Free | |
| 4 October 2001 |  Ahmet BrkovicAhmet Brkovic Ahmet Brković is a former Croatian footballer. His position is midfielder.Brković started off his career in 1999 for HNK Dubrovnik in Croatia. When he was made available for transfer, clubs from the Football League expressed an interest in taking him on trial. Lennie Lawrence, then manager of... |
Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
Free | |
| 30 October 2001 | Dean Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... |
Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
Free | |
| 8 November 2001 | Ian Hillier Ian Hillier Ian Hillier is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.-Career:A Welsh under-21 international, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Luton Town on loan in August 2001... |
Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
£30,000 | |
| 7 December 2001 | David Bayliss David Bayliss David Bayliss is a professional footballer, currently joint-manager of Barrow in the Conference National with Darren Sheridan... |
Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
Free | |
| 22 February 2002 | Alan Neilson Alan Neilson Alan Neilson is a German born Welsh former professional footballer turned coach, currently with Conference National side Luton Town... |
Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
Free | |
| 12 June 2002 | Tony Thorpe Tony Thorpe Anthony "Tony" Thorpe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Thurmaston Town. As a professional he notably played for Luton Town, Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers. He also played in the Football League for Reading, Rotherham United, Swindon Town, Colchester United and Grimsby Town... |
Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
Free | |
| 24 June 2002 |  Steve RobinsonSteve Robinson (Northern Irish footballer) Stephen "Steve" Robinson is a Northern Ireland former footballer currently working for the Irish Football Association.-Club career:... |
Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
£50,000 |
Out
| Date | Player | To | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 July 2001 |  Petri Helin |
Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
Free | |
| 21 August 2001 | Dean Standen |
Released | ||
| 14 September 2001 |  Kent Karlsen |
Released | ||
| 23 December 2001 | Dean Brennan Dean Brennan -External links:... |
Released | ||
| 23 December 2001 | Liam George Liam George Liam Brendan George is an English-born Irish footballer, who represented Ireland in the Under 18 European Youth Championship, and who is currently playing for Hitchin Town on a part-time basis, having signed for them in December 2008.Liam's family originates from Saint Lucia and Church Street,... |
Released | ||
| 31 January 2002 | Peter Thomson Peter Thomson (footballer born 1977) Peter Thomson was a professional footballer, He retired from competative football in 2007 making his last appearance for fc United.Thomson began his career with Bury 1995.... |
Released | ||
| 20 March 2002 | Jude Stirling Jude Stirling Jude Barrington Stirling is an English footballer playing for Notts County. He is most comfortable at right or left back, but is also able to play as a centre-back, winger or defensive midfielder.-Luton Town:... |
Stevenage Borough Stevenage Borough F.C. Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season... |
Free | |
| 21 March 2002 |  Stuart FraserStuart Fraser (footballer born 1980) Stuart Fraser is a Scottish footballer and a former under-21 international. He currently plays for Musselburgh Athletic.... |
Released | ||
| 6 June 2002 | Matthew Taylor Matthew Taylor (footballer) Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:... |
Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
£400,000 | |
Loans in
| Date | Player | From | End date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 August 2001 | Ian Hillier Ian Hillier Ian Hillier is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Neath.-Career:A Welsh under-21 international, Hillier began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Luton Town on loan in August 2001... |
Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
8 November 2001 | |
| 28 September 2001 | Dean Crowe Dean Crowe Dean Crowe is an English footballer currently unaffiliated with any club. A striker, Crowe was released by Witton Albion in November 2007.-Career:... |
Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
28 October 2001 | |
| 19 November 2001 | Kevin Street Kevin Street Kevin Street is an English footballer whose playing position is as a midfielder for Stafford Rangers.-Playing career:... |
Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
19 December 2001 | |
| 15 February 2002 | Gary McSwegan Gary McSwegan Gary John McSwegan is a Scottish professional footballer currently without a club following his release from Clyde... |
Hearts Heart of Midlothian F.C. Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian... |
15 March 2002 | |
| 28 March 2002 | Steve Kabba Steve Kabba Sorfitu Tejan "Steve" Kabba is an English professional footballer. He is of Sierra Leonean origin. He plays as a striker for Football League Two side Barnet... |
Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
21 April 2002 |
Loans out
| Date | Player | To | End date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 October 2001 | Stuart Douglas Stuart Douglas Stuart Douglas is an English football player.-Career:Douglas began his career with Luton Town as a youth player, going on to make 146 football league appearances for the club... |
Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
23 November 2001 | |
| 6 November 2001 | Peter Thomson Peter Thomson (footballer born 1977) Peter Thomson was a professional footballer, He retired from competative football in 2007 making his last appearance for fc United.Thomson began his career with Bury 1995.... |
Rushden & Diamonds Rushden & Diamonds F.C. Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of... |
6 January 2002 | |
| 28 November 2001 | Scott Ward |
Boreham Wood Boreham Wood F.C. Boreham Wood F.C. are a football club based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, at Meadow Park football ground. They were established in 1948, and have reached the FA Cup 2nd Round proper twice in their history. For 2011-12 they will play in Conference South... |
28 February 2002 | |
| 26 November 2001 | Richard Dryden Richard Dryden Richard Dryden is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:A very experienced defender, Richard started his career in 1986 as a trainee with Bristol Rovers, joining them as a professional in July 1987... |
Scarborough Scarborough F.C. Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season... |
29 December 2001 | |
| 19 January 2002 | Stuart Douglas Stuart Douglas Stuart Douglas is an English football player.-Career:Douglas began his career with Luton Town as a youth player, going on to make 146 football league appearances for the club... |
Rushden & Diamonds Rushden & Diamonds F.C. Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of... |
19 March 2002 | |
| 14 February 2002 | Jude Stirling Jude Stirling Jude Barrington Stirling is an English footballer playing for Notts County. He is most comfortable at right or left back, but is also able to play as a centre-back, winger or defensive midfielder.-Luton Town:... |
Stevenage Borough Stevenage Borough F.C. Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season... |
19 March 2002 | |
| 13 March 2002 | Daryl Murphy Daryl Murphy Daryl Murphy is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Ipswich Town on loan from Scottish Premier League club Celtic.-Waterford United:... |
Harrow Borough Harrow Borough F.C. Harrow Borough Football Club is a semi-professional English association football club based in Harrow, in Greater London. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Earlsmead Stadium.... |
21 April 2002 |