Luton favourite passes away

It is with great sadness that I read on Luton’s official website that a great favourite among Luton Town supporters, David Preece passed away yesterday at the very young age of 44, after a short illness. I believe he had suffered a heart attack from which he never recovered.

Preecey was a great servant to the club and I am sure that all Town fans will be in shock at the news.

The diminutive midfielder with the proverbial powerful ‘engine’ joined the Hatters In 1984 when manager David Pleat beat many interested clubs to his signature.

Luton paid £150,000, plus forward Steve Elliott, for Preece, with Elliott having only been recently signed by Luton.

Preecey made an immediate impact scoring the only goal of a Luton victory over Aston Villa, which ended a 7 match winless run.

In his 10 year association with the club, by one of Luton’s longest serving players, he played in Luton’s successful Littlewoods Cup winning team before leaving at the end of the 1994/5 season. Before departing to Derby County, Preecey was rewarded for his loyalty with a testimonial against Manchester United.

David made 336 appearances for the Hatters scoring 21 league and 5 cup goals and making countless, and also made 3 England ‘B’ International appearances.

He didn’t get much of a look-in at Derby, and was loaned to both Birmingham City and Swindon Town. In September 1996 he joined Cambridge United on a free transfer. He made 75 appearances there, before joining Torquay United as a player/coach in August 2001.

After his contract was terminated at the end of 1 season with the Gulls he ended his career at Enfield.

Thanks for the memories David! Rest in peace.