Luton – Now That Is Some Career

A chance comment has driven me to do some investigative work which has produced some amazing results.

Our latest article, relating to players who have played for both clubs, in this case Wycombe Wanderers and Luton – they-played-for-both-luton-wycombe – produced a remark from the Vital Luton Town reader, Tony Byfield, who politely enquired:

“Can anyone name an EFL club that Steve Claridge has not played for?”

The remark obviously came about because in the articles we have produced this season the name of Steve Claridge appears prominently.

So, grasping the bull by the horns, I delved into the record books and was flabbergasted as to just how many clubs Claridge has played for in a football career that began in 1983 and is still ongoing at a management level.

Listing the clubs Steve played for is mind-blowing, as you can see below:

• Fareham Town
• Bournemouth
• Weymouth
• Crystal Palace
• Aldershot
• Cambridge United
• Luton Town
• Cambridge United
• Birmingham City
• Leicester City
• Portsmouth (loan)
• Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Portsmouth
• Millwall (loan)
• Millwall
• Weymouth
• Brighton and Hove Albion
• Brentford
• Wycombe Wanderers (loan)
• Wycombe Wanderers
• Millwall
• Gillingham
• Bradford City
• Walsall (loan)
• Bournemouth
• Worthing
• Harrow Borough
• Weymouth
• Gosport Borough
• Salisbury

His career has also been interspersed with a spell in management with the likes of:

• Portsmouth
• Weymouth
• Millwall
• Salisbury

But what staggered me the most and probably shows how, as I reach old age, my memory is slipping, I thought Claridge had played more than the 16 league games he is credited as having played for Luton, scoring just 2 goals.

But, digging deeper, it can be confirmed that Claridge joined the Hatters for a transfer fee of £120,000 in March 1992 from Cambridge United, but only stayed for five months, returning from whence he came, due to Luton (once again) encountering financial difficulties.

Moving on though, can anybody name any player who has played for Luton Town who can beat the number of clubs Steve Claridge played for in their career?

COYH’s