For the latest in our ongoing series covering those who have achieved legendary status among the support, we feature another former player who became a fans favourite.
Following on from those already covered – John Moore, David Preece, Mal Donaghy, Brian Lewis, Bruce Rioch, Fred Jardine, Brian Horton, Kevin Nicholls, Tony Read and Steve Foster, Mike Keen, Ian Buxton and Lars Elstrup, Peter Anderson and Graham French, Alan West, David Moss and Terry Branston
The latest Hatter to be featured is John Aston, as suggested by Andrew Ellis.
I’ll start this particular article with a question.
Have Luton Town ever had a European Cup Winner / Champions League winner, on their books, other than John Aston?
Okay, Jimmy Ryan came close but, unfortunately, didn’t make the 12 Sir Matt Busby picked on that memorable night when Manchester United beat Benfica, 4-1, having to watch from the stands.
To say, as a youngster, I was excited when Luton Town announced the signing of John Aston is an understatement.
Not only were we signing somebody who had played in the marvellous 1967 European Cup Final but somebody who had outshone everybody else on the pitch that night, to scoop the Man of the Match award.
I just didn’t seem real, but it was!
Aston was a phenomenal left winger, somebody who had the skill to go past his man, on the outside or on the inside and a player who despite playing out wide, was more than capable of cutting inside to score.
Signed in 1972, John was a familiar figure out on the left wing, waiting for the chance to receive the ball and display the traits that made him such a valued and important ember of the side.
I can recall the crowds anticipation levels whenever John, standing out wide, received the ball, levels that indicated those inside Kenilworth Road expected something to happen.
Indeed, it was a time that Luton Town were blessed with wingers with Jimmy Ryan, another former Manchester United player, performing on the opposite flank, have the Hatters ever had a better pair of wingers, playing in tandem, since this duo?
During his time with Luton Town, Aston was to make 174 league appearances, exceeding the 155 league appearances he’d made for his previous club, Manchester United.
When it came to goals, he netted on 31 occasions in the league, with some of them being real crackers.
Below, courtesy of LUTON VIDS, placing it on the public domain, is a superb photographic montage of John’s career, please feel free to view and see what memories it provides:
John’s Kenilworth Road career came to an end in 1977 when he moved to Mansfield Town, a legend had come and gone, but he left us with wonderful memories and John Aston would surely feature in many an all-time Luton Town XI would he not?
John Aston – Mini Fact File
Name – John Aston
Date of Birth – 28-June-1947
Place of Birth – Manchester, England
Height – 5 feet 10 inches
Position – Winger
Youth Career – Manchester United
Career – Manchester United, Luton Town, Mansfield Town, Blackburn Rovers
If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of John Aston, please feel free to do so in the comment facility beneath this article.
If you can think of anyone who deserves nominating for coverage in this ongoing series, please drop their name into the comment facility beneath this article.
My thanks go to those who have already nominated faces from the past, they will all be covered, in time.
Next up in the series will be – Paul Futcher suggested by Matthew Walters
COYH’s
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Luton – The Legends Series – Terry Branston
