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, Steve Foster, Mike Keen, Ian Buxton, Lars Elstrup, Peter Anderson, Graham French, Alan West, David Moss, Terry Branston, John Aston, Paul Futcher and John Ryan, Syd Owen
The latest Hatter to be featured is Marvin Johnson, as suggested by Geoff Wilson and Alan R.
When it comes to Marvin Johnson I’d suggest he is the type of player that the modern game will not see very often these days.
Marvin was a one club player and a player that also fits into the ‘one of us’ categories having risen through the ranks from youth team to the first team.
The centre-back put pen-to-paper on a professional contract, at Kenilworth Road, on 12-November-1986 and it was to be the start of a career that was to last until 2003.
During his time as a Luton Town player, he was to make a total of 440 appearances with 373 of those coming in league football.
But one remarkable fact about Johnson is that his Hatters career was to see him, courtesy of relegation / promotion, play in all four divisions of English football.
In times of strife, Marvin remained loyal to the cause, never deserting the ship and doing his utmost to help put Luton Town on an upward curve.
Perhaps Marvin’s greatest honour in a Luton shirt was when he was appointed club captain during the 1995/1996 season.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, as defenders get older, injuries were to play a part and Marvin was forced to hang up his playing boots in 2003.
But his time with Luton was far from finished with Marvin moving into the coaching side of things becoming John Moore’s assistant as the youth team coach. As Moore moved up the ladder Marvin inherited the role Moore held and remained with the club until 2007 when the arrival of Kevin Blackwell saw him, sadly, released.
Marvin’s Hatters career ended with him sitting in 7th place in the list of Luton Town players with the most league appearances to their name, a true legend.
Now Marvin never scored many goals for Luton, only 7 in the league but I’ve found one on YouTube for you to savour:
Marvin Johnson – Mini Fact File
Name – Marvin Anthony Johnson
Date of Birth – 29-October-1968
Place of Birth – Wembley, England
Height – 6 feet 0 inches
Position – Defender
Youth Career – Luton Town
Career – Luton Town
Managerial Career – St Neots Town
If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Marvin Johnson, 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 – Malcolm MacDonald suggested by Terry Emms
COYH’s
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Luton – Reflections On Moments Of Madness
