For the latest in our ongoing series covering those who have achieved legendary status among the support, we feature another former Luton figure 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, John Ryan, Syd Owen, Marvin Johnson, Malcolm MacDonald, Bob Hatton, Steve Buckley,Chris Coyne, Ron Baynham, John Still, Jack Bannister, Ricky Hill, Chris Nicholl, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Don Givens, Gordon Turner, Brian Stein, Jesse Pye, Raddy Antic, Joe Payne, Max Dougan, Alan Slough, Ray Whittaker, Dave Pacey, Milija Aleksic, Ron Davies, Sandy Davie John O’Rourke, Les Sealey, Bob Morton and Wally Shanks, Gordon Riddick, Billy Bingham, Herbert Moody, Adrian Alston, Reg Pearce, Keith Allen, Jimmy Ryan and George Cummins.
I can vividly remember Rodney Fern in a Luton Town shirt, as an impressionable youngster, his receding hair, swept over the top, reminded me of Bobby Charlton (Manchester United) and Ralph Coates (Burnley).
Fern joined the Hatters in 1972, after impressing during his time with Leicester City.
While on the books of Leicester City, Fern had been their top-scorer in the 1969/1970 season. But it was a display at Kenilworth Road, the following season, that had the Luton Town support drooling and wishing he was one of ours, with Fern playing out of his skin as Leicester City won 3-1 at Kenilworth Road.
But that same support had to wait until the following season before that dream move became a reality with the Hatters paying the princely sum of £45,000 for his services.
Unfortunately, in his three years at Kenilworth Road, Fern failed to establish himself making just 47 appearances and scoring a mere 5 goals, hardly the form he had showed while on the books of Leicester City.
However, whenever Fern was selected an air of anticipation filled the air with the support perfectly aware that the striker was quite capable of producing some sublime moments of skill.
Fern’s time at Luton Town came to an end in 1975 when he was sold to Chesterfield for less than Luton Town had paid Leicester City for him.
Later in his career, Fern played for Rotherham United before retiring from football in 1983.
Sadly, Rodney passed away on 16-January-2018, after suffering from dementia.
Rodney Fern – Mini Fact File
Name – Rodney Alan Fern
Date of Birth – 13-December-1948
Place of Birth – Burton-Upon-Trent
Position – Forward
Youth Career – Measham Imps
Playing Career – Leicester City, Luton Town, Chesterfield, Rotherham United
If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Rodney Fern, 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 Harry Walden as suggested by Trevor Powell.
COYH’s
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Luton Town – For The Love Of Dave
