Luton – The Longest Day A Blast From The Past

Back in 1981, I was busy discovering the delights of life, beer, women, and away days with the Hatters.

However, one away day remains one I will never forget.

Arising from my slumber, I opted to get up early and go to the local shop to get a newspaper and a pint of milk, the latter being a request from my mother.

Little did she know she would not receive that pint of milk for some eighteen hours.

I will explain!

The date was 24th January 1981, and the Hatters were off to St James Park Newcastle for a FA Cup 4th round tie having beaten Leyton Orient in the 3rd round.

Now as someone who suffers from travel sickness, I had decided to give this one a miss, after all we are talking about someone who throws-up, when on a coach, before they have exited Hitchin on a trip to the seaside.

But before I got to the local shops, a car drew up and a good friend of mine leaned out of the window explaining they had a spare coach ticket, to Newcastle, and would I like it.

Ignoring the travel sickness problem, I jumped at the chance, got in the car, and set off for Bury Park.

Parking the car, we alighted one of several coaches that were going to St James Park from Hazelbury Crescent.

Soon we were on our way, journeying north on what for me was a trial of mental strength, trying not to be sick.

Surprisingly, we arrived in Newcastle and I had not embarrassed myself.

Jumping off the coach, we were soon aware of thousands of black and white clad Geordies giving us the evil eye, but with a decent police presence we came to no harm.

Entering the ground, we found ourselves on a piece of open terrace, stuck in the corner of the ground, from which we could admire the rest of the ground.

The Gallowgate End was soon full, and the atmosphere was better than I had witnessed at an away ground for many a year.

The travelling Luton support did there best to make themselves heard as the game started.

But Luton were not to produce a cup shock and were to be beaten 2-1, with, if my memory recalling right, a young Godfrey Ingram scoring the Luton goal.

One thing that stands out from the game came when Newcastle scored and a couple of Geordies, in our bit of the ground, celebrated.

Almost instantly, a couple of Luton lads confronted them with the result the police dived in and dragged out the sorry looking Geordies.

After the game we were held inside the ground, but I can recall to our right there being a medical facilty with girls hanging out of the windows.

Immediately a chorus of:

“Get your t*ts out for the lads”.

filled the air.

Soon we were being marched along the back of the ground and towards our row of coaches with the locals keen to let us know what they thought of us Southerners.

One highlight came when a car, oblivious to where it was heading, became so enthralled in what was becoming a heated exchange, it drove straight into a bus shelter sending the inhabitants scattering.

Once again, the prospect of the long coach drive home filled me with dread but, amazingly, I survived unscathed.

Disembarking in Hazelbury Crescent, we were soon back in the car heading for home, it had been the longest away venture I had been on when it came to following the Hatters.

But, opening the front door and walking into the lounge, with it being well past midnight, I was met with the words I will never forget, my mother asking:

“Did you get the milk?”

Fortunately, the answer was yes, I had managed to get one from the local petrol garage!

COYH’s