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, Wally Shanks, Gordon Riddick, Billy Bingham, Herbert Moody, Adrian Alston, Reg Pearce, Keith Allen, Jimmy Ryan, George Cummins, Rodney Fern, Harry Walden, Billy McDerment, Scott Oakes, Bert Mitchell, Kingsley Black, Mike Harrison and Matt Tees
For the latest in our ongoing and, hopefully, comprehensive series, we’re going to take a brief look at the career of Jimmy Husband, as nominated by Mad Hatter.
Jimmy Husband played for the Hatters during my first golden era of supporting the team.
I’d started in the 1967/1968 season and seen the Hatters climb from the old Fourth Division to the old Second Division.
I’d witnessed both Allan Brown and Alec Stock manage the team but when Jimmy Husband came to Kenilworth Road it was Harry Haslam that stood on the brink of leading us back to the top-flight of English football.
Husband, signed from Everton, in 1973, had already played his part in winning competitions after being part of Everton’s League Championship winning side in 1970 and also part of their Charity Shield winning side the same year.
Harry Haslam saw Husband as the last piece of his jigsaw, a player that could help achieve the clubs dream of top-flight football after so long lingering in the lower leagues.
Haslam proved to be a good judge of a footballer as with Husband in the side, the Hatters, finishing second in the table, behind Middlesbrough, achieved the dream. During the promotion winning season Husband made vital contributions scoring some important goals.
Remembering that season and those that followed, I was always impressed as to how Jimmy, whenever Luton Town had a throw-in, in the opponents half, always offered himself as the recipient of the ball, more ofteen than not drawing a foul from over-eager defenders thereby providing Luton with the perfect opportunity to push on with a decent delivery from the resulting set piece.
Husband remained at Kenilworth Road, for four seasons before, like many other seasoned professionals, being enticed by the lure of the North American Soccer League where he played for the wonderfully named Memphis Rogues, Cleveland Force and Oklahoma City Slickers.
During his time with the Hatters, Jimmy made 162 appearances, in all competitions scoring on 48 occasions.
Jimmy Husband – Mini Fact File
Name – James Husband
Date of Birth – 15-October-1947
Place of Birth – Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
Position – Striker
Youth Career – Everton
Playing Career – Everton, Luton Town, Memphis Rogues, Cleveland Force, Oklahoma City Slickers
International Career – England Schools, England Youth, England U23
If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Jimmy Husband, 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 John Collins as suggested by David Gadsden.
COYH’s
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Luton Town – One Unfortunate Day In Cambridge Still Haunts Me
