Regular visitors to Vital Luton Town may, or may not, have been following our ongoing series relating to a ‘Best-Ever Luton Town XI’
The series, now approaching its conclusion, was designed for the Hatters support to nominate the best players they’ve seen, in the flesh, in a Hatters shirt.
Our series has already decided upon the starting eleven, as can be seen by following the links below:
a-best-ever-luton-town-xi-the-results-the-attack
a-best-ever-luton-town-xi-the-results-the-midfieLD
best-ever-luton-town-xi-the-fourth-member-of-the-back-four-is-revealed
a-best-ever-luton-town-xi-the-results-the-defence
a-best-ever-luton-town-xi-the-results-goalkeeper
All that remains, at the moment, is to reveal who you chose to manage the team.
Analysing the results, we had a clear winner, with almost everybody opting for David Pleat.
Pleat had two spells in the managerial hot-seat, at Kenilworth Road, the first spanning the period 1978 – 1986 and the second spanning the period 1991 – 1995.
Pleat also, in his younger days, had a spell as a player at the club during the period 1964 – 1967.
For me, Pleat’s best days in the managerial hot seat came in his first spell when he built a team that climbed into the top-flight of English football, escaped relegation on a dramatic afternoon in Manchester and almost took us to an FA Cup Final.
Pleat’s pinnacle as the Hatters boss came when he guided the side to ninth position in the table in 1986.
During his second period, Pleat saw his side relegated in his first season in charge and, once again, was deprived of leading the Hatters out in an FA Cup Final when they were beaten by Chelsea in 1994.
David Pleat will always be fondly remembered by the Hatters faithful and is deserved of his nomination to manage your Best-Ever XI.
Previous article by Mad Hatter
a-time-for-a-bit-of-hindsight-from-the-luton-town-faithful
