There is a whiff of pump and an element of misplaced footballing elitism aimed at Luton Town since they were promoted to the Premier League.
Since that dramatic Wembley win over Coventry City, the focus has been on Kenilworth Road’s capacity and the fact that the stadium isn’t in the best of the states – it’s all been a bit nasty.
But rather than worry about perceived negatives, we should celebrate their return to the English top flight after 31 years away, because they deserve their moment in the sun.
Without wanting to be too sugary, that’s what you have to dream about, what football should represent.
Football has had a basic regimen of uninspiring circumstances of late, with Premier League champions under investigation for financial impropriety and clubs like Everton facing similar challenges, while a number of Championship clubs were sanctioned.
Luton Town getting promotion to the Premier League for next season epitomizes our beautiful game
Hatters manager Rob Edwards rallied his squad for Championship playoff success last week
How refreshing that out of the clouds come a football club built from effort. They overcame adversity with small budgets, core values and integrity.
Mail Sport columnist Simon Jordan believes the Premier League needs Luton Town
This is a club that refuses to compromise on its values and has decided not to accept the low hanging fruit of commercial endorsements from betting companies because they disagree with it.
These principles and characteristics are, in part, what football clubs should embody and what the game should represent.
Luton’s return to the top flight represents the restoration and reminder of the dream that the Premier League is a land that can be reached no matter how low you have fallen.
There is something pure, clean and uplifting about their non-League journey, where they resided just nine years ago, to join the biggest and best league in the world.
The overcoming of every obstacle, the union of people, the validity of a football club and the achievements of individual merit alongside the collective spirit – that is what Luton is. It’s what should be celebrated, what we should be talking about, rather than how you get to the far end of Kenilworth Road.
Jordan Clark’s opener in the first half helped Luton beat Coventry 6-5 on penalties
With oil-rich giants like Man City dominating the top flight, Luton will be a breath of fresh air
Luton should be something we hope for and stand for, not because it’s the smaller parent of those big, monolithic football clubs, but because it’s all about English football.
They may have had plastic terrain in the 1980s, but there’s nothing plastic about them now. They have crossed four divisions with 10,000 fans on the ground and are a breath of fresh air in this superficial world of football sometimes laden with greed.
The Premier League needs clubs like Luton. They certainly shouldn’t apologize for anything or develop an inferiority complex. They should absolutely, undeniably be Luton Town FC.
They should use their stadium size as an advantage.
Premier League players are used to lavish facilities, but in Luton if you put the key in the door it will break the window at the back of the dressing room – use it! Be proud to be aberrant.
They must never forget that they have the right to be there, even when they travel to their first Premier League encounter.
It will be interesting to see how Luton manages a more professional approach.
Football League meetings – with a plethora of clubs with very small mindsets and prospects – tended to focus on ridiculous rule changes and the color of referees’ trousers rather than the bigger issues. In the Premier League there is a clear program – how much money do we get and where do we get it from?
Some football fans have mocked Luton’s Kenilworth Road stadium, which has a capacity of just over 10,000, ahead of the club’s fairytale return to the Premier League next campaign.
But Luton must use Kenilworth Road to their advantage when Premier League sides visit
You know where you are. You know the main focus and Luton will be part of the conversation, rather than the cheap drivel they’ve had to listen to for years. This is going to be the culture shift of all culture shifts for them.
Because everything changes when you are in the Premier League. Everything looks so much brighter, so much easier on the eyes. Even the way broadcasters put together TV shows is different.
In the Football League you have an old man with a rattle promoting it, in the Premier League everything is done in a grand style that makes things bigger and better. Everything shines, as if he had received a T-cut an inch from his life.
When the so-called big boys arrive on your turf, everyone’s energy levels increase. Suddenly, you no longer observe, you participate. You don’t have your nose pressed against the toy store window like Tiny Tim, you’re actually in the toy store, even if you pretend until you do.
They will also face a huge spike in media interest.
Every aspect, every part of the club becomes public property and public interest. They will constantly be portrayed as the have-nots and must not let this permeate their psyche. They must rise above and not be sucked into it.
Luton must not change their refreshing approach to football and develop an inferiority complex
They celebrated their spectacular final playoff win with an open-top bus parade around town
They are not second class citizens and their consistent ranking will be difficult unless they embrace it and turn it to their advantage. But after everything they’ve been through, they can adapt to this.
There will undoubtedly be congestion from many Premier League clubs, but there will also be respect and admiration.
Being a mildly exuberant character and on several occasions vehemently dismissive of the narrow-mindedness of the Football League, my arrival in the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 2004 was viewed with concern, so much so that I was asked to attend a meeting with Richard Scudamore. to tell me how to behave. Suffice to say that this request was met with a two-word response!
I am certainly not advocating that Luton take the approach I have taken. I hope they go there with their shoulders back, their chests up and take this league, from the moment their chairman walks into his first Premier League meeting.
From game one to game 38, every aspect of Luton Town should be full of pride, belief and self-belief. Show no fear or apologize for anything.
They are a credit to the pyramid and football of this country, the living embodiment of what the English game should look like.
Marvelous Nakamba (right) celebrates with fans after reaching the Championship playoff final
TYSON FURY, YOU’RE BORING YOURSELF
As someone who considers himself a Tyson Fury fan, I’ve grown increasingly disappointed with his demeanor, attitude, and output on social media.
Once upon a time, heavyweight champions were supposed to mean something – they were boxing’s leaders – but his ridiculous conduct is embarrassing.
He’s one of the most charismatic sportsmen in the world, but he turns into a laughingstock, an object of ridicule, with all that talk of Oleksandr Usyk and his constant appeal to the potentially busted hunt that is Anthony Joshua.
He scoffs at the idea that fighters can immortalize themselves through their actions in the ring.
Tyson Fury’s ridiculous outbursts become an annoyance for himself and boxing
His effing and jeffing towards Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk was not a good look for him
We all know you’re the A side, we all know you gotta get paid, but now come on Tyson, cut him, pull yourself together and stop those ridiculous outbursts. We need fewer words and more action.
He’s the best heavyweight we’ve seen in 20 years, someone who raised the bar, opened up the division, scattered belts and fought through adversity.
But his biggest battle now is the battle of the bulls**t.
Continue to be the statesman and leader of boxing’s blue ribbon division, because right now, Tyson, your conduct is an embarrassment to you and the sport.
