Meet the Premier League newcomers: Luton Town

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14 Jun 2023

At 09:00 BST on Thursday (15th June), Crystal Palace’s 23/24 Premier League fixtures will be revealed – and, as always, there’ll be three fresh teams to look out for.

With Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton departing the top-flight at the end of 22/23, in their stead will stand newly-promoted clubs Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town.

Ahead of Thursday’s big reveal, therefore, let’s meet the new boys. Next up are familiar foes Sheffield United...

Set your reminders: fixtures will be announced on Thursday across cpfc.co.uk, the official Palace app and the club's social media channels.

How did they get here?

Luton Town’s rise to the Premier League is scarcely believable given their non-league status just over a decade ago, but last season saw them achieve the impossible and reach the top-flight for the first time since 1992.

After a slow start under Nathan Jones – they sat in 12th place on Boxing Day – they recovered their form and moved rapidly towards the play-off places. One defeat in their last 20 league games ensured their position in third.

A dramatic semi-final victory over Sunderland, where they recovered from a first-leg defeat, a date at Wembley beckoned. Their promotion was sealed in the most dramatic fashion, beating Coventry City in a penalty shoot-out to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.

The boss

Rob Edwards’ season was just as dramatic as Luton’s, becoming the first manager to be both sacked and promoted in the same Championship campaign.

After his Watford reign was ended in September, Edwards took over from Southampton-bound Nathan Jones and masterminded Luton’s rapid rise to the top-flight.

It marks the next step in an impressive managerial career for the former Aston Villa defender, having been in charge of National League North side AFC Telford United as recently as 2018. England Under-16s and Forest Green Rovers followed, and now a Premier League campaign awaits.

Ones to watch

Carlton Morris scored in the Play-Off final penalty shoot-out, but his 16 Championship goals proved crucial to Luton making it that far. He is supported by Elijah Adebayo, who made the step up from League Two in 2020 and scored seven times in 42 league games last season.

In midfield, Jordan Clark and Scottish international Alan Campbell provide a formidable pairing, while nine-cap Jamaican defender Amari’i Bell provides defensive solidity and attacking impetus from left-back.

The ground

Luton’s Kenilworth Road ground may hold just over 10,000, but the atmosphere created when the Premier League anthem plays for the first time will be enough to create a challenge for even the best sides.

More than 100 years old, the ground has attracted social media attention for its unusual entrance to the Oak Road End, but extensive work is expected to take place before the season-opener in August.

Did you know?

There were many clubs in Luton, including the excellently named Luton Excelsior, before in 1885 Luton Wanderers captain George Deacon decided to form a club called ‘Luton Town’ to incorporate all of the town’s best players.

While ‘The Hatters’ nickname reflects Luton’s connection with hat-making, they initially wore white and black for a fifty year period between 1920 and 1973, before orange began to be gradually incorporated to the kit.

Record against Palace

The two sides’ last meeting came in 2007, as a Clinton Morrison double gave Palace all three points at Selhurst Park.

One of the Eagles’ most consequential victories over Luton came in 1991 in the Zenith Data Systems Cup semi-final – Palace would go on to win the trophy at Wembley.

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