Luton Town were formed in April 1885 when two club’s, Luton Wanderers, and Luton Excelsior, merged into one club. Luton were the first club in the south to pay their players, if only three of them. It may have been a bit tough on the others, but they got 5/- each, that’s 25p a match, but this was 1890 and 25p was a fair old sum then. Luton were founder members of the Southern League in 1894, entering the Football League in 1897.
The club’s badge stems from the town of Luton’s coat of arms. (PIC 1) These arms were granted in 1876. In the centre of the shield is a bee, which is the heraldic emblem of industry. The hive represents the straw-plaiting industry, for which Luton were famous, as well as straw hat and boater makers. The wheatsheaf alludes to the agriculture and supply of wheat straw for the plaiting industry. Straw-plaiting was brought to Luton by a bunch of Scots, under the protection of Sir John Napier of Luton Hoo. The rose is from the arms of the Napier family, and the thistle is a symbol of the Scots. The crest shows a hand with a bunch of wheat, again a symbol of straw-plaiting. This has been left off the club’s badge, probably to avoid any clutching at straws references. It has been replaced by a straw boater. The Latin motto reads “SCIENTIAE ET LABORI DETUR”, and translates as, Science and Labor is Needed. The club’s badge has recently undergone a bit of a tweak, but is not unlike the old one. (PIC 2) The straw boater gives the club its nickname “The Hatters”, which is emblazoned on the rainbow of two colours, and these being the team strip. Luton was also known for making other types of hat, and as the industry grew the town became known as the centre of hatters. The mercury used in the hat-making business would slowly poison the workers. This would result in them going insane, hence the term “Mad as a hatter“. Two footballs represent the beautiful game and the club’s name is in the banner beneath. The revamped badge has maintained its heraldic roots, but has done away with the nickname and added the year established. (PIC 3)
Luton was an Anglo-Saxon outpost on the River Lea, and it is from there it gets its name, Lea from the river and Tun meaning settlement. Luton Towns home is Kenilworth Road, with a 10,000 capacity, and history going back to 1905. Luton’s local rivals are Watford. Thanks, go to whoever replied to my enquiries but did not sign the compliment slip. Thanks for your input. If you want to find out more on Luton Town FC then go mad for, www.lutontown.co.uk
