Luton Town fans celebrate the club’s historic promotion to the Premier League
Thousands of Luton Town fans descended on to the streets of the town on Monday, 29 May, to celebrate the club’s historic promotion to the Premier League.
The football team organised an open-top bus parade, and the mayor, Councillor Mohammad (Yaqub) Hanif, encouraged all the fans to show their support and “paint the town orange”.
The Mayor said on 27 May, “Today is a truly memorable day for those of us who are proud to call ourselves Lutonians. The team and everyone at the club have done us all proud and given memories that will last for a long time.
“It is only right that we show our gratitude for their achievements by honouring them with this homecoming celebration.
“We look forward to seeing you all on Monday.
“Come on you Hatters!”
Sky News reported that the team started the journey from their ground at Kenilworth Road and made their way to a main square in the town on a bus decorated with the words: “Proud of our Hatters”.
Other signs were put up around the town, and said, “We did it! Back in the big time” and “Going up”, as the promotion comes just nine years on from ending a five-season stretch in the National League – the fifth tier.
People were seen joining in with orange spray-painted faces and waving orange Luton Town FC flags, eager to get a glimpse of their favourite players and cheer them on as they drove through the town.
On Saturday, Luton beat Coventry on penalties in the Championship play-off final and were then promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history. They will now compete in the top deck of English football for the first time since 1992, according to Sky News.
The players were seen carrying their championship trophy as their buses made their way through the streets full of rejoicing fans, and then went towards the town centre.
The club is now expected to receive more than £170 million in future earnings for gaining promotion to the Premier League, the richest league in world football.
