Hemmed in on all sides by terrace housing (the doorway to the away stand is between two entrance doorways) Kenilworth Highway is tiny, crammed and ramshackle. The necessity for brand new premises was mooted as way back as 1960. After limitless false dawns since, planning permission for a 16,000-seat stadium at city centre website Energy Courtroom is lastly into consideration. Till that’s accomplished, nonetheless, the Hatters will proceed to play at what those that comply with the membership name “The Previous Lady”.
“We get the chants from away followers, Luton’s a s—hole, all of that. They sing about tin huts and cowsheds,” says Harper. “There’s no getting away from it: They’re completely proper. However there’s one thing enchanting about this place. Come, expertise it, it’s completely different, you’ll always remember Kenilworth Highway.”
Or as Candy places it: “That is actual life, actual soccer, proper right here. This isn’t a sterile bowl the place nothing goes on. That is vigorous, that is emotion. That is white knuckles, tears and pleasure. It is a cauldron. When you can’t embrace it, then you definately don’t love soccer.”
For the locals, realizing soccer will nonetheless be performed right here for a pair extra years not less than, issues could possibly be about to vary dramatically. From subsequent season it could possibly be the Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis staff buses failing to barter the tight bends hereabouts, it could possibly be followers of Arsenal and Tottenham attempting to park within the slender streets.
“On social media, there’s a lot mocking on the considered Erling Haaland going by way of one in all our s— entrances, however in fact he gained’t need to,” says Candy. “We’ve bought a particular s— entrance for the visiting gamers.”
