In front of tens of thousands of ecstatic supporters, Luton held a parade on Monday to honor its lucrative promotion to the Premier League.
Saturday’s Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley ended in a 1-1 stalemate, but Rob Edwards’ team defeated Coventry 6-5 on penalties.
Only nine years after they started competing in the non-league National Conference, the Hatters have overcome all odds to make it to the top division.
Next season, Luton will host the elite of the top division at its tiny 10,356-seat Kenilworth Road stadium, including Premier League winners Manchester City.
The extra money earned from competing in the Premier League is expected to be worth over £170 ($210 million).
An unfashionable team who last competed in the top division in 1992 and nearly went bankrupt during their decline through the leagues has accomplished an astonishing feat.
The football world has taken notice of Luton’s success, as hundreds of fans lined the parade route to cheer on their heroes while dressed in the club’s orange colors.
Edwards declared, “It means everything,” before starting to sing Bon Jovi’s “Always” on the Luton Town Hall balcony and raising the championship trophy.
“It’s for you, the Luton Town supporters, for the community, for these deserving players, for the board, for the hard-working backroom staff. We must savor this occasion.
The 1988 League Cup final versus Arsenal marked the club’s sole major trophy win during Luton’s heyday in the top division throughout the 1980s.
After afterwards, it saw a protracted slide before gradually climbing back up to the Championship.
After being hired in November as a result of being fired by Luton’s nearby rivals Watford, Edwards served as the inspiration for this season’s promotion push.
Some Luton supporters waited for over four hours to witness players and staff make their way onto a stage in St. George’s Square as they showed their commitment to making the most of their club’s return to the top flight.
Before two open-top buses arrived after a brief journey from Kenilworth Road, highlights of the season and the play-off final were shown on a large screen.
The Premier League will have a significant impact on this community, according to Hatters CEO Gary Sweet.
Although we may have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I urge you to maintain your character.
“Let’s remain grounded and us. Let’s be modest.
