Ex-Luton skipper Brian Horton: We deserved to stay up on final day at Manchester City

Ex-Town captain Brian Horton felt his side fully deserved to pull off their great escape at Manchester City which celebrates its 37th anniversary today.

The midfielder was skipper of the side which managed to stay up at Maine Road on the final day of the 1982-83 season and send their hosts down to Division Two courtesy of a 1-0 win with the goal scored by Raddy Antic, who sadly passed away last month.

Speaking to the Luton News about the occasion, Horton said: “The biggest thing was we had to win and they could have stayed up with a draw.

“It’s hard to play for a draw so we went and played with freedom, we didn’t go and defend and we were the better side on the day.

“Raddy came on late on when it was 0-0 and gets the winner, but it was fantastic for the fans, for the town, to stay in there (Division One).

“We’d worked so hard as we’d never really been in danger until right at the end, so it was great.

“We always believed we could (stay up). We didn’t go and defend, but it worked in our favour, they just needed a draw and they were happy to play for a draw.

“I reminisce with Mossy (David Moss) and the gaffer (David Pleat) about it still.

"I speak to David nearly every week that’s how close we were and how close we are really.

“It’s ironic I came to manage Man City all those years after and I still live in Manchester, so I still get reminded of that game many, many times.

"The fans were fantastic too. They enjoyed the ride with us, getting promotion and then staying up at Man City, it was just magical times."

Survival meant that Horton remained in the top flight once more, having dropped down to Division Two to join Luton from Brighton in the summer of 1981.

He continued: “Playing in the top league against all those sides, Man United, Man City, Spurs, Arsenal, I’d done it there (Brighton) and stayed up.

"So to do it again at two different sides and captain both, gave me a lot of satisfaction."

Two of Town's best performances actually came against Horton's former side that term, as they did the double over the Seagulls, 5-0 on home soil thanks to a Brian Stein hat-trick and then 4-2 at the Goldstone, Ricky Hill netting twice.

Horton added: "I have to be careful what I say about that one!

“They were two magnificent displays, the 5-0 and the 4-2 at the Goldstone, I can remember them so well.

"We scored nine goals against my old club and it’s a club I hold very, very close to my heart, the same as Luton.

"I had five years down there but then to go back and beat them, I didn’t want to rub it in.

"It's one of those, where you go back, you do your job and then out you go again."