Hatters legend felt 2009 Wembley win crowned one of the 'toughest seasons' in Luton's history

Club legend Mick Harford will look forward to meeting up with the heroes who led the Hatters to EFL Trophy glory some 17 years ago, a success that came during a season he described as one of the ‘toughest’ in the club’s recent history, ahead of this weekend’s clash with Stockport County at Wembley.

The 67-year-old was in charge of the Hatters when they beat Scunthorpe United during what was then known as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, as 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes with Chris Martin and Tom Craddock on target, Claude Gnakpa was then the match-winner in extra time as Town lifted the trophy.

Officially relegated from the Football League a week later after being hit by a monstrous 30-point deduction from the Football League at the start of the campaign, but despite that, 45,000 supporters still made their way to the capital to see their side triumph and sprinkle some joy on what had been a desperately hard year for everyone connected with Town, as they let the FA and EFL know exactly that they thought about the decision which sent Town down, with songs that are still sung by the Kenilworth Road faithful this very day.

A large number of those who took the to field that day will now be back at Wembley as guests of the club on Sunday, as will Harford, who still attends most Luton games in his club ambassador role, as on meeting up with them and remembering the events from almost 20 years ago, said: “The 2009 squad will be there on Sunday. I think there’s 14 of them coming. They’ll have all aged a little bit and got a bit older, but lots of familiar faces as usual.

"I’ll sit on the table with them, have some lunch, have a laugh and a couple of drinks, I’m really looking forward to that as well as the game. That 2009 season was really, really tough, probably one of the toughest of the club’s history. We had the 30 points and backs against the wall, and they came out fighting, had a real good go at it.

"We tried to stay in the league, but obviously it didn’t work out, and then to get to Wembley and win the final was a major achievement. That just goes to show we had a lot of character at the football club in terms of players, staff and management and I think it’s the same here. We still feel hard done by and I’m glad the fans sing when they think a blatant decision is not given our way. It makes me chuckle when they sing that song and it’s brilliant.

“Those fans will always be behind us as in my opinion they’re the best fans in the whole leagues as it’s been a rollercoaster ride for us. They’re still behind us. It’s been tough times, really tough times, but it teaches you a lot, makes you strong, makes you better and makes you want to achieve more.”

Asked just what it was like to lift the trophy in front of those adoring supporters, Harford, who let even treated those to an Eric Morecambe-style dance when celebrating, continued: “Was it relief? I’m not sure. Was it excitement? It was a bit of everything. Just to let your hair down and to think we’ve achieved something after such a dramatic season when the chips were down from the beginning.

"One of the hardest points was to try and get players to come here. You’re minus 30 points and you have to try and put a squad together, you have to be a strong person to do that in terms of players coming in. I was very, very grateful for some of the players as we did attract some good players and that was due to the stature of the football club. It was a special day as there were 45,000 fans there. You look back and they deserved that day out in my opinion for the way they supported the club.

"Even this season away from home we haven’t been consistent away from home, but the fans keep showing up and backing the team, getting behind them. I think they’ve got their just rewards over the last month or so, hopefully it can carry on until the end of the season and we can get two visits to Wembley this year, but it’s going to be tough, absolutely.

"It doesn’t take a Wembley final for everyone to get together at Luton. I’ll always support the fans and always back them, and they are always behind us in terms of whatever we’re trying to do and trying to achieve. They will get together, 35,000 people down there, we’re in good form, we’re playing against a decent team who know League One in and out and it’s going to be a difficult game, but I think there will definitely be a coming together in terms of players, the staff and the fans.

It wasn’t just as a manager that the former striker, who played 217 times for Luton, with 92 goals, has enjoyed success at the home of English football either, as he was part of the Luton team who beat Arsenal, also 3-2, that in the Littlewoods Trophy Final back in 1988, and then again in 1989 as the Hatters lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest this time, Harford himself on target to open the scoring in the first half. On what was better, being on the pitch or in the dug-out, he added: “It’s very similar, but for me as a player you can be quite selfish.

“It’s a major honour to win a trophy, it was just great to win at Wembley in front of 90,000 and something that will always live with you, but I just think the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy was just a special trophy in front of 45,000 fans there. They could have just disbanded us and left us but they didn’t. They stuck with us and that’s the beauty of this football club and that’s what it’s all about. We’ve had some amazing days at Wembley, good memories from the past, the club’s been there a few times and have been successful, so hopefully we can continue that success.”

Although he has enjoyed two winning days there, Harford knows that just by the very nature of playing at the venue, makes doing so that little bit harder, stating: “It’s just on the day. It will be tough, it’s always hard work at Wembley. The pressure’s on and stepping out at Wembley isn’t easy, it’s really hard to win a football match, but it’s a bit harder at Wembley. It’s a major competition, it’s a great competition to win, it doesn’t matter who you are and we’ve got a mix of youth and experience. The experienced ones will feel it, the younger ones might play with no fear, which will be good if they do.”

With Harford talking to the media at the Brache, on Wednesday, the state of the art training facility is a far cry from Ely Way where Harford had prepared his players to take on United some 17 years ago. despite the massive upgrade, he still clearly relished those times, saying: “You look at the training ground now and you have to say thank you to the board to Gary (Sweet, chief executive) and 2020 for creating this environment.

"The pitches are top class and it’s just a completely different environment to Ely Way, but Ely Way was good for us. I enjoyed Ely Way, it molds you a little bit and things don’t come easy. You have to work hard to get there, it takes time to develop and get ourselves here, so I enjoyed Ely Way, but this is a much different environment over here."

Finally, asked if he believes that under Jack Wilshere Luton can lift the trophy for a second time in their history, and the chances of being back at Wembley once more in just over a month’s time for the League One play-offs, Harford added: “I was watching training and there’s a lot of noise out there, so that means firstly they’re enjoying themselves, secondly they’re working hard. Jack’s created a great environment here and in my opinion he’s done a great job.

"It was a tough job to come into and I think at the moment we’re in the best form that we’ve been in this season and we’re going into Wembley with a lot of confidence. It would be fantastic (to go twice), as the league is the priority. We want to go to Wembley and win on Sunday, but if we can sneak into the play-offs in terms of the form we’re on now. We don’t know what we need, we might need four wins and a draw, we might need five wins, but I think the way we’re playing at the moment we’re capable of doing it. It’s a great opportunity for the players, for everyone at the club to try and break into the top six.”