Hatters miss out on reported friendly with A-League side Perth Glory after coronavirus pandemic

Hatters were reported to be heading to Australia this year

Luton Town were reportedly due to have a pre-season friendly in Australia against Hyundai A-League side Perth Glory in the build up to the 2020-21 campaign until the coronavirus pandemic struck.

According to an article by the Mandurah Coastal Timespublished this morning, the Hatters were going to travel to Mandurah City FC’s training grounds at Peelwood Parade, on the southwest coast of Western Australia, ahead of a clash against Perth Glory, managed by former Crystal Palace defender Tony Popovic.

The report states that Luton have had to cancel their trip due to COVID-19 restrictions and the safety of players and staff, although it might still happen in 2021.

Halls Head company Citrus Digital Marketing and Promotion, headed up by Jon Ring and former Luton Town player Tony Castiello, who was at Kenilworth Road in the 1972/73 season, but didn't make a first team appearance, had invited the club to stay in Mandurah this year.

A company spokesman said: “We are negotiating with the council now to have it here in Mandurah.

“The Football West International Cup - Mandurah 2021 would be the title of it, so we are negotiating with Luton Town on that.”

This year’s tournament would have marked 50 years since the match since Luton hosted Australia’s first match on British soil, as an XI took on the Hatters at Kenilworth Road back on November 23, 1970.

The game featuring Australia’s first Aboriginal player, Harry Williams, who later went on to represent Australia at the 1974 World Cup, saw Town beaten 2-1, with Malcolm Macdonald on target for the Hatters in front of a crowd of 6,416.