Howells can’t wait for Hatters to get going

Hatters travel to Carlisle United on Saturday for their first campaign back in the Football League after five long years in the Conferece.

When asked how much he was looking forward to being back in the league, he said: “Massively. Don’t get me wrong, the Conference isn’t a bad level at all, but it was difficult, especially in the circumstances, us going down, the minus 30.

“To be back in the league means a lot to me. You can see in the support, even against Antwerp it was an amazing atmosphere.

“Every game has just been building up and I think everyone’s ready for it.

“For me personally to start on zero points is a lot better than minus 30 too.”

Boss John Still was of the same opinion as he said: “I think everybody, day one when they come in for pre-season are waiting for the season start, and I’m no different.

“You never lose that excitement whatever club you’re at, but I think there’s that bit extra here, that’s been emanating around the town once the celebrations had tailed off last season and they’re looking forward to this season.”

Having experienced plenty of lows since making his debut back in 2008, Howells is delighted to see the good times return with last year’s Conference title triumph.

He continued: “I’ve seen the club come down in the leagues and been part of it.

“It’s not nice to have on your CV, so to be back in League Two, we know we’ll have massive support home and away games, going to be a massive season, everyone’s looking forward to it.”

Town’s superb support has been shown once with over 1,000 making the trip to Carlisle this weekend.

Howells was not surprised in the slightest that so many were making the trek as he said: “Since I’ve been here always had amazing support regardless of where we’ve been playing.

“Carlisle first game, sold over 1,000 tickets, they’re just quality support, all I’ve ever known.”

On whether those fans could be celebrating a second successive promotion in May too, Howells added: “We’d like to. It’s not as easy as said, but we’re going to work hard every game.

“We’re not going to think we can win this game and win this game and win the league, we’re just going to into every game, work hard on the training ground and try to get three points.”