Luton on film: Kenilworth Road given the 35mm treatment

Words: Sarah Kelly

Images: Sarah Kelly

Supporting images: Ed Kelly

Luton vs Watford probably isn’t counted in England’s top derbies but we’ve never been too bothered about league positions anyway.

For the Luton-Watford match in October last year, my brother had a camera in the David Preece stand and I had my camera over in block G of the main stand to give two perspectives.

He also managed to capture Carlton Morris nodding home!

Upon our relegation from the Premier League on fixture release day, there was only one fixture any Town fan cared about: the Derby.

I don’t think many Luton or Watford fans would have anticipated the position the two clubs would be in going into the first clash, with us looking like a shadow of the team that smashed Brighton 4-0 and caused a stir at St James’s Park and Tom Cleverly looking as securely employed as any Watford manager can claim to be.

©Sarah Kelly/ Terrace Edition. Luton Town FC vs Watford FC.

If I had to summarise the match in one sentence, it would be 'We showed up and they didn’t'. After a 3-0 victory the Luton faithful finally had something to smile about.

People wax lyrical about the intimidating atmosphere at Kenilworth Road and that really shines through on derby day.

With the stands being so close to the pitch, the visitors were given a proper main stand welcome, and much like the derby two years prior and the Semi-Final playoff versus Sunderland - as soon as the game kicked-off, it felt like the result was a foregone conclusion. We don’t lose on days like this.

The match will live long in the memory but you can’t help wonder at the back of your mind how many derbies Kenilworth Road has left in her. We all know for the club to progress we have to move, and we all know that a move should have happened about 60 years ago but that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach.

Kenilworth Road has been the place that I’ve gone to every other week - from the age of nine, up to where I am now at 26. I’m gonna be an absolute mess when the day comes so I can only imagine how those who have been going longer than I’ve been alive will feel.

©Ed Kelly/ Terrace Edition. Luton Town FC vs Watford FC.

©Ed Kelly/ Terrrace Edition. Luton Town FC vs Watford FC.

You can find Sarah on X: @sezkez_; Blueksky: @sezkez.bsky.social and Instagram: @sezkezz

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