Hatters look to grow mighty Oak for home games

The Oak Road end is set to be made available to both Luton Town and away supporters until the end of the season after the Hatters gained permission from the Safety Advisory Group and Bedfordshire Police this week, writes Mark Wood.
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Up to 1,000 Hatters fans will be able to be housed in the traditionally away end each game, starting with Saturday’s visit of Alfreton Town, much to the delight of managing director Gary Sweet.

The move for the last seven home games boosts capacity in the home ends by around 15 per cent, as Sweet said: “It’s some terrific news for everybody which is the Oak Road is now open.

“As of from Saturday we have got approval from the safety advisory group, which is a mixed group of council officers and police and various other authorities that approve safety certificates for Kenilworth Road and we’ve made some applications, probably for about five years now, and finally got them through which means we can segregate the Oak Road.

“Ultimately this means that we can put in a varying number of anything from around 400 to 1,000 Luton supporters in the Oak Road, whilst we also contain the away support depending on how many away supporters actually attend a match at Kenilworth Road, will then depend on how many Luton supporters can.

“This is actually a permanent fixture, we’ve managed to do it on the basis that we’ve given the undertaking that we’ll put another exit into Beech Path from the Oak Road which then solves all the safety issues.

“In addition to that we’ve got a few things to do around stewarding and the way we police ourselves, but it is fantastic news.”

The announcement follows successful trials earlier in the season, as Sweet was keen to thank the fans who helped make it a success.

He said: “I would like to really thank those Kenilworth Road season ticket holders who kindly gave up their season tickets for that period. It’s testament to them that we’ve got here.”

Town supporters have already sat in the Oak Road end for three matches this season and tickets for that stand are now available on 01582 416976 and on the turnstiles of the day of the game, subject to availability.

Boss John Still was delighted by the news, as he said: “It’s another plus, another part of our team that’ll be, it will be brilliant I’m really pleased.

“The atmosphere is electric anyway and that’ll give it a boost.

“I know it’s someting supporters want and when it’s something that supporters want and they get, they’re going to be happy.

“When we played in the games and had them behind that goal, it’s been terrific.

“So the tail end of the season, everything is going to be geared towards keeping moving in the direction that we’re going.”

Boss of fourth-placed Alfreton Nicky Law was in the stands at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night as Wrexham were slaughtered 5-0 by rampant Hatters.

The Reds lost at home by the same scoreline back in December, but wideman Jake Howells was taking nothing for granted ahead of the clash.

He added: “We can’t go on what happened at their place. They’re a good side, they’re up in the play-offs and they’re up there for a reason.

“They’ve been beating everyone around them and getting three points, so we’re not going to take anything for granted and go into the game like we did tonight and hopefully get the three points.”