Sweet hails his Hatters heroes at promotion party

An emotional managing director Gary Sweet praised the heroes who have made Luton’s return to the Football League possible at the civic celebrations on Sunday.

Town ended five long years in the Conference last month when they were crowned champions in manager John Still’s first full season in charge.

More than 10,000 supporters turned out to hail the Town squad at St George’s Square as the players and management went on an open top bus parade with the Skrill Premier trophy.

Speaking to fans on the stage, Sweet said: “This is about the celebration of heroes for me.

“You’re all here to celebrate these players who have been heroes of ours and heroes of mine.

“John Still is everyone’s hero. Terry (Harris), Jeff (Wood), Hak (Hakan Hayrettin), everybody in the backroom staff are heroes.

“There are other heroes who don’t necessarily want to be on the stage.

“Heroes who have put their hands in their pockets to keep this football club going over the last five years while we’ve been in non-league as a professional club and it’s been a very costly process.

“I am nothing without these people, we are nothing without these people.

“The last few years have been so painful for us but we stuck through it, the dedication everybody has had.

“This is not me, these guys here, it’s you out there, we all feel the same thing.”

Boss John Still also praised Town’s long suffering supporters, as he led the players in a round of applause for the Hatters fans in attendance, while the likes of goalkeeper Mark Tyler and Alex Lawless also spoke too.

For the full story and an eight page piture special, see the Luton News/Dunstable Gazette on sale now, while for all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, MOM poll, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our Hatters Microsite.