Meet the Opposition | Luton Town
As Swansea City prepare to host Luton Town at the Swansea.com stadium, we look at the history, form and the key figures for the Hatters.
What's their story?
Established in 1885, Luton Town first played as one of the founding members of the Southern League and in 1897 joined the Football League. Affectionately known as the Hatters, the club play their home games at Kenilworth Road.
Luton’s most successful era came in the late 1980s under head coach Ray Harford. They came back from 2-1 down with 15 minutes to go to win the League Cup in 1988, surprising Arsenal 3-2. Their best league campaign came in the 1986-87 season when they finished seventh in the First Division.
After a difficult period with spells in administration and points deductions culminating in the Hatters relegation out of the Football League in 2009 season, they have rebounded in superb fashion.
John Still got them back in the EFL in 2014, before Nathan Jones took them up to the Championship before departing for Stoke.
Jones has since returned and led them to a sixth-place finish and a play-off spot last term, although they lost out Huddersfield in the semi-finals.
How's their form?
Luton took two draws from their opening pair of league fixtures, playing out a goalless draw against Birmingham before securing another point against highly-fancied Burnley.
However, they were among a number of Championship clubs to bow out of the Carabao Cup at the first-round stage as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to League Two Newport County.
Who’s the Gaffer?
Welshman Nathan Jones is in his second spell at the Kenilworth Road club.
After a successful first spell between 2016 and 2019, during which he oversaw back-to-back promotions, Jones departed for Stoke but endured a difficult spell in the Potteries.
He returned to Luton in 2020, guiding them to Championship safety, and they have flourished since.
As a player Cardiff-born Jones played most of his career in the lower leagues for Brighton & Hove Albion and Yeovil Town, amassing over 150 appearances for each. In total Jones had a career spanning 488 appearances and 12 goals over a 17-year period.
Who's the captain?
Imposing centre-back Sonny Bradley is the captain at Kenilworth Road.
Standing at 6ft 5in, Hull born Bradley has over 150 appearances and six goals to his name for the Hatters since joining the club from Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2018.
Bradley previously had spells at Aldershot, Portsmouth and Crawley before joining Plymouth.
Who are the key men?
Elijah Adebayo
Last season’s top scorer Elijah Adebayo will be once again a key figure for Nathan Jones’ side as they look to replicate the form that saw them reach the play-offs last term.
The London-born striker scored 16 goals and provided four assists in the league, and was a major factor in their success.
Adebayo offers an aerial threat, but has great mobility for his height and a tremendous work ethic.
He joined Luton from Walsall in January 2021 after a run of 18 goals in 39 league games for the Saddlers, while the former Fulham player has also had spells with Cheltenham, Swindon and Stevenage.
Allan Campbell
Tenacious tough tackling midfielder Allan Campbell has become a fans’ favourite for Luton after an impressive first season as the heartbeat of the Hatters’ engine room, chipping in four goals and two assists in 31 appearances.
Scot Campbell joined in the summer of 2021 from Motherwell, after 135 appearances and 13 goals ending a 13-year association with the club he joined at the age of 10.
In May, Campbell earned his first cap for the Scottish national team, appearing as a substitute in a 4-1 win against Armenia.
Harry Cornick
Pacey right-sided forward Harry Cornick enjoyed his most prolific season in a Hatters’ shirt during the 2021-22 campaign.
The Poole-born Englishman scored 13 times, whilst chipping in with six assists.
Having started his career on the books of Bournemouth, Cornick signed for the Kenilworth Road club in August 2017 for an undisclosed fee, after only making one solitary appearance for the Cherries and having various loan spells in the lower leagues.
He has found a home at Luton and flourished. He has been a regular starter and has 38 goals in over 215 appearances to his name, including the winner the last time the Hatters and the Swans met back in February.