Luton Wins Final After Lockyer Collapse – Clark

Jordan Clark, goalscorer for Luton Town, said that their manager Rob Edwards had told them to win the Championship play-off final for Tom Lockyer after the defender collapsed in the opening stages of the match. The Hatters captain, 28, was taken straight to hospital, where he was pictured celebrating in his bed after his team-mates won a penalty shootout. Clark told Sky Sports: “The gaffer said we had to do it for him.” Edwards said it “felt a little bit wrong to celebrate”. Luton were a non-league team just nine years ago, and their victory over Coventry took them back into the top division for the first time since 1992. Despite losing their captain, the Hatters went in front through Clark’s first-half strike, but Coventry forced extra time when Gustavo Hamer equalised on 66 minutes. Neither team could find a way through in extra time before a high-quality shootout ended with Coventry’s Fankaty Dabo shooting over. Dan Potts, who wore the captain’s armband as he scored Luton’s sixth penalty, said he was “gutted” for Lockyer. He added that Lockyer “deserved to be there holding that trophy”. Town had been practising penalties throughout their play-off campaign, and goalkeeper Ethan Horvath said he had “no doubt” they would win the shootout. He said that they were a “brotherhood” and were all behind each other. Luton chief executive Gary Sweet told BBC Three Counties Radio that this was not the end of the Luton fairytale, saying: “We’re not finished yet.” Sweet’s Luton Town 2020 consortium bought the club in 2008, when he says it was “close to being completely liquidated”. Fifteen years on, Luton will welcome teams such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool to their 10,356-capacity Kenilworth Road stadium. Clark said Kenilworth Road was “an unbelievable place”, adding that he can’t wait to play there next season with this group of lads. Club legend Mick Harford – a former Luton player and manager – told BBC 3CR that returning to the top division capped an “unbelievable story”. He said it was probably one of the best things to happen in his life and that he was in tears at the end. He added that they were at the promised land and fully deserved it, and looked forward to the challenge of the Premier League.