The Latest Championship News, Views and general gossip.
- Wed, 31 May 2023 20:50:34 +0000: Luton confirm captain Tom Lockyer will leave hospital and is set to be available for pre-season training - EFL Championship News, Features, Opinion - talkSPORT
Luton captain Tom Lockyer will leave hospital on Thursday and is set to be available for pre-season training, the newly-promoted Premier League club has confirmed.
Lockyer fell to the floor during their play-off final victory over Coventry on Saturday and was taken to hospital after leaving the pitch on a stretcher.
There were some very worrying scenes in the first half with Lockyer requiring treatment after falling to the floor with no one around him Getty 
Lockyer was then taken to hospital after leaving on a stretcher Getty 
But Lockyer is set to be back in action very soon Getty Lockyer has since undergone tests at the Cavendish Clinic in London and the club confirmed he will be able to join their preparations for top flight football next season.
A statement on Luton website‘s read: “The Welsh international has completed all the necessary medical tests and observations to be allowed home for a period of rest before the start of pre-season training, which he will be fit to take part in.
“We would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support for Locks, who has had a season to remember and proudly led the team out on Saturday, with his team-mates completing the job for him.
“We can’t wait to see you back home at the Kenny with that trophy in your hands, Locks!”
Saturday’s final went to penalties after Jordan Clark’s opener was cancelled out by Gustavo Hamer to finish 1-1 after extra time, but the Hatters secured top-flight football with a 6-5 victory on penalties.
Luton players held up Lockyer’s shirt throughout their celebrations and the captain posted an update on Instagram after the game.
He said: “Well not quite where I thought I’d be celebrating at the final whistle!
“I would just like to say a massive thank you to the amazing physios and doctors at Luton and Wembley for the swift and thorough response.
Lockyer’s teammates paid a nice tribute to him after winning the final Getty “A much scarier moment for everyone else than myself I am sure!
“Commiserations to Coventry a fantastic opponent over 3 games which had to be decided by penalties.
“I am currently in hospital under precaution and will stay here overnight for further tests in the morning.
“I am feeling very much myself, helped by the way the lads left it all out on pitch! It’s such an honour to be part of this team.. Premier League baby.”
- Sun, 28 May 2023 09:12:18 +0000: Tom Lockyer posts update from hospital after Luton Town captain collapsed during Championship play-off final - EFL Championship News, Features, Opinion - talkSPORT
Tom Lockyer thanked the medical staff for their swift response after he collapsed during Saturday’s Championship play-off final.
The Luton captain worryingly fell to the ground with no one else around him in the first half of the clash with Coventry at Wembley.
Lockyer was stretchered off during the first half of the match at Wembley Getty Lockyer gave an update from hospital Getty He was stretchered off and taken straight to hospital, but was conscious.
Lockyer’s father later posted an image from hospital showing him celebrating their penalty shootout victory, which sent them to the Premier League.
Lockyer wrote: “Well not quite where I thought I’d be celebrating at the final whistle! I would just like to say a massive thank you to the amazing physios and doctors at @ltfc_official and Wembley for the swift and thorough response.
“A much scarier moment for everyone else than myself I am sure! Commiserations to @coventrycityfcofficial a fantastic opponent over 3 games which had to be decided by penalties.
“I am currently in hospital under precaution and will stay here overnight further tests in the morning.
“I am feeling very much myself, helped by the way the lads left it all out on pitch! It’s such an honour to be part of this team… premier league baby.”
Luton boss Rob Edwards struggled to hold back the tears as he talked about Lockyer after watching his side win promotion.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Edwards said: “It feels incredible, but I’ll be honest, the only thing I’m thinking about right now is Tom Lockyer.
“He’s been immense for us this season – health is the most important thing, family is the most important thing and more important than football and this.
“All of those things are great, but I don’t care right now. Until I know he’s alright, that’s where my head is at the moment.”
The Luton players held up Lockyer’s shirt as the celebrated Getty Edwards was then shown the picture of Lockyer in hospital and said: “Don’t, you’ll make me go!
“I can’t speak highly enough of him and I’m just really pleased he’s okay. That’s it, sorry.”
- Sat, 27 May 2023 20:34:00 +0000: Have Luton Town ever been in the Premier League? Hatters end exile from England’s top flight - EFL Championship News, Features, Opinion - talkSPORT
Luton Town have endured many ups and downs throughout their history but will play in the Premier League next year.
The Hatters overcame Coventry City 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley to spark wild scenes.
Luton produced six perfect penalties to win promotion 
Rob Edwards was sacked by Watford in September 2022 but has achieved the unthinkable Luton have been to hell and back over the past 30 years but are in the promised land.
It’s been a remarkable rise for the club, and it’s a season that will go down on the club’s history.
Have Luton ever played in the Premier League?
Since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, Luton have never been involved.
The Hatters were relegated from the old First Division in the 1991/92 campaign, meaning they missed out on the inaugural campaign by a matter of months.
And since that year, they have never been close to playing in England’s top flight.
Luton produced a fabulous home display to beat Sunderland 2-0 and seal a place at Wembley Getty 
There were wild scenes at Kenilworth Road after Luton’s win over Sunderland Getty They were relegated to what is now League One in 1996, where they remained until 2001 before dropping into League Two.
The Hatters then enjoyed a resurgence as they made it back up to the Championship in 2005 and finished tenth in the 2005/06 campaign.
However, that was as good as it got for Luton, and they suffered three straight relegations to end up in the National League in 2009.
There they remained until 2014, when Luton finally won the league, with a young Andre Gray leading the line.
The first two seasons in League Two saw the Hatters finish in the top half before Nathan Jones arrived.
The Welshman propelled Luton into League One before departing and returning once they were in the Championship, and they have been in the second tier of English football ever since.
Jones struggled at Southampton but he is a Luton hero This means it is 31 years since the Hatters last played in the top flight of English football.
They made the play-offs last season, only miss out on a trip to Wembley by losing to Huddersfield.
But under Rob Edwards, things have been very different, and they will play in the Premier League for the first time.
Speaking after the win over Coventry, Elijah Adebayo said: “This group is special. Commiserations to Coventry, it was a hell of a battle and they pushed us all the way.
“We’ve said it since the gaffer has come in, he said we were going to do it but we had to believe it.
“If you look at Luton, every year they seem to improve their position in the league. I just wanted to come here and do my best and aim for days like this.
“The fans who have been here since Luton were relegated to the conference, this is for them.”
After a tumultuous time since Luton were last relegated from the top flight, they are back and will bring Premier League football to Kenilworth Road for the first time.
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- Sat, 27 May 2023 19:38:19 +0000: Coventry 1-1 Luton LIVE REACTION: Hatters win on penalties to claim £170m and secure Premier League football for the first time EVER - EFL Championship News, Features, Opinion - talkSPORT
Luton Town will play Premier League football for the first time ever after beating Coventry City on 6-5 on penalties in the Championship play-off final.
The Sky Blues and Hatters battled to a 1-1 draw that was full of effort and endeavor before Fankaty Dabo blazed his spot kick over the bar to spark wild scenes in the Luton end.
Rob Edwards’ men opened the scoring through Jordan Clark before Gustavo Hamer equalised in the second period to take the game to extra time and penalties.
- Sat, 27 May 2023 19:20:00 +0000: Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road has an away end entrance in someone’s garden and Erling Haaland will be playing there next season - EFL Championship News, Features, Opinion - talkSPORT
Rewind to 2014 and Luton Town had just won promotion to the Football League after languishing in non-league since 2009.
Now, the Hatters are back in England’s top flight for the first time since 1992 – and that’ll be music to the ears of keen football ground hoppers in the Premier League.
Luton has an away stand like no other… Getty Luton Town have just won the Championship play-off final.
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 27, 2023
This is the entrance to our stadium.
Incredible to think this ground will be in the Premier League next season
pic.twitter.com/QPV3ocSYMNBack in the Hatters’ non-league days, as the club tried to rebuild after suffering from administration, their beloved Kenilworth Road was one of the larger grounds in the fifth tier with a capacity of over 10,000.
Home since 1905, 20 years on from the club’s formation, the ground has seen all the highs and lows of Luton Town and has had many different areas readjusted at different times, with the last being in 2005, leading to its unique design.
The Hatters plan on moving to a new home, the Power Court Stadium, a former power station just one mile east of Kenilworth Road in the town’s centre.
Before then, Rob Edwards’ side face the challenge of playing in the Premier League, with £10million of improvements to do to the ground before the season kicks off, according to chief executive Gary Sweet.
But aside from ticking another ground off, those Premier League fans who do get to visit Luton’s current home will no doubt be desperate to witness the whacky away end everyone in the Football League has raved about since Luton’s return in 2014.
The infamous Oak Road End holds around 1000 fans. But whilst the view inside the stadium is unique, it’s the entrance that has left both visiting fans and those that have seen it on social media in disbelief.
Fans have to go under someone’s house to get into the away end Getty Most read in Football
The lead up to Luton’s away end is lined by terrace houses, but the row of red bricks suddenly comes to an abrupt end thanks to a large blue sign over what should be the downstairs of someone’s property.
Below that sign resides Luton’s away turnstiles, along with stewards that reassure you you’re definitely at the right place to watch a Championship game, rather than trespassing someone’s home.
After having your ticket checked, fans are greeted by a blue painted iron staircase that climbs up the back of the Oak Road End itself.
And as supporters go up, the sight of peoples’ gardens appears, with trampolines, washing lines and other typical garden items easily spotted on either side.
Plenty of fans take snaps on the iron staircase Getty 
EFL fans aren’t exaggerating when they say the away end is in someone’s garden twitter 
The Oak Road End sits behind one of the goals Getty Stepping into the away end itself feels like going back in time.
But despite the ground’s unusual lay out, it really is a breathe of fresh air for those fans so used to going to dustbowl-esque stadiums with no character.
Erling Haaland and co certainly won’t be used to playing surrounded by such an old fashioned, higgledy-piggledy layout.
However, there’s no doubt Premier League fans will be desperate to see this one for themselves.
And as for those that never make it there before Luton’s proposed move to their new, modern, 23,000 seater stadium, they really have missed out big time.
A Basic list of recent teams in the Championship
Barnsley
Birmingham
Blackpool
Bristol City
Brighton
Burnley
Cardiff City
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
Derby
Doncaster
Hull City
Ipswich Town
Leeds United
Leicester City
Middlesborough
Millwall
Nottingham Forest
Peterborough
Portsmouth
Reading
Southampton
Watford
West Ham
More Information on each Football Team will be duly added shortly, along with Daily Motion details on the latest Videos.