Syd Owen had signed on with his home city club, Birmingham, as the war ended but due to the large number of professionals on the books at St Andrews at the time he found it difficult to claim a first team spot.

Desperate for regular football Owen jumped at the chance to join Luton and our gain most certainly became Birmingham's loss as he enjoyed a 12-year spell at Kenilworth Road as a player, culminating in skippering the side at Wembley in the 1959 FA Cup Final.

Although Owen started out at Luton as a wing half, he moved to centre half two years later when it became apparent that his abilities in the air meant that he was made for central defence. Aside from his mastery in the air, he showed cool distribution skills as well as long legs that seemed to snake out to dispossess many an opposition forward.

A natural captain of the side, Owen led the Hatters into Division One in 1955 after appearing in the World Cup for England the year before. He would certainly have gained more caps but for the almost automatic selection of Billy Wright in the centre-half berth at the time.

In 1958, Owen was talked in to carrying on for one more season and was glad that he listened as the Town marched on to Wembley the following year and although the FA Cup Final was a disappointment as far as the club was concerned it was a great honour and a fitting end to a great playing career.

It was common knowledge that Owen was to assume the manager's job at Kenilworth Road after the Cup Final but the new season started badly and got steadily worse. The team had grown old together and the reluctance of the Board to spend money meant that it was a miserable campaign ending in relegation.

Owen resigned at this point but picked up his career again at Leeds where his coaching abilities came to the fore, assisting Don Revie to make the Yorkshire side the team of the 1960s.

Luton Town league debut: August 27th 1947 v Brentford (away) won 3-0.

Last Luton Town appearance: April 25th 1959 v Blackpool (home) drew 1-1.

Luton Town league appearances: 388 Goals 3