Graham French could have been a world beater but he pushed the self destruct button once too often in a sadly wasted career.

A member of the squad that won the Little World Cup at Wembley in 1963, his suspect temperament put off Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty, who was prepared to pay Shrewsbury a substantial fee for his services. Instead he drifted from Gay Meadow to Swindon and Watford in double quick time before finishing up at non-League Wellington, where he was spotted by ex-Hatters winger Mike Cullen.

He became an instant favourite at Kenilworth Road with his mesmerising wing play and the supporters could forgive his off-field indiscretions of gambling, drinking and partying for one glimpse of a tremendously talented individual.

For a big man, French had good pace as well as the ability to play on either wing putting over a string of superb centres at speed after beating his full-back for fun. For many Luton supporters, his goal against Mansfield at Kenilworth Road in 1968, where he collected the ball in his own area before dribbling the length of the field, remains the greatest seen.

After probably his best season in a Luton shirt, which had seen promotion from Division Three, French was arrested following a shooting incident and in December 1970 he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Generously, the Luton board kept the door open for him and on his release he was offered a fresh contract. Unfortunately, the deprivations suffered in prison left him a shadow of his former self and although he scored on his 'second coming' in 1972 he drifted out of the game before re-surfacing under the assumed name of Lafite at Southport in 1976. Truly the poor man's George Best!

Luton Town league debut: v 16th October 1965 v Bradford City (away) drew 2-2.

Luton Town league appearances: 182 goals 21.