Saturday 2nd January. Seems a long time ago doesn't it?
Monday 28th December. Seems even further back.
But, thankfully, barring any freak weather conditions rolling in off the North Sea, tomorrow will see the Hatters belatedly get their second half of the season under way when they take on Ian Bogie's Gateshead.
Games against Histon, Mansfield and Salisbury have all bitten the dust for a variety of reasons and the game against the Tynesiders will be only the Town's third league fixture since 5th December!
So now the catch-up begins...
Gateshead find themselves occupying the final relegation place in the BSP and go into the game fresh from a narrow victory in the FA Trophy over Chippenham during the week but go into the game without a league win in four matches and a record of just one victory in their last six, where they have taken four points and lost four times.
However, just two of those fixtures have taken place on home soil with their last three games - at Forest Green (lost 1-0), Barrow (drew 3-3) and AFC Wimbledon (lost 1-0) - all away from the International Stadium.
The last time Bogie's side registered all three points in the BSP was a 2-1 home victory over Crawley Town on 28th November.
With the Town looking for their second successive victory in their first match for three weeks, it will be interesting to see how Richard Money's men fair after such a lengthily lay-off.
The match is being billed as Gateshead's biggest home game since they lost their Football League status 50 years ago with even boss Bogie finding such a fixture difficult to comprehend considering five years the Town were in the Championship and the Tynesiders were struggling in the UniBond league.
FROM BOTH CAMPS:
Richard Money: "Gateshead have done a terrific job to get where they've got in recent seasons. They are a very ambitious club. I know Ian Bogie, their manager, and he wants to play football.
"By all accounts they came here earlier in the season and played very well against us. We had them watched against Forest Green last week and they were very unlucky not to get a result that day."
Player subscribers can watch the whole of the gaffer's press conference by clicking here.
Ian Bogie: "Five years ago Gateshead were struggling in the lower reaches of the UniBond League while Luton were mid-table in the Championship. If you had said then that Gateshead would be playing LutonTown in the Conference Premier in 2009/10 you would have been taken away by the men in white coats.
"Both clubs fortunes have changed markedly since then and it shows just how far Gateshead has come in a short space of time and how far Luton have fallen. With both Newcastle and Sunderland away in the FA Cup we are centre stage for what is the biggest game for Gateshead in half a century."
TEAM NEWS:
Hatters: Richard Money will take Liam Hatch and Mark Tyler to the North East but neither are likely to be involved as they recover from long-term ankle and back injuries while Kevin Nicholls and Kevin Gallen are both doubtful with hip and ankle knocks respectively.
Gateshead: Ian Bogie has almost a full compliment to choose from with on-loan Darlington defender Rikki Bains available for selection again after he missed the Tynesiders' midweek FA Trophy victory over Chippenham Town.
IN FOCUS:
Nickname: The Tynesiders
Manager: Ian Bogie
Ground: International Stadium
Last season: Conference North 2nd (play-off winners)
2008/09 average attendance: 680
Pre-2009/10 BSP title odds: 100/1
Previous meetings: The Hatters never met the old Gateshead that left the Football League in 1960 but did meet their predecessor South Shields twice in the FA Cup, losing the first in 1913/14 and winning the second in 1920/21 - both away.
The Town overcame Ian Bogie's side in the Blue Square Premier back in August, recovering from a goal down to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Asa Hall and Kevin Gallen.
Recent history: After failing in re-election to the Football League in 1960 Gateshead played for several seasons in the Northern Premier League before financial problems meant the club went into liquidation in 1973.
The Tynesiders reformed in 1977 and, after moving to the newly built International Stadium, they won promotion to the Conference in 1983 where they spent two seasons before being relegated.
But they won the Northern Premier League again in 1990 to return to the Conference but were relegated again in 1998 after eight seasons in the non-league top flight.
A further relegation followed to the Division One of the Northern Premier League the good times soon returned to Gateshead when they were re-elected to the Premier Division.
In 2007/08 the Tynesiders beat Buxton in the play-off final to secure a place in the Blue Square North and they followed that success up last season with another play-off final victory - against AFC Telford United - to seal a dramatic return to non-league elite.
FACT: Infamously celebrated as one of the worst players to play at Premier League level, striker Ali Dia left Southampton to join Gateshead in 1997, scoring twice in eight league appearances.
Official website: www.gateshead-fc.com
LIVE & ONLINE: Can't get to the game? Remember lutontown.co.uk will have all the action as it unfolds. Hatters Player will have live commentary plus all the reaction after the final whistle.
TICKETS: It's pay on the day for Town fans at the International Stadium so you have plenty of time to make your mind up whether to make the long drive up the A1. Click here for prices.
WANNA BET? Our official online bookmakers bet365 have priced the Hatters as the favourites to pick up three points this evening. For more information and prices click here.
