All you need to know ahead of the Town's trip to Derbyshire
WHO? The Reds were founded in 1959, the year the Hatters reached the FA Cup final. The Town have met Alfreton four times in Conference competition over the past two seasons.
WHERE? Hatters fans are used travelling these days. It’s a 214-mile round trip to Derbyshire from the Maple Road car park. The all-important postcode to get you there safe and sound is DE55 7FZ. It's easy to get too though if you want to drive. Head straight up the M1 and leave at junction 28.
BOB IT. The Bobbers Travel Club are running a coach to Alfreton. They leave at the bottom of Oak Road at 11.30am and the fare is £20 for adults and £17 for concessions. Call 01234 856542 to book your seat.
TRAVEL SICKNESS. In the four meetings between the clubs not once has the away team scored a goal. The Town won 1-0 at Kenilworth Road in January 2012 before drawing 0-0 three months later on their first visit to the Impact Arena. The Reds dished out a 3-0 defeat to the Hatters last season before the Town gained revenge by winning by the same score in December. All four previous meetings all took place in 2012.
HOW THEY DOING? Very, very well. Alfreton make no secret of the fact they’re on one of the small budgets in the division. Indeed, one look at the average attendance league table shows how well they’re doing with average crowds of just over 700. However, the Reds lost last time out in the league, going down 3-0 away to Nuneaton. All said and done, though, Nicky Law’s side are sixth in the Skrill Premier, seven points behind the Town.
MAKE AN IMPACT. Alfreton’s home form at the Impact Arena is impressive. The Reds have won eight, drawn one and lost just once of their 10 home fixtures so far this season. Impressive victories have been garnered against Kidderminster, Salisbury, Forest Green and Barnet whilst leaders Cambridge could only manage a 1-1 draw there. Only Chester have managed to whisk all three points away from the Reds’ home so far this term.
SECRET SQUIRREL. Manager John Still joked at his Thursday press conference that he will be “grilling” Lathaniel Rowe-Turner for some inside info on Alfreton. The defender has spent the last three months on loan with the Reds.
PAY ON THE DAY. Town fans have the option of either sitting or standing at the Impact Arena. 2,000 terrace places are up for grabs and there are 200 covered seats also available to supporters on a first-come, first-served basis. Whether you stand up or sit down it will cost the same: £18 for adults and £12 for under-16s and over-65s.
TEAM NEWS. The Hatters will be without defender Alex Lacey for the trip to Alfreton. John Still has options for his replacement with Andy Parry and loan trio Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Joe Davis and Alfie Mawson all in contention. Mawson is now available to make his debut after missing the last two FA Trophy ties with Staines having been cup-tied.
STILL SAYS: “It’s going to be tough Saturday, their home record is very good, but our away record is good too.
“I’m really okay with what we’ve got on front of us between now and Christmas.
“We’re fully up to date with what they do and how they do it and the way they do it.
“We’re hoping to grill him [Rowe-Turner] into being a grass, so he can tell us anything we don’t know.
“We’re fully up to date with their strengths and weaknesses as I’m sure they are ours.”
LIVE & DIRECT. We’ll have all the news as it happens from Alfreton. Pre-match build-up, team news, live text and audio commentary, a report, reaction, photographs and interviews. Remember to keep it lutontown.co.uk, Hatters Player and check out our ever-growing Facebook and Twitter feeds. And keep an eye on our Instagram, Vine and YouTube accounts too for good measure #COYH.