Defender Anthony Charles joins the Town
Two-time Conference-winning centre-half Anthony Charles has become the Hatters’ seventh signing of the summer.
The 32-year-old, who helped Barnet and Aldershot to the Conference title in 2005 and 2008 respectively, has penned an initial one-year contract at Kenilworth Road.
Charles joins fellow new recruits Elliot Justham, Shaun Whalley, Andy Parry, Danny Fitzsimons, Jim Stevenson and Mark Cullen in the Town squad next season having ended last season with League 2 side Plymouth Argyle.
With over 350 senior appearances to his name Charles has a wealth of experience having enjoyed spells with Aldershot, Barnet, Farnborough, Northampton and Plymouth.
He began his career as a trainee at Crewe but dropped out of the Football League and eventually signed for Aldershot for the first time in 2003.
The Isleworth-born defender joined Barnet in January 2005 helped the Bees to the Conference title, and three years later, he re-signed for Aldershot where he picked up a second championship in non-league’s top flight in 2008.
A calm, composed, left-footed defender, Charles left Aldershot – where he scored 12 goals in 152 league appearances – for Northampton in January 2012 and went onto appear 18 times in League 2 for the Cobblers.
Charles ended last season with Plymouth, who he joined in January, where he made 11 appearances at the heart of the Argyle defence prior to his contract expiring.
On his latest capture, boss John Still told lutontown.co.uk: “Anthony’s CV speaks for itself. Two promotions from the Conference as champions; Player of the Year and Players’ Player at Aldershot.
“He’s another winner. If you took a back four of Henry, Griffiths, McNulty and Charles they’ve all won the Conference and that is the kind of winning mentality that is going to be so important to us - and he's left footed which can give us a balance at centre-half."
Charles exclusively told Hatters Player: “There are opportunities that arise that you can’t turn down and playing for Luton is one of them.
“The supporter base is magnificent and, having played at Kenilworth Road before, I know how intense the fans can be.
“The Conference is an unforgiving league but consistency is the key. Next year we have to dig deep and grind out results if we are going to be a success.
“I’ve won this league twice and I want to do it a third time. The manager didn’t have to sell the club to me because I’ve known of John for a long time and I’m aware of his credentials and what he’s done in the game.
“He can take this club a very long way and I am delighted to be a part of it.”
Watch the full exclusive interview with Anthony only on Hatters Player.