Town swoop for highly-rated pair
The Hatters have completed the signings of Histon duo Jim Stevenson and Danny Fitzsimons.
Stevenson and Fitzsimons, both 21, arrive at Kenilworth Road on two-year contracts from the Blue Square North Club.
The duo have enjoyed a fine season for the Stutes: Stevenson finished top goalscorer with 11 goals whilst Fitzsimons walked away with a host of end-of-season awards at the Bridge Road club.
Stevenson, a central midfielder, has risen through the youth ranks at Histon to become a first team regular. He signed for the Stutes as a 15-year-old and made his full debut at Kenilworth Road in a 5-1 defeat against the Hatters as a 17-year-old.
Defender Fitzsimons can operate at either left-back or at centre-half and has been a Histon regular for the past two seasons, clocking up over 100 games for the Stutes. He originally joined Histon from Yeovil, but he began his career as a youngster at Millwall before signing professional forms with QPR. A former Republic of Ireland under-19 international, Fitzsimons was an ever-present last season, scored three goals, and claimed the manager’s, players’ and supporters’ player of the year award.
On Stevenson, manager John Still told lutontown.co.uk: “Jim really impressed me and all of my scouts. Whenever they came back they would say ‘sign him straight away’. He’s a tall lad, and he’s one who is really enthusiastic and wants to improve. He’s one that is disappointed when training finishes.
“He’s a player who can develop and can enjoy a good future. I’m not saying he can go straight into the first team now, but he might be because he’s got enough about him.
“People will ask ‘what’s he good at?’ but Jim’s got enough in his locker to be an all-rounder. He can get up and down, head it, run, and play football. It’s up to us to find the right area for him and develop.”
On Fitzsimons, the manager said: “He likes a tackle and he’s a real 100 per-center. He’s someone whose attitude really impressed me. He’s got ambition and enthusiasm and we had a long conversation about Luton Town and what we want to try and achieve.
“He’s done really well at Histon and can play at left-back or on the left side central defence. It could have been easy for us to bring in a player at the other end of their career to push Scott Griffiths for the left-back position. However, Danny is young, hungry, and fits the bill – there’s a lot we like about him.
“He’s a South London boy who I knew of when he was at QPR. I’d been looking at him when I was with Dagenham at the start of last season and it’s great to be able to bring him to Kenilworth Road.”
Both players contracts expire at Histon on 1st July when they will then become Luton players.
Interviews with both Jim and Danny plus reaction from the manager will shortly be on Hatters Player.
Meanwhile, the Club confirmed that new contracts will not be offered to the following six players whose contracts expired at the end of the season.
Defenders Greg Taylor and Wayne Thomas; midfielders James Dance and Adam Watkins; together with young professionals Lewis Kidd and Alasan Ann, are now free to find new clubs for the 2013/14 season.
Still added: “It is never easy to tell players that they won’t be receiving a new contract, but it is part of football. I would like to thank all the lads for their contribution to Luton Town Football Club during their respective stays and to wish them every success with their future careers.”