Oh dear. The 14th January. Look away now.
Whisper it quietly, but the Town haven’t won on this day in history since 1961 – one of just four wins in 15 attempts on 14th January in the Town’s long and colourful existence. Don’t tell Cambridge.
Since the 3-2 win over Plymouth Argyle all those years ago – watched by 13,873 at Kenilworth Road – the Hatters have played five and lost four. The last four have all been lost.
It’s not been since 1995 that the Town were even in action on this day – a 3-1 defeat at Barnsley. Kerry Dixon fired the Hatters in front that afternoon at Oakwell but it soon went downhill from there. David Pleat managed the Hatters that afternoon. However, a younger Pleat, then a player, scored for the Town on this day in 1967, a goal in a 1-1 draw at home to – you guessed it – Barnsley. Funny old game.
But enough of the doom and gloom. It’s not all bad. After all the Town beat Manchester City 3-0 at Kenilworth Road in 1939 in the second division. 16,163 witnessed the Town’s Eddie Connolly score twice and Hugh Billington also find the target. Billington notched 28 goals in 28 games that season as the Town finished seventh, two places below City in fifth. Those were the days.