Keeper reflects on Kenilworth Road departure
Out-going goalkeeper Mark Tyler says it was with a heavy heart that he has agreed to leave the Hatters for former club Peterborough United.
Tyler signed for the Town in the summer of 2009 and went onto make 297 appearances for the Club across six-and-a-half years but rejoins Posh on an initial three-month loan with a view to a permanent deal.
“I wouldn’t have left Luton for any other club,” Tyler told lutontown.co.uk. “It’s great opportunity for me at Peterborough and I couldn’t turn it down.
“The Club [Luton] have been great, the manager and board realised this was something I wanted to do and for that I’d like to thank them.”
Tyler made his Town debut in a 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon in the Club’s first game in the Conference.
He said: “I remember coming down and talking to Mick Harford – the move for me was a no brainer at the time. I came to play as I wasn’t for Posh.
“I remember my first game at Wimbledon and thinking ‘wow’. The fans were absolutely incredible and I can still see them going crazy when we scored. I don’t think I realised what I’d let myself in for but I soon came to realise how amazing the fans were.
“The club are the fans and I think we got on really well together. I just did the best I could and I hope that made them happy.”
Tyler lost in two successive Play-Off final defeats before the Hatters finally got it right under John Still and won the Conference at a canter in 2013/14 to seal a return to the Football League.
“The season we won the Conference was incredible,” said Tyler. “100 points and 100 goals, 23 clean sheets. The 27-match unbeaten run…It was a magnificent season and a special year and I won’t forget the celebrations in town after the season had ended.”
Through good times and bad, Tyler’s seen it. A 1-0 win at boyhood club Norwich in the FA Cup was followed seven days later with a 1-0 defeat at Barrow in the Conference.
“There’s been plenty of ups and downs,” Tyler laughs. “For me personally the win at Norwich, with all my family there, was a dream come true. The same when I went back to Peterborough this season. It was another thing to tick off the list.
“But I will miss the fans. They’ve stayed with the club through thick and thin and backed us all the way.
“I’d like to thank them and everyone at Luton and hopefully I’ll be back soon to say goodbye.
“In the meantime, I wish the lads and Nathan Jones all the best for the rest of the season.”