Hatters legend Mick Harford looks back on the 7-4 victory against Oxford United with tremendous pride, describing it as an ‘unbelievable’ game!
He opened and concluded the scoring in the 11-goal thriller back in February 1988 and spoke about what he remembered from that famous game at Kenilworth Road.
“It was an unbelievable game,” Harford began. “Obviously we beat Oxford at the Manor Ground 5-2 which was a strange result away from home and to come back to Kenilworth Road, obviously people would have been expecting goals, but I don’t think anyone expected 11 goals in one game!
“We got off to a tremendous start, we were full of confidence and we were in good form. I was fortunate enough to score the first goal, quite a different goal than what I’m renowned for so I was quite pleased with that goal – a left-footed effort – so it was very pleasing.”
Having scored the seventh goal too, Harford also recollects that goal well, describing in detail how it all came about.
“It’s a typical Luton goal, it was a short free-kick we’re not just looking to lump it in the box. Danny knocks it to Tim, Tim takes an extra touch and puts it in a dangerous area which all good football teams do.
“Fortunately I was on the end of it and I took a whack on the head from Stevie, I was concussed a little bit and a bit dazed for a couple of minutes but thankfully it was at the end of the game and there was a three-goal difference then, there was no coming back for them. Two different goals for me and it was great to play in such an interesting game.”
Noticeably the fans were typically as vocal and as supportive on the day, which Harford made sure to point out.
“It hasn’t changed, just shows how good the support is nowadays at the football club and how good it has been down the years. Amazing support as usual, they get behind the team, they get behind the players and they give you the extra little push to help you try and get over the line in games and the support has been excellent, absolutely first class.”
When challenged to recall what manager Ray Harford made of the game at the full-time whistle, Mick gave his best guess as to what might have been said!
“I’ll be perfectly honest and say I can’t remember what Ray said, he probably was just pleased that we got the three points! You know in football those certain days come along, the fluke results, the fluke games and everything people hit goes in the back of the net. Certain days you got those score-lines and maybe that was one of those days.
“I’m absolutely certain Ray would have been delighted with the attacking side of play because that’s what he was renowned for, even though Ray was a centre-half he likes to play the Luton way in terms of flowing attacking football and I think he would have been pleased apart from some of the defending.”