Alex Lawless only has fond memories of the Emirates FA Cup, a competition that saw Luton Town twice produce shocks to remember a decade ago!
The first of which, is one the former midfielder and now Assistant Professional Development Phase Coach at Luton Town describes as one of his best days in a Hatters shirt.
Non-League Luton had drawn then-Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Third Round of the competition and Lawless was the hero at Kenilworth Road on that afternoon, scoring the winning goal with a superb volley from the edge of the box moments into the second half.
“The whole occasion was huge,” Lawless recollected. “We were playing against a club in a higher division but there was an air of confidence because we were at home. In the FA Cup, there was always that chance there could be an upset but it was good for me on a personal level, scoring the only goal of the game.
“It was a brilliant occasion for us all and it’s one of the moments I remember the most. We still have a laugh about it now because Jon Shaw, who is still a really close friend of mine, he challenged for the header in front, and he claims that as an assist! Whenever that goal comes up, because it is one of the ones that comes up from that period, he always claims that assist.”
It was those such memories that made his decision to return to the club last summer an easy one, with the Welshman admitting his return has been everything he had hoped for.
“I was delighted to come back to the club in a coaching capacity. It was something that I was really pleased with and looking forward to, it felt like a bit of a homecoming and that’s exactly what it’s been like.
"For me I had the success in terms of getting back into the league whilst I was here and had some really good FA Cup ties, so from my own experience there was so many positives on the pitch. Off it as well, living in the town I got to know people, so many that have now become friends. I think all of those things combined, it gives you so many reasons why you want to be part of the club.”
An @EmiratesFACup shock 🤯
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) January 5, 2023
Non-League Luton beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 10 years ago today! ⏪#OTD | #COYH pic.twitter.com/tLU4kNShcH