Summary

  • Thousands of football fans packed the streets of Luton to celebrate their team's remarkable promotion to the Premier League

  • The players took part in a victory parade with their trophy, from an open top bus, before joining fans for a town centre celebration

  • Luton Town won promotion at Wembley on Saturday

  • The Hatters won a penalty shoot-out 6-5 against Coventry City

  • Luton were a non-league team just nine years ago, and their victory over Coventry takes them back into the top division for the first time since 1992

  1. Morecambe and Wise theme tune being playedpublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Alex Pope
    BBC News

    They have just started playing the Morecambe and Wise theme tune Bring Me Sunshine to the crowds in St George's Square.

    Eric was a massive Luton fan so we might expect a singalong.

    Eric Morecambe (right)Image source, Getty Images
  2. First sight of the buspublished at 11:27 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    An open top bus will take the players on the short journey from Kenilworth Road to St George's Square in the town centre, where the fans are gathering.

    BBC Three Counties Radio reporter Luke Ashmead is following its progress.

    The players are due to arrive at about 12:15.

    Bus at Luton Town celebrationsImage source, Luke Ashmead/BBC
  3. Back in the big timepublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Crowds are building up - and the sign on the stage where the players will congregate says it all: "Back in the big time."

    Luton Town fansImage source, PA Media
    Crowds at Luton Town celebrationsImage source, PA Media
    Luton Town scarvesImage source, PA Media
  4. The stage is set - with an orange carpetpublished at 11:15 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Paul Grunill
    BBC Sport

    Unsurprisingly, it is an orange carpet, - not a red one - that has been rolled out at the Town Hall.

    The players' bus from Kenilworth Road should arrive in St George's Square at 12:15 and they will enter the building an hour later for a civic reception.

    Orange carpet at Luton Town HallImage source, Gareth Lloyd/BBC
    Orange carpet at Luton Town HallImage source, Gareth Lloyd/BBC
    Luton Town HallImage source, PA Media
  5. Happy days are here againpublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    David Leete holding an England flag with Luton Town, Forever Luton and Pride of Bedfordshire written on itImage source, Kate Bradbrook/BBC

    Our reporters are out and about, soaking up the brilliant atmosphere and meeting super-happy Hatters fans.

    David Leete’s a lifelong fan and says he’s “full of emotion.”

    "It reminds me of 1988 when we beat Arsenal [to win the Football League Cup} and it’s brought a lot of emotion back.

    "Finally it’s come."

  6. Live video and audio coveragepublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    As well as written updates, we'll be brining you live video as the players arrive.

    You can also listen live to BBC Three Counties Radio coverage. The link is here.

  7. The fall and rise of Luton Townpublished at 11:02 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Paul Grunill
    BBC Sport

    Luton's victory over Coventry provided the final chapter of a truly astonishing story which has seen the club go from the top tier of English football to non-league and back again.

    David Pleat, a former player for the club, was manager when they were relegated from the old Division One in 1992, the season before the Premier League came into being.

    "I believe they deserved to win it merely for the fact that they were the third best team in the league," he told BBC Three Counties Radio following the final whistle on Saturday.

    "They have done it on such a low budget compered to other clubs. The board has been very strong and clever with its maneuvering and [choice of] managers."

    David Pleat
  8. From slow start to promotion glorypublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Paul Grunill
    BBC Sport

    Luton's promotion follows the disappointment of a near thing last season when they also reached the play-offs but lost to Huddersfield Town over two legs and did not make it to Wembley.

    The 2022-23 began sluggishly, with just two points from their opening four games, but were ninth in the table when manager Nathan Jones left to take charge of Southampton.

    Rob Edwards was appointed as his successor seven days later and the Hatters moved into the top six with a 1-0 win over Cardiff City on 31 January.

    A 14-match unbeaten run to the end of the season lifted them to third, and although they could not catch Burnley and Sheffield United, victory at Wembley on Saturday means they will join them in the Premier League next season.

    Rob EdwardsImage source, Rex Features
  9. A far cry from non-league footballpublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Laura Devlin
    BBC News

    Luton Town fans celebrate after winning the Championship Play-Off Final ActionImage source, Reuters

    We are Premier League, say we are Premier League!

    After Saturday's nail-biting victory, a weekend of celebrations and - dare we say it - a few sore heads, fans could be forgiven for finding this all a little surreal.

    The Titans of the top flight - teams like Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool - will soon be heading to the "cosy and compact" Kenilworth Road, a throwback to a bygone era of English stadiums.

    For Luton Town and its fans, it's a far cry from the days scrapping it out in the non-league pyramid nine years ago.

    It's hats off to the Hatters!

  10. Here's what's happening todaypublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Laura Devlin
    BBC News

    Luton Town manager Rob Edwards lifts the trophy with the team after winning promotion to the Premier League after the Sky Bet Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium, LondonImage source, Nick Potts/PA

    The entertainment starts at 11:00 in St George's Square, with local DJs and the Luton Youth Funk Orchestra.

    Highlights of the season will be shown on a big screen, so fans can relive some of the amazing moments of the promotion-winning season.

    Meanwhile, the players will set off on the short ride from Kenilworth Road, arriving in the square at 12:15.

    There will be introductions of players, staff and key figures at the club, interviews from the central stage – and, of course, the lifting of the hard-won play-off trophy.

    The official celebration is expected to wrap up at about about 1:15.

  11. Welcome to Luton Town's promotion celebrationspublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Laura Devlin
    BBC News

    Luton Town’s Elijah Adebayo celebrates with the trophy after the Sky Bet Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium, LondonImage source, Adam Davy/PA

    Welcome to our live coverage where we are celebrating a Happy Hatters Bank Holiday Monday.

    We will bring you all the news from St George's Square as Luton Town revel in their Premier League status with a "paint the town orange" promotion party.

    The club ended their 31 years out of the top flight by beating Coventry City 6-5 on penalties to win the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.

    Today, until 13:15, thousands of fans will pack out St George's Square as players make the short journey from Kenilworth Road by open top bus.

    We'll bring you the highlights as the victorious team are given the welcome of their lives.

    And if you're still on your way, remember that a number of roads are closed, with fans urged to use public transport where possible.