'Big Mick' celebrates Hatters milestone

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Luton legend Mick Harford joining the club for the first time.

Powerful forward 'Big Mick' was signed by Hatters boss David Pleat from Birmingham City for a fee of £250,000.

The now 65-year-old went on to score 57 goals in 139 league appearances and won two England caps in 1988, the same year he helped the Hatters defeat Arsenal at Wembley to win the League Cup. He also went on to score in the following year's final too, a 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest.

He eventually left Kenilworth Road in January 1990, joining Derby for £450,000, going on to score an own goal in a final day match against the Hatters which ultimately helped his former club avoid relegation.

Harford returned to Town in September 1991 but despite netting 12 goals in 29 games couldn't prevent the club suffering relegation from the top flight the following May.

His coaching career began at Kenilworth Road, as assistant coach to Joe Kinnear in 2001, helping Town bounce back to Division Two at the first attempt, and later returned as director of football and then as manager in January 2008, leading Luton to EFL Trophy victory over Scunthorpe the following year.

He took up a role as chief recruitment officer in January 2016 but was named interim boss in January 2019 after Nathan Jones' departure and guided the Hatters to the League One title.

He also took interim charge for a game after Jones left for Southampton in November 2022 following his second stint in the dugout.

Such is his status in the town, earlier this year Harford was awarded the freedom of Luton by the local council.