LUTON TOWN
Premier League, Kenilworth Road, Friday 1 September 2023, 8pm BST
West Ham United’s next outing takes the Hammers on a short trip up the M1 for a first Premier League match against Luton Town.
It has been almost 30 years since the Irons and the Hatters last met in competitive action, in an FA Cup quarter-final replay back in March 1994, with an incredible rise in recent seasons bringing Luton to the English top-flight.
Having secured promotion via the EFL Championship Play-Offs, Luton’s maiden Premier League campaign has started with consecutive defeats against tricky opposition in Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, but a first home match of the season at Kenilworth Road will be a big moment for manager Rob Edwards and his team.
Luton were scheduled to host Burnley in their first Premier League match at their Bedfordshire home, but improvement works saw that fixture postponed and the Irons will now be part of Hatters history.
How to get there…
If you are driving to Kenilworth Road, the address for the stadium in your sat nav is 1 Maple Road, Luton LU4 8AW, but please note that parking is impossible in the streets surrounding the ground.
Oak Road is closed to traffic on matchdays and parking in the streets surrounding the stadium is very limited, so supporters are urged to park at Luton railway station, which is a 15-minute walk or free shuttle bus away.
Driving from east London, head for the M25 then take the northbound M1 at Junction 21.
Exit the M1 at Junction 11, proceed along A505 dual carriageway. After one mile, take the second exit at the roundabout, then go straight across two sets of traffic lights and down the hill. Follow signs to the Town Centre/Station and park in the 756-space multi-storey car park at the station.
If you are planning on taking the train, fans are advised that industrial action planned by trade union ASLEF is anticipated to widely affect available services on Friday 1 September.
While Luton is on the Thameslink line from London St Pancras, no trains are expected to run due to the industrial action, and alternative travel arrangements will be required.
The industrial action is also anticipated to impact London travel operations on C2C, Greater Anglia, Southeastern, South Western Railway and all GTR services.
Where to stay…
Luton has most of the recognisable hotel brands in the town centre and, with an international airport to its name just a couple of miles away, plenty of other options for accommodation.
For convenience, staying in the former would put you within walking distance of Kenilworth Road, which is situated half-a-mile or so north west of the town centre, should you wish to remain in the area after the match on Friday evening.
What to do…
Within just a few miles of Luton town centre are a selection of notable attractions, should you find yourself with time to spare.
Whipsnade Zoo is located just a couple of miles south west of Luton and is one of only two zoos that is owned by the Zoological Society of London, which also operates London Zoo. Whipsnade Zoo is the UK's largest zoo and one of Europe's largest wildlife conservation parks. It is home to over 3,500 animals, many of which are endangered in the wild.
Wrest Park, an English Heritage country estate and house, can be found north of Luton along the AG, while the National Trust’s Dunstable Downs is just a short drive west if you would rather a walk across scenic countryside.
Just on the outskirts of Luton town centre is Wardown House, Museum and Gallery. The museum houses a range of displays throughout the building, including the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Gallery and the popular Luton Life Gallery, and holds events and activities for all ages and interests throughout the year.
What’s happened there before…
While the Hammers and Luton Town have met over 100 times competitively, including war-time matches, it has now been 29 years since we played the Hatters in a competitive fixture.
That match came in March 1999 when the Irons travelled to Kenilworth Road in an FA Cup quarter-final replay. That day, Scott Oakes got a hat-trick that saw the hosts run out 3-2 winners over Harry Redknapp’s West Ham.
In competitive football, our most recent victory at Kenilworth Road was in January 1992, when Mike Small scored in a 1-0 win in the old First Division.
The Irons’ first visit to Luton’s historic home was in January 1906, when future Olympic Gold medallist Harry Stapley scored in a 1-1 draw in the Southern League.
West Ham’s most recent visit to Kenilworth Road came last summer when the Irons faced the Hatters in a pre-season outing. Tomáš Souček grabbed our goal with a powerful header that afternoon, with Sonny Bradley netting the leveller for the home team in second-half stoppage time.
