New Season - New Hope

Well, we're in that twilight zone between being disappointed that our beloved Luton have failed to achieve the desired result and the hope and anticipation that a new season brings. Watching the forum posts is an interesting hobby as the dissenters complain and the more positive members defend their team and players before eventually calling each other some less-than-complimentary names. I had naively thought that we were all on the same side.

I decided to see if I could be technically capable of writing a blog, but being an old git, I may run into difficulties, but, hey, I'll give it a go. I may be the only one who gets to read it anyway!

On a personal front, my granddaughter, Francesca, 2 yrs old, delighted us all with a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, displayed on her mother's Facebook page. It is very interesting to hear the mondegreens of a 2 yr-old, like Mary Mary quiet canary, and in the Twinkle rhyme, Up above the whirl so high, like a diner in the sky!

After a period of mourning, and the Luton Town Website going into hibernation (or more correctly aestivation since it is summer and not winter)  Luton, at last, have signed their first new player for next season.

Aaron O'Connor, the 27 year-old Rushden & Diamonds captain and striker joined the Hatters on a free transfer after his contract at Nene Park ended. If he fares as well as David Bell and Paul Underwood he won't go far wrong.

O'Connor started his career at Ilkeston Town before Joining Scunthorpe on 12 December 2002. This was not a successful move for the player who, at 19, appeared to display a lack of application, at least in the opinion if manager Brian Laws. 

Aaron then kicked around some non-league clubs  Gresley Rovers, Nuneaton Borough, and back to Ilkeston, before going again to Gresley in 2004. He stayed 2 years and began to come into his own winning the Trifecta of supporter's, manager's and player's player of the year awards both seasons.  had a brief spell at Nuneaton Borough at the start of the 2003-4 season, before moving back to Ilkeston. He then moved onto Gresley in July 2004. He spent two seasons at Gresley, winning the Player's Player of The Year, Manager's Player of The Year and Supporter's Player of The Year awards in both seasons. During his stay at Gresley he had a two-week trial with Rushden but nothing materialised, and he joined Grays in the Conference in the January 2007 transfer window. After a season and a half with Grays he did not accept a renewed contract and was signed by Mansfield Town scoring 8 in 39 games. Released by Mansfield at the end of one season, and joined Rushden where he played 75 times scoring 24 goals and was made captain.He was offered a new contract at Rushden but after overtures from Luton Town and some other Conference and Football League clubs he opted for Luton Town.

He was a very well liked player by management and supporters at Rushden for his pace and work rate and it seems he is a bit of a late developer. It is to be hoped that he is, because the mood of many Luton Fans is even more sceptical about everything at the moment, and he will need to hit the ground running if they are not to get on his back!! :-)