I never thought it would take Luton 31 years to be back near the BIG TIME

TO keep the mood light in training, players won fun-size Mars bars for winning obstacle races and slaloms through the poles.

A lucky mascot hitched a ride on the team coach. Raddy Antic scored the most famous goal in Luton Town's history, the dramatic late winner which sent Manchester City down, and Hatters manager David Pleat galloped triumphantly across the Maine Road pitch in his beige suit. And it was all to no avail.

Luton lost 2-1 at relegated Notts County on the last day of term, slipped out of the top flight 31 years ago - and they have never been back, taking in five seasons of non-League scenery before starting the return climb from rock bottom.

Remarkably, they are on course to complete the ascent from the Blue Square Conference potting shed to the Premier League penthouse in less than a decade.

Time-warp Kenilworth Road, where Millwall hooligans rearranged the furniture in 1985, has barely changed apart from executive conservatories replacing the old Bobbers stand - and, for all the old girl's atmosphere, it will never win an architects' beauty contest.