2000–01 Luton Town F.C. season

English football club season December 2017 February 2015 Luton Town 2000–01 1999–2000 2001–02 Lennie Lawrence (until 4 July) Ricky Hill (from 10 July to 15 November) Lil Fuccillo (from 16 November to 8 February) Joe Kinnear (from 8 February) Mike Watson-Challis Second Division 22nd (relegated) FA Cup Third round League Cup Second round Football League Trophy First round Liam George (7) Liam George (9) 8,677 (vs. Queens Park Rangers, FA Cup third round, 6 January) 3,175 (vs. Peterborough United, League Cup first round, 22 August) 5,672 _blackborder _thinblacksides _blackborder FFFFFF FFFFFF white _white stripes 000000 _nufc0709h 000000 _blueborder _thinbluesides _blueborder FD4222 FD4222 FD4222 _white stripes 0000FF _bluetop FD4222 The 2000–01 season was the 115th season in the history of Luton Town Football Club, the club's 80th consecutive year in the Football League and its 83rd overall. Luton ended the season relegated from the Second Division, dropping into the basement level of League football for the first time since the 1967–68 season. The club went through a total of three managers following the departure of Lennie Lawrence; firstly Ricky Hill, then Lil Fuccillo, and eventually settling on Irishman Joe Kinnear. Under Kinnear's management, Luton underwent an initial resurgence, winning five of out of his first seven games. However, they failed to win any of their games in the final quarter of the season and ultimately slipped into the Third Division. Luton won only nine league games all season, setting a club record for the fewest wins over a 46-game season. This article covers the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. Season summary One of new chairman Mike Watson-Challis' first acts was, on 4 July, to sack manager Lennie Lawrence and look to appoint his own man. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/819300.stm Lennie leaves Luton BBC Sport 4 July 2000 3 February 2014 Ex-player and fan favourite Ricky Hill was appointed a week later, and was provided with the resources to build his own squad. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/826950.stm Hill is new boss BBC Sport 10 July 2000 3 February 2014 One signing was that of goalkeeper Mark Ovendale from AFC Bournemouth, who cost £425,000; the most the club had spent on a player since the 1995–96 season when they were competing in the First Division. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/870294.stm Luton complete Ovendale move BBC Sport 7 August 2000 3 February 2014 Ovendale struggled to make an impact, https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/979952.stm Hill explains why he axed Ovendale BBC Sport 19 October 2000 3 February 2014 which was the story of most of Hill's acquisitions, who included among their number untested foreign players Friedrich Breitenfelder, Petri Helin and Kent Karlsen. Hill's reign began with a defeat to Notts County and did not improve from there; one win in their first ten league games left Luton in the relegation zone and the fans voicing their displeasure. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/941385.stm Hill looks for lift BBC Sport 25 September 2000 3 February 2014 A penalty shootout victory over Peterborough United in the League Cup set up a tie with Premier League side Sunderland, but Luton collapsed to a 5–1 aggregate defeat. One further league win followed, but even more defeats left Luton in 23rd place by early November. Hill resigned on 15 November to be replaced by his assistant, another former Luton player, Lil Fuccillo. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/1026525.stm Fuccillo is new Luton boss BBC Sport 16 November 2000 3 February 2014 John Moore, who had led the club to their highest-ever league finish in the 1986–87 season and was in charge of the youth team, was installed as Fuccillo's assistant. Luton's fortunes failed to improve under this tenure, suffering seven further league defeats, though a run to the Third Round of the FA Cup did offer some respite. With the club failing to impress on the pitch and facing the prospect of relegation, Watson-Challis acted to recruit a Director of Football to oversee "all football matters". https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/1157878.stm Kinnear joins struggling Luton BBC Sport 8 February 2001 3 February 2014 Former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear was appointed to this role on 8 February, but his first act was to immediately demote Fuccillo to assistant and place himself in charge. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/1160605.stm Kinnear: I'm the boss BBC Sport 8 February 2001 3 February 2014 Kinnear's arrival prompted an initial resurgence in form – Luton won five of their next seven games and were one point away from 20th position, and safety, by 6 March. However, they failed to win again during the campaign and, on 24 April, were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in 33 years following a 1–0 loss to Rotherham United. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/1292229.stm Luton 0–1 Rotherham BBC Sport 24 April 2001 3 February 2014 With the season drawing to a close, Kinnear signed striker Steve Howard from nearby Northampton Town for a fee of £50,000, released five players, and transfer listed four others. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/1287480.stm Clear-out begins at Luton BBC Sport 20 April 2001 3 February 2014 Match results Luton Town results given first. Legend WinDrawLoss Friendlies +DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes22 July 2000Bromley |align="center"|Away5–2 |align="center"|Unknown |align="center"|Fotiadis, George (2), Mark Stein, Brennan http://www.lutonfc.com/fixtures.asp?Season=2000-01&SeasonID=1 Fixtures – 2000–01 LutonFC.com 22 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120427133609/http://www.lutonfc.com/fixtures.asp?Season=2000-01&SeasonID=1 27 April 201226 July 2000St Albans City |align="center"|Away2–1 |align="center"|900 |align="center"| Carter, A. DouglasLuton XI27 July 2000Welling United |align="center"|Away1–0 |align="center"|Unknown |align="center"|Mark Stein31 July 2000Grimsby Town |align="center"|Away1–1 |align="center"|3,475 |align="center"|Fotiadis2 August 2000Hull City |align="center"|Away1–0 |align="center"|1,415 |align="center"|Mark Stein4 August 2000Rushden & Diamonds |align="center"|Away5–1 |align="center"|3,065 |align="center"|Mark Stein (2), Spring (pen), Taylor, Boyce Football League Second Division All results, goals, attendances etc. taken from Soccerbase Luton 2000–2001 results http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1628#teamTabs=results Soccerbase Centurycomm 28 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131217125924/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1628 17 December 2013 +DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotes12 August 2000Notts County |align="center"|Home0–1 |align="center"|7,059 |align="center"|–19 August 2000Wigan Athletic |align="center"|Away1–2 |align="center"|6,518 |align="center"|Watts26 August 2000AFC Bournemouth |align="center"|Home1–0 |align="center"|5,221 |align="center"|Spring (pen)28 August 2000Wycombe Wanderers |align="center"|Away1–1 |align="center"|6,001 |align="center"|Kandol2 September 2000Rotherham United |align="center"|Away1–1 |align="center"|4,061 |align="center"|Fotiadis9 September 2000Northampton Town |align="center"|Home0–2 |align="center"|6,712 |align="center"|–12 September 2000Walsall |align="center"|Home0–0 |align="center"|4,362 |align="center"|–16 September 2000Swansea City |align="center"|Away0–4 |align="center"|6,011 |align="center"|–23 September 2000Swindon Town |align="center"|Home2–3 |align="center"|4,933 |align="center"|Stein, George30 September 2000Bristol Rovers |align="center"|Away3–3 |align="center"|7,901 |align="center"|Kandol (2), George8 October 2000Millwall |align="center"|Home0–1 |align="center"|5,345 |align="center"|–13 October 2000Cambridge United |align="center"|Away1–2 |align="center"|6,191 |align="center"|Stein17 October 2000Oxford United |align="center"|Away0–0 |align="center"|4,537 |align="center"|–21 October 2000Brentford |align="center"|Home3–1 |align="center"|5,382 |align="center"|Stuart Douglas (2), Spring (pen)28 October 2000Wrexham |align="center"|Home3–4 |align="center"|5,341 |align="center"|Stein, Watts, George4 November 2000Bury |align="center"|Away1–1 |align="center"|2,861 |align="center"|Helin11 November 2000Bristol City |align="center"|Home0–3 |align="center"|6,595 |align="center"|–25 November 2000Port Vale |align="center"|Home0–3 |align="center"|4,194 |align="center"|–2 December 2000Stoke City |align="center"|Away3–1 |align="center"|12,389 |align="center"|McLaren, Thomson (2)16 December 2000Colchester United |align="center"|Home0–3 |align="center"|4,791 |align="center"|–23 December 2000Reading |align="center"|Away1–4 |align="center"|10,771 |align="center"|Nogan26 December 2000Peterborough United |align="center"|Home3–2 |align="center"|7,374 |align="center"|Spring, Holmes, Boyce30 December 2000Wigan Athletic |align="center"|Home0–2 |align="center"|5,332 |align="center"|–1 January 2001AFC Bournemouth |align="center"|Away2–3 |align="center"|5,411 |align="center"|Fotiadis, Locke12 January 2001Wycombe Wanderers |align="center"|Home1–2 |align="center"|4,551 |align="center"|Locke23 January 2001Oldham Athletic |align="center"|Home0–2 |align="center"|3,011 |align="center"|–10 February 2001Northampton Town |align="center"|Away1–0 |align="center"|6,633 |align="center"|Douglas13 February 2001Notts County |align="center"|Away3–1 |align="center"|4,333 |align="center"|Boyce, George, Fotiadis17 February 2001Swansea City |align="center"|Home5–3 |align="center"|7,085 |align="center"|Mansell (2), Douglas, Rowland, George20 February 2001Walsall |align="center"|Away1–3 |align="center"|4,816 |align="center"|Spring24 February 2001Swindon Town |align="center"|Away3–1 |align="center"|7,160 |align="center"|Rowland, Boyce, Mansell28 February 2001Bristol Rovers |align="center"|Home0–0 |align="center"|7,405 |align="center"|–6 March 2001Cambridge United |align="center"|Home1–0 |align="center"|6,370 |align="center"|Taylor10 March 2001Millwall |align="center"|Away0–1 |align="center"|11,691 |align="center"|–27 March 2001Peterborough United |align="center"|Away1–1 |align="center"|5,425 |align="center"|Mansell31 March 2001Colchester United |align="center"|Away1–3 |align="center"|4,271 |align="center"|Howard (pen)3 April 2001Reading |align="center"|Home1–1 |align="center"|6,132 |align="center"|own goal7 April 2001Stoke City |align="center"|Home1–2 |align="center"|6,456 |align="center"|Mansell10 April 2001Oxford United |align="center"|Home1–1 |align="center"|6,010 |align="center"|Watts14 April 2001Oldham Athletic |align="center"|Home0–0 |align="center"|4,886 |align="center"|–16 April 2001Wrexham |align="center"|Away1–3 |align="center"|3,339 |align="center"|Watts21 April 2001Bury |align="center"|Home1–2 |align="center"|4,902 |align="center"|George24 April 2001Rotherham United |align="center"|Home0–1 |align="center"|4,854 |align="center"|–28 April 2001Bristol City |align="center"|Away1–3 |align="center"|9,161 |align="center"|George3 May 2001Brentford |align="center"|Away2–2 |align="center"|3,287 |align="center"|Howard, McLaren5 May 2001Port Vale |align="center"|Home1–1 |align="center"|5,260 |align="center"|Howard FA Cup information on this season's FA Cup 2000–01 FA Cup +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotesFirst round17 November 2000Rushden & Diamonds |align="center"|Home1–0 |align="center"|5,771 |align="center"|GeorgeSecond round9 December 2000Darlington |align="center"|Away0–0 |align="center"|3,667 |align="center"|–Second round replay19 December 2000Darlington |align="center"|Home2–0 |align="center"|3,563 |align="center"|Nogan, McLarenThird round6 January 2001Queens Park Rangers |align="center"|Home3–3 |align="center"|8,677 |align="center"|Fotiadis, George, DouglasThird round replay17 January 2001Queens Park Rangers |align="center"|Away1–2 |align="center"|14,395 |align="center"|Mansell Football League Cup information on this season's Football League Cup 2000–01 Football League Cup +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotesFirst round first leg22 August 2000Peterborough United |align="center"|Home0–0 |align="center"|3,175 |align="center"|–First round second leg5 September 2000Peterborough United |align="center"|Away2–2 (aet) |align="center"|4,286 |align="center"|Stein, Scarlettawaygoals ASecond round first leg19 September 2000Sunderland |align="center"|Away0–3 |align="center"|24,668 |align="center"|–Second round second leg26 September 2000Sunderland |align="center"|Home1–2 |align="center"|5,262 |align="center"|Kandol Football League Trophy +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersNotesSouthern Section First Round5 December 2000Peterborough United |align="center"|Away0–1 |align="center"|2,075 |align="center"|– League table 2000–01 Football League#Second Division Second Division y LUT Player statistics Last match played on 5 May 2001. Players with a zero in every column only appeared as unused substitutes. Luton 2000–2001 player appearances http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1628#teamTabs=stats Soccerbase Centurycomm 22 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131217125924/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1628 17 December 2013 Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals13px13pxMFENG Matthew Taylor45140401054100MFENG Matthew Spring41450401051400FWIRLGeorge was born in Luton, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his mother and represented Ireland at U-21 level. Liam George37 (6)7423 (1)00044 (7)900DFENGBoyce was born in Aylesbury, England, but also qualified to represent Barbados internationally through his parents and would make his international debut for Barbados in March 2008. Emmerson Boyce4232 (1)0400048 (1)300GKENG Paul McLaren35231401043300FWENGStein was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Mark Stein19 (11)31 (1)0310 (1)023 (13)400DFENG Julian Watts26 (2)430400033 (2)400GKENG Mark Ovendale26020401033000DFENG Adam Locke17 (8)22 (1)01 (1)01021 (10)200DFFIN Petri Helin23130001027100FWENG Andrew Fotiadis12 (10)331101017 (10)400DFSCO Stuart Fraser10 (5)040401019 (5)000GKENG Nathan Abbey20030000023000FWENG Stuart Douglas15 (6)41 (1)1000016 (7)500MFENG Peter Holmes12 (6)1102 (1)00015 (7)100DFENG Richard Dryden20000000020000MFENG Lee Mansell17 (1)511000018 (1)600FWCOD Trésor Kandol6 (7)3002 (1)1008 (8)400FWENG Peter Thomson4 (7)21 (1)01 (1)0107 (9)200DFENG Adrian Whitbread9040000013000FWENGHoward was born in Durham, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and would make his international debut for Scotland B in November 2007. Steve Howard12300000012300DFNIR Keith Rowland12200000012200MFENG Andre Scarlett5 (4)00 (1)021007 (5)100MFIRL Dean Brennan2 (7)0001 (2)0003 (9)000DFENG Marvin Johnson9020000011000FWWAL Lee Nogan7131000 (1)010 (1)200DFENG Jude Stirling5 (4)00 (2)000005 (6)000DFNOR Kent Karlsen4 (2)02000107 (2)000FWENG Paul Shepherd700000007000GKENG Gavin McGowan5 (1)01000006 (1)000DFAUT Friedrich Breitenfelder2 (3)00000002 (3)000FWENG Rocky Baptiste0 (3)00000000 (3)000DFENG James Ayres000000101000GKENG Scott Ward0 (1)00000000 (1)000 Managerial statistics Only competitive games from the 2000–01 season are included. NameNat.FromToRecordHonoursPLDWDLGFGAGDW%Ricky HillENG10 July 200011 November 2000 21 2 8 11 20 36 yes 1–Lil FuccilloENG16 November 20008 February 2001 15 4 2 9 17 28 yes 1–Joe KinnearIRL8 February 2001– 20 5 7 8 25 29 yes 1Total 56 11 17 28 62 93 yes 1 Transfers In DatePlayerFromFeeRef. Reference 14 July 2000 England Mark Stein AFC Bournemouth Free Luton Town transfers 2010–11 http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1628#teamTabs=transfers Soccerbase CenturyComm Ltd 22 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131217125924/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1628 17 December 2013 1 August 2000 Austria Friedrich Breitenfelder Austria St. Pölten Free 2 August 2000 England Peter Holmes Sheffield Wednesday Free 7 August 2000 England Mark Ovendale AFC Bournemouth £425,000 10 August 2000 Ireland Dean Brennan Sheffield Wednesday Free 11 September 2000 England Peter Thomson NED NAC Breda £100,000 24 October 2000 England Rocky Baptiste Hayes Free 2 November 2000 Finland Petri Helin Finland FC Jokerit Free 3 November 2000 Norway Kent Karlsen NOR Vålerenga Free 23 November 2000 Wales Lee Nogan Darlington Free 2 February 2001 England Richard Dryden Southampton Free 22 March 2001 England Paul Shepherd Scunthorpe United Free 22 March 2001 Scotland Steve Howard Northampton Town £50,000 Out DatePlayerToFeeRef. Reference 1 July 2000 Scotland Michael McIndoe Hereford United Free 16 July 2000 England Alan White Colchester United Free 17 July 2000 Northern Ireland Phil Gray Burnley Free 24 July 2000 Nigeria Efe Sodje Crewe Alexandra Free 24 November 2000 England Paul Read Exeter City Free 11 January 2001 England James Ayres Released 12 February 2001 Wales Lee Nogan York City Free 20 April 2001 England Nathan Abbey Released 20 April 2001 England Rocky Baptiste Released 20 April 2001 Austria Friedrich Breitenfelder Released 20 April 2001 England Gavin McGowan Released 20 April 2001 England Andre Scarlett Released 31 May 2001 England Mark Stein Released 31 May 2001 England Julian Watts AUS Northern Spirit Free 8 June 2001 England Paul McLaren Sheffield Wednesday Free Loans in DatePlayerFromEnd dateRef. Reference 25 January 2001 Northern Ireland Keith Rowland Queens Park Rangers 8 May 2001 23 November 2000 England Adrian Whitbread Portsmouth 24 January 2001 See also List of Luton Town F.C. seasons Footnotes A. awaygoals Luton progressed into the Second Round on the away goals rule. References Category:Luton Town F.C. seasons Luton Town