1990–91 Luton Town F.C. season

Luton Town F.C.
1990–91 season
Manager	Jimmy Ryan
Stadium	Kenilworth Road
First Division	18th
FA Cup	Fourth round
Football League Cup	Second round
Full Members' Cup	Semi-finals
Top goalscorer	League: ; All: Lars Elstrup (18)
	← 1989–90 1991–92 →

During the 1990–91 English football season, Luton Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. They finished the season in 18th place, but avoided relegation due to an expansion of the First Division from 20 to 22 clubs for the following season, securing Luton a 10th successive season of First Division football. Manager Jimmy Ryan was dismissed shortly afterwards to make way for the returning David Pleat, who had previously been in charge from 1978 to 1986.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ENG	Alec Chamberlain
—	GK	AUS	Andy Petterson
—	DF	ENG	John Dreyer
—	DF	ENG	Richard Harvey
—	DF	ENG	Matt Jackson
—	DF	ENG	Marvin Johnson
—	DF	ENG	Julian James
—	DF	SCO	Dave Beaumont
—	DF	SCO	Graham Rodger
—	DF	SCO	Darren Salton
—	DF	SCO	Paul Telfer
—	MF	ENG	Darron McDonough^[1]
—	MF	ENG	David Preece


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	WAL	Ceri Hughes
—	MF	WAL	Mark Pembridge
—	MF	WAL	Jason Rees
—	MF	NIR	Kingsley Black^[2]
—	MF	NIR	Danny Wilson^[3]
—	FW	ENG	Mick Harford
—	FW	ENG	Sean Farrell
—	FW	ENG	Brian Stein^[4]
—	FW	WAL	Kurt Nogan
—	FW	NIR	Iain Dowie^[5]
—	FW	NIR	Paul Gray^[6]
—	FW	DEN	Lars Elstrup

Results

First Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
16	Coventry City	38	11	11	16	42	49	−7	44
17	Aston Villa	38	9	14	15	46	58	−12	41
18	Luton Town	38	10	7	21	42	61	−19	37
19	Sunderland (R)	38	8	10	20	38	60	−22	34	Relegation to the Second Division
20	Derby County (R)	38	5	9	24	37	75	−38	24	Relegation to the Second Division

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results

^[7]

First Division

19 August 1990 1	Luton Town	1–1	Crystal Palace	Luton
	Dowie 45'		Young 15'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 9,583

29 August 1990 2	Arsenal	2–1	Luton Town	London
	Merson 36' Thomas 68'		Elstrup 12'	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 32,723

1 September 1990 3	Southampton	1–2	Luton Town	Southampton
	Rideout 32'		Elstrup 18', 26'	Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 13,538

4 September 1990 4	Luton Town	0–1	Manchester United	Luton
			Robins 23' Bruce 39'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,576

8 September 1990 5	Luton Town	1–0	Leeds United	Luton
	Black 5'			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 10,185

15 September 1990 6	Queens Park Rangers	6–1	Luton Town	London
	Wegerle 6', 62' Sinton 48' Wilkins 55' Falco 65' Parker 85'		Hughes 57'	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 10,196

22 September 1990 7	Luton Town	1–0	Coventry City	Luton
	Dowie 2'			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 8,336

29 September 1990 8	Norwich City	1–3	Luton Town	Norwich
	Gordon 5'		Elstrup 48', 53', 62'	Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 12,794

20 October 1990 9	Sunderland	2–0	Luton Town	Sunderland
	Gabbiadini 12' Davenport 31'			Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 20,025

27 October 1990 10	Luton Town	1–1	Everton	Luton
	Elstrup 24'		Nevin 51'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 10,047

3 November 1990 11	Derby County	2–1	Luton Town	Derby
	Saunders 31' (pen.) Callaghan 65'		Black 48'	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 15,008

10 November 1990 12	Liverpool	4–0	Luton Town	Liverpool
	Rush 5' (39) Mølby 9' (pen.) Beardsley 71'			Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,207

17 November 1990 13	Luton Town	2–2	Manchester City	Luton
	Dowie 77' Dreyer 89' (pen.)		White 25' Redmond 42'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 9,564

24 November 1990 14	Luton Town	2–0	Aston Villa	Luton
	Black 44' Elstrup 85'			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 10,071

1 December 1990 15	Nottingham Forest	2–2	Luton Town	Nottingham
	Carr 6' Clough 75'		Elstrup 15', 46'	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 16,498

8 December 1990 16	Luton Town	1–1	Arsenal	Luton
	Dreyer 72' (pen.)		Smith 44' Adams 56'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,056

16 December 1990 17	Crystal Palace	1–0	Luton Town	London
	Bright 23'			Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 15,579

22 December 1990 18	Tottenham Hotspur	2–1	Luton Town	London
	Nayim 30' Van Den Hauwe 39'Stewart 34', 57'		Dowie 12' Hughes 60'	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 27,007

26 December 1990 19	Luton Town	0–1	Sheffield United	Luton
			Deane 71'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 10,004

29 December 1990 20	Luton Town	2–0	Chelsea	Luton
	Cundy 55' (o.g.) Black 84'			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 11,050

1 January 1991 21	Wimbledon	2–0	Luton Town	London
	Fashanu 44' Cork 83'			Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 4,521

12 January 1991 22	Luton Town	3–4	Southampton	Luton
	Elstrup 24' James 26' Dreyer 76' (pen.)		Wallace 10', 62' Le Tissier 28', 46'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 9,021

19 January 1991 23	Leeds United	2–1	Luton Town	Leeds
	Strachan 13' (pen.) Fairclough 59'		Elstrup 67'	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 27,010

2 February 1991 24	Luton Town	1–2	Queens Park Rangers	Luton
	Black 16'		Ferdinand 56', 90'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 8,479

23 February 1991 25	Luton Town	3–1	Liverpool	Luton
	Black 47' Dowie 55', 90'		Mølby 15' (pen.)	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,032

2 March 1991 26	Luton Town	1–0	Nottingham Forest	Luton
	Dowie 85'			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 9,577

5 March 1991 27	Manchester City	3–0	Luton Town	Manchester
	Quinn 21', 41' Allen 31' (pen.)			Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 20,404

9 March 1991 28	Aston Villa	1–2	Luton Town	Birmingham
	Cascarino 69'		Mountfield 27' (o.g.) Pembridge 45'	Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 20,587

13 March 1991 29	Coventry City	2–1	Luton Town	Coventry
	Borrows 61' (pen.) Preece 83'		Rodger 11'	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 9,521

16 March 1991 30	Luton Town	0–1	Norwich City	Luton
			Sherwood 21'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 8,604

23 March 1991 31	Manchester United	4–1	Luton Town	Manchester
	Bruce 7', 47' Robins 70' McClair 86'		Preece 34'	Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 41,752

30 March 1991 32	Sheffield United	2–1	Luton Town	Sheffield
	Bryson 55' Hodges 58'		Elstrup 10'	Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 18,487

4 April 1991 33	Luton Town	0–0	Tottenham Hotspur	Luton
				Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 11,322

6 April 1991 34	Chelsea	3–3	Luton Town	London
	Le Saux 30' Stuart 55' Wise 67' (pen.)		Elstrup 14' Farrell 17' Black 23'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 12,603

13 April 1991 35	Luton Town	0–1	Wimbledon	Luton
			Fashanu 79'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 8,219

20 April 1991 36	Luton Town	1–2	Sunderland	Luton
	Rodger 35'		Armstrong 22' Pascoe 63'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 11,157

4 May 1991 37	Everton	1–0	Luton Town	Liverpool
	Cottee 49'			Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 19,809

11 May 1991 38	Luton Town	2–0	Derby County	Luton
	Harford 41' (o.g.) Elstrup 47'			Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,889

FA Cup

5 January 1991 Round 3	Sheffield United	1–3	Luton Town	Sheffield
				Stadium: Bramall Lane

26 January 1991 Round 4	Luton Town	1–1	West Ham United	Luton
				Stadium: Kenilworth Road

30 January 1991 Round 4 Replay	West Ham United	5–0	Luton Town	London
				Stadium: Boleyn Ground

League Cup

25 September 1990 Round 2 Leg 1	Luton Town	1–1	Bradford City	Luton
				Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 5,120

10 October 1990 Round 2 Leg 2	Bradford City	1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–2 agg.) (5–4 p)	Luton Town	Bradford
				Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 6,180

Full Members' Cup

19 December 1990 Southern Section Round 2	Luton Town	5–1	West Ham United	Luton
				Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 5,759

18 February 1991 Southern Section Quarter Final	Chelsea	1–1 (a.e.t.) (1–4 p)	Luton Town	London
				Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 3,849

26 February 1991 Southern Section Semi Final	Crystal Palace	3–1	Luton Town	London
				Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 7,170

Player details

Players arranged in alphabetical order by surname.

Pos.	Name	League		League Cup		FA Cup		Full Members Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
DF	Dave Beaumont	29 (4)	0	2	0	1	0	2 (1)	0	33 (5)	0
MF	Kingsley Black	37	7	2	1	3	1	1	1	43	10
DF	Tim Breacker	8	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
GK	Alec Chamberlain	38	0	2	0	3	0	3	0	46	0
FW	Iain Dowie	26 (3)	7	2	0	1 (1)	0	2	0	31 (4)	7
DF	John Dreyer	38	3	2	0	3	0	3	1	46	4
FW	Lars Elstrup	37	15	1	0	3	2	3	1	44	18
FW	Sean Farrell	11 (9)	1	0	0	2 (1)	1	1 (2)	2	14 (12)	4
DF	Richard Harvey	26 (3)	0	2	1	3	0	2	0	33 (3)	1
MF	Paul Holsgrove	0 (1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0 (1)	0
MF	Ceri Hughes	17	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	19	1
DF	Julian James	10 (7)	1	1 (1)	0	3	0	2 (1)	0	16 (9)	1
DF	Marvin Johnson	24 (3)	0	0 (1)	0	0 (1)	0	2	0	26 (5)	0
MF	Darron McDonough	21 (5)	0	0	0	3	0	1	0	25 (5)	0
FW	Kurt Nogan	1 (8)	0	1 (1)	0	0	0	0 (1)	0	2 (10)	0
MF	Mark Pembridge	18	1	0	0	3	0	3	0	24	1
MF	David Preece	37	1	2	0	3	0	2	0	44	2
MF	Jason Rees	11 (10)	0	1 (1)	0	0 (1)	0	2	2	14 (12)	2
DF	Graham Rodger	14	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	16	2
DF	Steve Williams	15 (1)	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	19 (1)	0

References

^ McDonough was born in Antwerp, Belgium, but was raised in Greater Manchester, England.
^ Black was born in Luton, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1988.
^ Wilson was born in Wigan, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1987.
^ Stein was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but qualified to represent England internationally and made his international debut for England in February 1984.
^ Dowie was born in Hatfield, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally through his father. He made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1990.
^ Gray was born in Portsmouth, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally as he was raised there. He made his international debut for the U-21 side in 1990.
^ "Luton Town Fixtures & Results: 1990/1991".

[1] McDonough was born in Antwerp, Belgium, but was raised in Greater Manchester, England.

[2] Black was born in Luton, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1988.

[3] Wilson was born in Wigan, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1987.

[4] Stein was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but qualified to represent England internationally and made his international debut for England in February 1984.

[5] Dowie was born in Hatfield, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally through his father. He made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1990.

[6] Gray was born in Portsmouth, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally as he was raised there. He made his international debut for the U-21 side in 1990.

[7] "Luton Town Fixtures & Results: 1990/1991".

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v t e Luton Town F.C. seasons
1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

Squad

Results

First Division

Results

First Division

FA Cup

League Cup

Full Members' Cup

Player details

See also

References