To keep the mood light in training, players won fun-size Mars bars for winning obstacle races and slaloms through the poles.
A special guest hitched a ride on the coach as lucky mascot – Raddy Antic, scorer of the most famous goal in Luton Town's history, the dramatic late winner which sent Manchester City down and Hatters manager David Pleat galloping 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.
