Hatters in hot water Luton Town v Darlington Coca-Cola League Two Saturday 11th October 2008, 3pm Luton Town find themselves with a massive 30-point deduction for irregularities involving the club's previous regime, in administration, and are probably football's unluckiest club. Just survival would be a considerable achievement, so it's hard to know what such a penalty will have on the players. They've started reasonably enough but still with a huge negative points tally. Man to watch Sam Parkin Current top scorer In the Oak Road Stand - 2,220 seats. Ticket prices are: a very steep £22 (adults), £15 (aged 17- 21, OAPs from 65-75), £10 (Over 75 and 10-16), £5 (under 10). If you've never been before - the away turnstiles are in a row of terraced houses and you walk between gardens with washing on the line to reach the back of the stand. Luton have been at their odd-shaped ground for 103 years. A pricey afternoon by League 2 standards with programmes £3 and pies and pasties £3 too.

Full match preview on the D@rlo Uncovered website.

Luton Town FC Kenilworth Road, 1 Maple Road Luton, Beds LU4 8AW Tel: 01582 411622 History: Formed in 1885 as a merger of Luton Wanderers and Luton Excelsior, the Hatters were quite a progressive club, becoming the first in the south to turn professional and briefly being in the Football League at the end of the 19th century before joining the Southern League. An unremarkable early history when they finally rejoined the League. Joe Payne scored 10 of the Hatters' goals in their record win in 1936. Typically, Luton found themselves top of Div 2 when war broke out! They reached the FA Cup final in 1959, only to lose to Nottingham Forest, who would beat them again at Wembley in the League Cup 30 years later. Luton's high point was in the mid to late 80s under David Pleat and Ray Harford, when they controversially for a time had a plastic pitch and also banned away fans. They played some entertaining football and famously beat Arsenal 3-2 to win the League Cup in 1988 and lost at Wembley in the final the following season. They also reached a FA Cup semi-final. It would take 20 years for Mike Newell to start restoring the good times, when he took them to 98 points and the League One title. Things went pear-shaped, on and off the field after he left and the club is now in deep trouble after relegation to this level for only the third season in their history. Record Attendance: 30,069 v Blackpool FA Cup 6th Rd replay, 1959 Capacity: 9,970 Last season: 24th - relegated from League One Honours: League Cup winners 1988 and finalists 1989; Div 2 champions 1981-1982, Div 3 South champions 1936-1937, 2004-2005; Div 4 champions 1967-68. Record victory: 12-0 v Bristol Rovers , Div 3S, 1936 Defeat: 0-9 v Birmingham, Div 2 1898 Nickname: The Hatters. Colours: White and black, orange trim Manager: Mick Harford Chairman: Nick Owen Players in: Claude Gnakpa, Asa Hill, Rossi Jarvis, Josh Klein-Davies (loan), Conrad Logan (Leicester, loan), Chris Martin (loan), Kevin Nicholls, George Pilkington, Tristian Plummer (loan), Marc Pugh (loan), Ian Roper, Micky Spillane (loan), Kevin Watson, Harry Worley (loan) Players out: Chris Perry (Southampton), Steve Robinson and Darren Currie (Chesterfield), Stephen O'Leary (Hereford), Dean Morgan (Leyton Orient, loan), Marlon Beresford, Don Hutchison, Paul Peschisolido, Paul McVeigh, Alan Goodall, Richard Jackson (all released) Famous fans/connections: David Pleat, Ray Harford, Harry Haslam, Alec Stock, Mike Newell (managers), Malcokm McDonald, Bruce Rioch, Ricky Hill, Brian Stein, Steve Foster, Mick Harford, Les Sealey, Peter Nicholas (players), Colin Salmon (actor) Eric Morecambe (late comedian) and Nick Owen (TV presenter, all fans). Click for Streetmap of ground

M1 to junction 11, follow A505 Dunstable Road to Luton. The ground is on the left, as the main road approaches the town centre. Some street parking away from the ground (there is residents' parking around the stadium) or town centre, 15 minutes walk away.. Darlington FC Supporters' Club Coach time 8am, £28. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club

Trains: There are regular services from London King's Cross Thames Link and Farringdon (with links to Circle Line Tube).It's about 20 minutes walk to the ground. There are buses 31, 37, 38 and a taxi is about £5. (Times updated August '08) Darlington: 08.21-London Kings Cross (10.58) walk to London St Pancras 11.30-11.52; rtn: 17.36 (18.04) London St Pancras then London Kings Cross 18.35-21.09. Fares: Saver return, £102.30 London St Pancras: 11.30-11.52; rtn: 17.36-arr 18.04. Saver reurn: £24.50 Birmingham New Street: 10.24 (11.13) Leicester 11.30-12.21; rtn: 17.53-Leicester (18.55) 19.09-arr 20.09. Fares: Saver return £32.20 Cardiff Central: 07.55-10.10 (London Paddington) underground to London St Pancras, 11.03-arr Luton 11.38; rtn: 17.49-London Farringdon (18.28) underground to Paddington, then 19.12-arr 21.23. Fare: Advance fare £32; saver return: £64 Sheffield: 08.18-Leicester (09.27) 09.35-arr 10.36; rtn: 17.53 Bedford (18.07) 18.19-20.18. Fares: Saver return £45.80

Real ale The Bricklayers Arms, 14-16 Hightown Road. This is less than 100 yards from the railway station - exit the station and cross the footbridge over the lines, past the Railway Tavern and it's along the High St. A DAFTS favourite from earlier visits. There were about four guest ales on, during our visit. The seats quickly get taken up, with regulars and supporters on match days, when it opens from 12noon. The two-room pub has Sky Sports, a small garden/smoking area at the back and serves rolls. There is a minicab company a few doors down to save on the 25 minute walk to the ground. Some guest beers and decent tunes on the jukebox. Click for street map English Rose, 46 Old Bedford Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 7PA Real ale alternative, half a mile from the ground and handy for the station. Five changing ales (their website keeps a regular list) and a past winner of the local CAMRA award. One of the town's oldest, it survived the Civil War and (a few years later) Diana Dors was a regular! Serves food - burgers, breakfasts, jacket potatoes - from 12pm. Open 12-11pm. Another option is the Two Brewers 43 Dumfries Street - a Banks & Taylor establishment out of the town centre. Good basic boozer, welcoming to away fans. The Wheelwright Arms, 34 Guildford Street also has a range of decent beers plus some real cider - perfect for autumn afternoons! Not far from the town centre and it apparently opens early for breakfast.

Near Ground: For those who want to booze a little closer to the ground, try the Bedfordshire Yeoman on Dallow Road - close to an Italian chippy - which is popular with home and away fans. This Greene King pub is recommended as a football-friendly boozer by LFC Online. Dunstable Road is full of take-aways, including a KFC, a kebab house and I'm sure I passed a Macdonalds... but LutonFC.com recommends the "Bluebird One" fish and chip shop on the corner of Clifton Road and Wimborne Road, saying the chips "are truly excellent."

Should you wish to stay over in the thriving metropolis that is Luton, there is accommodation - and of course it's cheaper than staying in central London, half an hour away by express. In the dark, distant days of the David Evans regime at Kenilworth Road, when away fans were as welcome as asylum seekers in some parts of the Kent coast, some tried to "blend in" by taking in the Arndale shopping centre beforehand. Famous for its flamingoes sculpture - wonder if that's still there? Luton Tourist Information Centre, Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map Hotels/B&Bs Luton Today Council web Clubs In Crisis Surfing there... Not a lot to choose from, there's the official site . Next away matches: Wycombe - Sat 18th October No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling. Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then E-mail DAFTS © DAFTS 2008