£30k Luton Town signing still memorable, particularly given what Watford paid: View
The 2023/24 season was a momentous one in the history of Luton Town, as they made their first ever appearance in the Premier League.
After winning promotion from the Championship in 2023 play-off final, the Hatters’ year in the top-flight ended in disappointment, as they suffered an immediate relegation back to the second-tier.
Even so, they can take pride in the history they made by playing at the level, as the first team relegated from the top-flight all the way down to non-league, to be promoted back to the top-flight.
With that journey taking the Kenilworth Road club over 30 years, there were plenty of players who played a part for them in that time.
One individual who had a particularly significant influence during his time with the club, was Andre Gray.
Luton Town got plenty of goals from Andre Gray
Back in March 2012, the Hatters completed the signing of Gray on loan until the end of the season, after he had impressed while playing against them for Hinckley United in the FA Trophy.
That move saw the striker make the step up from the Conference North to the Conference Premier, and he instantly settled in at Kenilworth Road.
Gray scored seven goals in 12 appearances for Luton by the end of the 2011/12 season, as they agonisingly missed out on promotion after defeat in the play-off final.
Even so, the forward’s scoring record meant it was no surprise to see them sign him permanently in the summer of 2012.
It was reported that they paid a fee in the region of £30,000 to sign the forward, in what turned out to be a major bargain.
His first full season with the club saw Gray net 17 times in 44 league appearances for the club, although there would be no promotion back to the Football League that time round.
A seventh place finish, 13 points adrift of the play-offs, left the club some way adrift of those in the mix for the main honours.
However, Luton and Gray would not be denied the next time round, winning promotion as champions in the 2013/14 campaign in emphatic style, surpassing the 100-point mark.
However, he would not then get the chance to play a part for Luton in League Two, as his career continued to move on a rapid trajectory.
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