LUTON TOWN SUPPORTERS’ TRUST
East Anglian Air Ambulance
As you may have seen in a recent programme, Luton Town Supporters’ Trust has announced East Anglian Air Ambulance as the members’ chosen charity for the next 2 years. We are excited to be working alongside this life-saving organisation who are active across East Anglia, including Luton and Bedfordshire where they respond to major incidents approximately 30 times a year – including the tragic rail crash in June near Elstow, which cost two lives. It may well have been more were it not for the prompt attendance of air ambulances, transporting casualties to local hospitals – in some cases in life-critical conditions. On average, they answer seven call outs a day across the region.
Recently, Trust Chair Paul Stephens and Charity & Community Secretary Mark Crowther visited EAAA and met staff and teams for very positive and constructive conversations about how the Trust can help to raise awareness and donations for EAAA, and also get supporters engaged with their work and initiatives.
As you can see from the chart, they are extremely active and make a massive, often crucial, difference to the lives of people in accidents, ill health and difficult situations throughout our region.
Some of the many activities we’re planning to co-ordinate with them are:
CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation -demonstrations and training. CPR saves lives: EAAA were called to 563 emergencies in 2025 alone, and during the year taught 32,100 people lifesaving skills. CPR is something (literally) close to our hearts, with Tom Lockyer and one of our fans saved by prompt action at games in recent times. The more of us trained to carry it out – and it’s quite straightforward – the bigger the difference we can make in those all-important moments, so we’re looking forward to working with them. Come and see us at the Trust gazebo and sign up for CPR training!
Interactive events- including a ‘virtual’ air ambulance phone call experience, where fans can live through the process and see how it works.
Matchday events, with 20 volunteers from EAAA – and their mascot – joining us at the Trust gazebo and around the ground for raising awareness and a collection on event days.
We’ll also be collaborating on some other fun fund-raising and education events, so watch this space for more news!
Support a dream, share a journey…
Sponsor an U21 or U18 player today through SoLYD and be part of their journey
With the exciting emergence of several Academy players into the first team squad already this season, now’s a great time to help others progress and fulfil their footballing dreams!
Supporters of Luton Youth Development (SoLYD) are inviting fans, families and local businesses to sponsor a player from the Hatters U18 or U21 squads for just £150, with all money raised through the scheme donated by SoLYD directly to the academy.
Every sponsorship helps provide further support and opportunities across Luton Town’s youth development programme – contributing towards the players, coaches and facilities that give talented youngsters the best possible chance to progress.
It’s great for the academy – and it’s great for you as a sponsor too!
You’ll get…
• A Luton shirt signed by the player you sponsor
• A framed certificate of sponsorship
• An invitation to an academy player sponsors event, held at Kenilworth Road after an U18s or U21s fixture
• Your name listed in the SoLYD Role of Honour on the LTST website and app
At just £150 this is a wonderful way to support the academy and a player of your choice, subject to availability. You’ll find all the details at www.lutontownsupporterstrust.com/solyd/youth-player-sponsorship – or simply go to the Trust website and follow the link.
There are a limited number of sponsorships available so don’t miss out, apply for yours today!
We’ll leave the final word with Paul Benson, Academy Manager and Wayne Turner, Head of Academy Development:
‘When sponsorship money goes to the Academy it strengthens the entire youth system – funding facilities, coaches and opportunities for players while giving the sponsor a chance to be associated with the development of the individual and the academy’s future success.’
Talking Hatters…
‘Talking Hatters’ has been running for over a year and is part of a ‘talking’ initiative from a number of football-fan-led groups across the EFL and Premier leagues to encourage conversations about mental health, using football as a platform.
It’s an opportunity for everyone to join in a safe, non-judgemental, relaxed and friendly environment to chat about any subject, either football, life or mental health. Through life’s ups and downs, we are always available to listen, support, encourage and smile.
If you haven’t joined before you are very welcome to join and see what is involved. There is no pressure to contribute – whatever anyone is comfortable with is welcomed by the host Mark Crowther and the regulars. We also have guests join us for interesting chat from all walks of life, both, from a Luton Town background and non-football, with great experiences to share.
Join Talking Hatters every Sunday (except when Luton Town play on a Sunday) from 7–8pm on Zoom by visiting:
tinyurl.com/Talking-Hatters
There’s no need to be a Trust member – this is open to all, and aims to support anyone experiencing challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression or loneliness, something most of us face at some point. Come and see us at the Trust gazebo on the Kenilworth Road apron too. We’re always happy to chat!
Mark Crowther tells us his story and how he came to set up Talking Hatters and his cycling challenge…
I’m Mark Crowther, a life-long Hatters fan for 45 years. My first game was on 25th April 1981 and LTFC has been a massive part of my life since then, experiencing the highs and the lows. If is never boring following Luton Town!
Some supporters may know me from my cycling exploits of cycling to away games over the last 5 years and I am again, this season cycling to every away game on my EVERY MIND MATTERS hatters away cycle challenge.
Nearly a year ago, I was proud to be voted onto the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust board and part of my responsibility is my role of ‘Charity & Community Secretary’. I can be seen on the Supporters’ Trust Gazebo on match days on the Kenilworth apron so it would be nice to see everyone if you want to say hello.
As well as Luton Town, mental health is also a passion of mine and is my motivation to try and make a difference through my own personal experiences of suffering with low self-worth low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. I make no apologies for encouraging people to talk about their own struggles. I have struggled with my mental health for a large part of my adult life, not realising for a long period due to the stigma and the shame to admit that I was struggling.
One of my darkest periods was during lockdown. I am not afraid to share that, for that dark period, taking my own life seemed the only answer. But I didn’t want to die, I just wanted the pain to go away – and without talking to someone, and admitting that I was suffering and needed help, I wouldn’t be here today.
Luton Town Football Club, the connections made through friendships, supporters and the community played a big part in giving me a purpose and a feeling of belonging. That’s something we can share with Talking Hatters. We are all very lucky to have a special football club that cares and plays an integral part in the community. As another way of getting involved, I had the idea of the cycling challenges – to help raise awareness and spread the word that no one has to struggle on their own. There is help available and it does get better. While following the mighty Hatters I am cycling again this season and supporting some incredible charities along the way. If you see me on a bike near an away football ground come and say hello. Of you want to follow my progress and support my challenge, there is a link below:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/everymindmattershattersawaychallenge2
Thank you, Mark. Your story is an inspiration to talk, share and support. And speaking of support, let’s all get 100% behind the boys today|!
We’d love to hear your Kenilworth Road memories and stories….
As we move closer to an exciting new era at Power Court, we’d like to capture supporters’ stories and favourite moments from Kenilworth Road, especially from those long-term fans whose memories go back furthest!
We’re looking for a whole range of experiences that tell the tale of our home for all these years, and what it means to you.
If you would like to be part of it, maybe even meet up or have a zoom call – or have a relative who has been a Town fan for a long, long time – please drop us a line at paul.stephens@lutontownsupporterstrust.com. The same applies whatever your age: the Trust would like to build up an archive of memories of our wonderful, unique home – and you could be part of it.
