If you missed the Trust’s interview with Luton Town’s larger-than-life Assistant Manager in Tuesday’s match-day programme, then you can read the full interview below.
With 41 years in the game, Chris Powell certainly has a lot to share about his experiences with a host of clubs as a player, coach and manager – and his three years with the England management team. We started by asking about his background and now he came to Luton as assistant manager to Jack Wilshere.
Where did it all start for you Chris?
I was brought up in Tooting, South London, not far from Crystal Palace and football was everything. I know kids don’t play in the street so much anymore, but I certainly did back in those days. Then it was grassroots football at all my school teams. It’s what I love doing, I love watching, I love coaching, I love everything about the game, and that will always be the way for me.
I was originally a left winger, but then I joined Palace as a 15-year-old schoolboy. They already had two left wingers but no left-back for a game against Southampton’s youth team – who had Matt Le Tissier and Alan Shearer playing for them. It was down to a flip of a coin, and I ended up as full-back, which actually did me a favour as I played there throughout my career.
I’m forever grateful for that coin toss, as it gave me 24 years as a player, which I’m so proud of. The average tenure for a player is eight years, so with 24 I was very fortunate. It was tough to get into that Palace team under Steve Coppell, so I went out on loan to Aldershot and then ended up at Southend, where it all really began for me.
I had five brilliant years at Roots Hall, winning promotion in my first year to the Championship. There was talk of a move to the Premier League – that didn’t happen, but I joined Derby and got to the top-flight with them. Then I was bought by Charlton and that began a long love affair with that club. I actually left and re-signed for them three times including moves to West Ham and – sorry! – Watford. I ended my playing career with Leicester, where I became first team coach before going back to Charlton for a fourth time, as manager. We won the League One title in my first full season, and I guess that’s the club people connect me with most, because we had some glorious times in the Premier League where I was lucky enough to be picked to play for England five times*.
*A fun fact here – when Chris was picked for England by Sven-Göran Eriksson 2001 at the age of 31, he became the oldest debutant for the Three Lions since our very own Luton Town legend Syd Owen in 1954.
There’s so much to Chris’s career that we can’t pack it all in: management at Huddersfield, Derby and Southend, coaching with England for three years under Gareth Southgate, Spurs and Sheffield Wednesday… chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association for years…and appearing in three series of cult TV show Ted Lasso!
Back to the interview, and how Chris came to Luton…
I was on an interim contract with Walsall after leaving Wednesday and heard that Jack was on the short list for the job here. I’d seen the work Jack had done at Norwich and Arsenal and what was happening at Luton with a new management and a new way of thinking. The club wanted someone with experience alongside Jack and I felt this was a good role for me at this stage.
I don’t want to be a manager again: I’ve been there, done that and scratched that itch. I prefer to lend my experience and knowledge to someone who has a long-term future ahead of them and a plan of management. I spoke with Jack, Gary Sweet and James Mooney, weighed things up and decided that this is a club I want to be involved in. So here I am, and I love it.
I’m here to support and advise Jack. He makes the decisions but I make suggestions, agree – or disagree, which I do at times – with him and we discuss it all. Being a manager can be a lonely place, and my role is to be supportive, a listening ear and share my experience. All of us on the staff – Tim Corcoran, David Bridges, Kevin Foley and Kevin Pilkington – we all have our parts to play.
So far this season, our performances haven’t always translated to the points we want, but you have to believe in what you’re doing, tweak certain areas and continually improve. Not just the young ones, senior players too. Sometimes we might think we need to strengthen in certain areas but a player steps into that place successfully. It’s important to maintain belief in what we’re doing. We need the fans to believe too, and that’s down to us proving it and turning the performances into points.
What is your message to the fans?
You will always be here, this is your club and you should be very proud of it, as I know you are. It’s a countdown to Power Court now and you should savour every moment left at Kenilworth Road, because you’re going to miss it. Make it a journey to remember because this is it. You all have so many memories of this stadium, of games, of players, of family and friends you’ve been to the ground with, and try to make new ones to take with you to Power Court. We know we’re part of that journey and we’ll do our best to make it memorable for everyone, too.
This is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – you’re very much part of that?
Yes, I’ve been an Ambassador for Prostate Cancer for about 15 years now. I’ve taken part in many events, including a marathon when I raised £11,000 for the charity, and obviously with this club it’s close to home, with what’s happened with Mick. So, this month, October, we’ve got 45 staff at the club doing a 5k or 10k walk or run, or a 10k or 25k bike ride every day, raising funds and much-needed awareness. Prostate cancer affects one in eight men, and for black men it’s one in four. Fellas, if you’re concerned about it, go to your GP, go online and get it checked. Get to it early.
It’s Black History Month, too – what does that mean in the context of ‘being Luton’?
Luton has a very vibrant, mixed community, but we’re all linked by the badge, by Luton Town. Whatever your background, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, if you’re living in or around the town, or linked to it, we’re all connected. And it’s a force for good; the town might have all sorts of things said about it but the club is the focal point for everyone and there’s a new beginning, a new horizon for everyone with Power Court in the heart of the town. Regardless of where you’re from, be proud of the badge, the shirt, because it’s yours. When I speak to people from the club, to Nazreen, to Daniel, to Viv who are from Luton – they’re very proud of it. We’re fortunate to be part of it, part of the journey. The biggest thing for me is that badge.
As a young boy, growing up, I saw the Luton team – the Stein brothers, Ricky Hill, Mitchell Thomas, Marvin Johnson – I could name those players and I was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know Luton had a black community’. Some of those players were from Luton. There’s a history that this club has produced lots of black players. I look back and think that’s been part of Luton for a very long time and it still is now, just look at the kids coming through. I would love to see an Asian lad playing for Luton, too. Hopefully that will come in time.
If Ricky Hill was one of your top three Luton players, who were the other two?
Ross Barkley certainly. I was fortunate enough to work with him for England and I couldn’t believe how good he was. Then there’s the 80s team, Mal Donaghy, Raddy Antic. But I’d better say Mick Harford really. I remember watching that 80s team. In fact, I went to Wembley for the Littlewoods Cup Final when Luton beat Arsenal. I was sat in the Arsenal end laughing, because I’m a Spurs fan, so I loved it!
Tell us a bit about your England experience.
They were three brilliant years. To be part of the Euros and the World Cup in Qatar as an assistant coach with Gareth Southgate and the team was very challenging, very nerve wracking, but I was very fortunate and honoured to have that role. To work with elite players – you learn so much from them, let alone them learning from you. The way they compete, the way they behave and prepare can only inspire you. I wouldn’t change that experience for the world, singing the national anthem, being part of the senior team, working with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. I’d do it again in a flash.
Here we try to help players be the best they can be, like those elite England stars have worked so hard at. The best players get to that level by doing things to the best of their ability – nothing is just for fun, let’s do it right.
I always say to players, your training habits are revealed on a match day. To prepare and perform on a match day you have to train correctly throughout the week. End of. The Academy here instil that in the young players – they’re learning good habits and doing things right. The senior players, too.
Thank you, Chris, for your time – that’s some career, may it last even longer with success here at Luton. We’re looking forward to seeing your famous fist pump celebrations more and more this season!
