Watching the Hatters in short sleeves
Football is mainly a winter sport, but it can also be hot work for players and spectators – as these two pictures show.
The main photo, above, shows Luton Town fans sitting – apart from a few – at Kenilworth Road during a game against Newport on May 31, 1947.
It was the final match of the season, with the Welsh club already relegated from Division 2.
Luton Town historian Roger Wash said: “The season was extended that year because of the bad winter.
“It was a hot day, but there were very few wearing shirtsleeves, with some insisting on jacket and tie as they sat on the Kenilworth Road terrace at half-time.
“You can pick out all sorts of characters in the photo, including the chap at the very bottom in his wartime utility sunglasses.” Luton won 6-3, with goals from Billington (3), Connelly, Wallbanks and Waugh.
> Pictured below are topless Hatters players training with medicine balls on the Kenilworth Road pitch as temperatures soared in the late ‘40s.
They are believed to be, l to r, Charlie Burtenshaw, Peter Small, Bill Burtenshaw, unknown, Les Lake, Jim Pemberton, Bill Collins, Jim Wilson.