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Luton Town 1 v Sheffield United 3 

Premier League 

Saturday 10 February 2024 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #48 

Let us start in the middle of the story. There was beer in the ground. They've done some redevelopment of The Kenny for the Prem. The Carrier Bag Firm were in the new bit on the side. One of them gleefully informed me that meant he'd been on all four sides of the ground as an AwayDay Blade. I don't know if the redevelopment has lead to new bits on the concourse (giggling here).

But, there was a downstairs bar I'd never seen before. Chucking out;

Brixton Brewery, Reliance Pale Ale on Keg at 4.2%

As Any Fule Kno, that is the second best footie beer doing the rounds behind SALT Loom.

And, the Third Act. A classic what the fuck just happened win for the Blades. Organised and switched on. And reshuffled well after losing Rhys ND early on. As keen readers will know, I'm a don't care what gets said sort of fan. But, Luton can have that fucking loss on behalf of their fans who slaughtered a clearly distraught R N-Davies as he hobbled past the Brixton Reliance Pale Bar.

Cam of the Arch snatches at that one when it's easier to score. Then gives the Hatter the runround, knocks him over, and gives the keeper no chance. 

Then, the main discussion as they went to VAR was;

“Well. They haven't fucking been down this end for ages. So they must be looking at a Penalty for us.”

Put that on the fucking big screen. Then fans will understand what's a-going-on.

Jitters. And Viní who failed to join us in the Boozer calm as a very calm thing. Brings us hommmmme.

The day began, and I'm proud to say finished in The Home Fans only;

The Bricklayers Arms

16-18 High Town Rd, Luton LU2 0DD

Strictly Home Fans Only. We had a table for six. And I reckon I knew a quarter of everyone in there. Superbly run gaff. One of the most efficient cask pull bars I've ever been in. The Landlady sits at the end of the bar. Basically just quietly making sure everyone gets what they need. With a Vinicius Souza calmness.

The day finished with an epilogue an’ all in The B Layers. Not gonna lie. We've done the lot. But on a day like today. Away win. Deserved. Reliance Pale in the Ground. You don't want to hear about all that. So. Let's go with;

Oakham Ales, Slovenian Wolf, Pale Ale on Cask at 3.9%

Stryian Wolf Hop. Sharp. Lemongrass. Moreish.

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But, Can He Change It?

Sheffield United 2 v Luton Town 3 

Premier League 

Tuesday 26 December 2023 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #34 

I've had a bit of time to think about that one. You start the season. You can have hope. That went to shit. But, four clubs get cut off. Everton lose points. You just need to win your mini league. And claw points elsewhere. That went to shit. You can't carry on as you were. You get Wilder back. He does his stuff. Some games, we're better. Some games, we even get points.

“He'll not accept poor performances.”

“That performance was unacceptable.’

Thing is. Can he fucking do anything about poor performances? I've had a bit of time to think. Still don't really know what to make of it.

Luton are in our mini league. That went to shit. The Carrier Bag Firm did not feel like a drink after that. We had managed a few beforehand. I'll single out.

Vault City Brewing (Edinburgh), Strawberry Banana Milkshake, Sour on Keg at 5.8%

The berries of straw overpowered any ‘na ‘na which wanted a look in.

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People Make Places

Luton Town 1 v Sheffield United 1 

The Championship 

Friday 26 August 2022 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #9 

Here's something you might not want to hear. If you demonise a place, you demonise a people. Are you sure Luton is a shithole? Or is it just that the sort of people who live there are shithole dwellers in your eyes. Challenge yourself. Can you really be sure it's the place? Or is it the white British dispossessed, the minority ethnic groups or the elderly conservative who live there or anywhere else? Is that why you think it's a shithole? Because of the people? You wouldn't want to demonise a population group, would you?

The latest figures suggest that more than half of the people who live in Luton are not White British. I'll just leave that out there. For any potential demonisers.

Because. Luton is not a shithole. Luton is a modern British city full of people trying to get by. As I walked back to the station, after that mesmerising battling draw, I (stereotypes coming) saw three groups of people having a good time. Football fans after Friday Night Lights. Muslims out on the streets, and in the sweet shops and cafés, after Friday prayers & celebrations. And, on Moor Street/Crawley Rd, more-or-less cheek-by-jowl with the Bury Park Mosque, a Motorcycle Club Chapter House with bikers spilling out onto the street.

Good on the fucking lot of yer.

Don't demonise people.

Shitholes do not have excellently run pubs like;

Bricklayers Arms

16-18 High Town Rd, Luton LU2 0DD

(Although they let my argument down by the unnecessary Home Fans Only impromptu sign. We're fucking ignoring that…)

The beer I ordered "went off" as the second pint was being poured. I chose a replacement. And then, a voice my side of the bar said;

"Change the first one for the Gentleman as well, and then could you please go to the cellar and put the new cask on"

I presume that's the Landlady, sat at the bar with a mug of coffee, politely directing operations. Superb. Five on Cask.

Oakham Ales, Endless Summer, Session Ale on Cask at 3.4%

Hops Hallelujah of Cascade, Willamette, Chinook and Pacific Jade. Served, as you'd expect in a gaff like this, in perfect condition. Floral, but very gentle bitterness from the get go. A little ginger in the finish.

This will surely be a theme I return to often this season. Play the pundit if you wish. Do the analysis. Stare at the stats. Proclaim it a technically poor game. Rewind the Refereeing, relentlessly. But, in real time, in the unreserved seats - none of that is available. Even if it was, don't matter, what a game.

I thought Luton were superb. Relentless. Pressing. Physically difficult to deal with. Looking to get forward at every opportunity. And, it wasn't easy, can't say we matched them all the time. But, we came out the other side as equals. The Championship, man. What a league.

I'll take the reffing in the Champo all day long in comparison to the PL. Every fucking minute, summat happens, the refs going…

"What the fuck has happened there? My Lino's said nowt. Stop fucking screaming at me. Er. Er. Er. Play On, Play On."

(giggling) some real howlers out there tonight mind, but we go again.

We're anoraks, nerds, Real Ale tickers, teamsheet collectors, chroniclers, counters, Carrier Baggers, Luton Lovers. Don't demonise us - or anyone else.

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What's Your Price Point?

Sheffield United 2 v Luton Town 0 

The Championship 

Saturday 22 January 2022 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #43 

Rhian's game. He needs to continue to make improvements. United's official Twitter are bigging up 3 goals in his last 5 starts. (Mate, there's a lot of starts before that an' all). From the back of the BLUT, he seems an engaging & likeable fella. You can't fault his effort. There are glimpses. The way he held off Luton's Burke on 60, to turn him, get a run & be hauled down is EXACTLY how you need a striker built like Rhian to play. 

I'm not going to lie. We're hunkering down to the Industry Tap as our go to gaff. It's close, real close. You've got a real shot at a table, even at 12:30. It's pretty easy to get served at any time. The beer list is occasionally high abv top heavy. But, there's a lot of variety & always some new ticks. The elephant in the room is, of course, to make all that happen, it's expensive. One of the non-CBF we tag on drinks cask, stouts or porters if available, at an acceptable to a Yorkshireman price point. He can't hack crowded places any more. Stresses out getting served. So, he's turned to the Industry Tap an' all. But, in there, it's House Lager for him all the way. At £3.90, that's the only price point he'll accept. The 5.5% Keg Stout today was £5.90. He'd sooner drink something he doesn't like at sub four quid.

I went;

Nomadic Beers & Heist Brew Co, Collab, Sang Real, IPA at 6%

I was underwhelmed if I'm honest. Didn't taste rich enough up to its 6%. There was lots of malt, hinting toffee even. But it was hop underdone. 3.5/5

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