Former Luton News employee gets up at 3am and travels more than 250 miles to support his beloved Hatters at home

Former Luton News employee Ian Freeman (74) has been supporting the Hatters ever since he lived next door to Eire international fullback Bud Aherne.

He recalls: “My first match was either late 1959 or early1960 when Bud got me two tickets. A couple of years later I was totally hooked – which means I’ve been a fan for approximately 60 years.”

So much so that Ian – who is now retired and lives in Millom, Cumbria – gets up at 3am so he can come down to Luton to cheer on his team whenever they’re playing at home.

He’s also penned a poem to express his emotions about the club to which he has introduced sons Ian Jnr and Craig and grandson Stanley (7).

Ian fondly recalls: “We’ve been through many lean times but the successes have outshone any relegation memories.

“The two real highlights were the 1988 cup final when we came back from being 2-1 down to 3-2 up to secure victory against the mighty Arsenal - and last season’s magnificent run, culminating in the Wembley play-off final win over Coventry . . . a great occasion as it was also my birthday and I managed to get tickets for myself, my two sons and eldest grandson.”

Ian admits he’s never completed a season having been to every game but two seasons on the trot he missed only one match. The first was at Exeter away – it was his father-in-law’s birthday - and the following season at Barnsley away: “It was on television and one of my biggest regrets is not going to the game.”

“My favourite players were Graham French - a real enigma on the field but so talented - and Ricky Hill whose magical skills would surely have been recognised by an England manager had he played for a bigger club.

“But Malcolm ‘Supermac’ MacDonald, local boy Bruce Rioch, Brian Stein and Hatters’ superhero Mick Harford are only just behind.

“I’ve met so many great characters through following the Hatters - we may not be the biggest club in the country but we do have a real hard core of dedicated fans.”

Ian concludes: “The last 10 years have been meteoric and mesmeric - thanks to Gary Sweet and his team behind the scenes.

“It feels like we now have the best-run football club in England - and a club which is a credit to the town itself.”