About Us                     Who exactly are Lutonfc.com and why do they exist?

So Luton Town Football Club has finally got around to setting up its own official Website, pooling resources to form www.lutontown.co.uk as part of the Premium TV Network.  While there looks to be a few other unofficial Luton sites on the Web, there appeared to be a gap in the market for a real fans' Website.  I was thinking about doing a replacement unofficial site but thinking is as far as I got, as I haven't a clue how to go about it.  Fortunately, James Garley was thinking along the same lines and as he knows what to do on the technology side of things, we pooled our efforts together.  If you were on the old message board, then you'll know that everybody was asked if they would like to help and thankfully, we've had some fantastic assistance.  I won't list the names of those involved in case I miss someone out but, so far, we've had at least a dozen people who have been involved or want to get involved.  A number of Luton Town sites have sprung up over the last few years and I can say from experience that it takes a hell of a lot of work.  Well when I say from experience, I know James has spent a lot of time on setting this one up - the current design you are looking at is the third design Lutonfc.com has already had! :-)

"If we have 10 people working on a site think how good it will be by comparison"

Nobody can run a decent football Website on their own, it just becomes sterile and readers will soon lose interest, that's if the 'webmaster' (don't you just hate that name?) doesn't first.  Where we hope Lutonfc.com will be different is that it really is a fans' site in which everyone is free to contribute.  It will never be too early/too late to get involved so any fresh ideas, or if you can help out with any of the existing content, then please get in touch.  That way if the current incumbents find something better to do, get a job where they have to work or die, then there's always people to take over the running of the site.  The problem is that unless we get one site established now then we're going to be left with loads of rubbish, every IT student producing a half-hearted attempt.  Fair play to Ben Wright as he set up a site a few years ago when nobody else did, but towards the end the updates were very sporadic - although we appreciate the effort he put in and he's a decent bloke.  If we have 10 people working on a site think how good it will be by comparison.  The good thing is that it won't rely on one or two people so if someone moves on/loses interest, the site continues to exist.  Having said that, if any Luton fan is doing a college project and wants to do a Website on Luton Town Football Club, then get in touch and I'm sure we'll be glad to help - don't just rip-off all our information or we might have to send the boys round for a little word ;-)  And remember we have copyright terms.

"We want this site to be truly representative of the fans, so anyone who wants to get involved can do so"

I don't see any clash of interests between Lutonfc.com and Lutontown.co.uk, in the way that the match day programme is hardly a rival to the fanzine.  I'm sure the official site will attend to most of our needs on all matters concerning Luton Town FC but, I for one, think we should maintain an independent voice for the fans.  The two can quite happily co-exist with the official site covering well, official stuff I guess, and the independent site less serious but, hopefully, more comprehensive and humorous.  We want this site to be truly representative of the fans, so anyone who wants to get involved can do so.  We've got tons of things we're looking at and hope to fulfill but keep the suggestions coming in and we'll consider and reply to each and every e-mail, we promise.  Once we have all the Luton Town stuff sorted out then I think it might be an idea to extend it, perhaps covering local sports, events, pubs, clubs, whatever you like.  I firmly believe that a football club is a central point for any community, so if we can get non-Hatter 'Lutonions' or lapsed fans looking at the site, it might attract a few to the club.  All this is some way off, but certainly one for the future.  If anyone would like to do, say something like a local football round-up, even have your own message board, then let us know.

"You can advertise what you like but contact us first"

You'll notice that we have several banners on the site advertising various companies, which we have entered into an agreement with.  Running a Website with all the add-ons we plan will end up costing a few hundred a year which will get a bit expensive, so it makes sense to have a sponsor(s).  If you are interested in advertising on Lutonfc.com, please contact James Garley.  Any money we raise above the running costs will be directly channeled into Luton Town FC, probably through sponsorship or, if we start to make enough, tickets for local kids.  We're not interested in helping anyone make money for a private enterprise, but if you're willing to add to our rather meagre (well empty at the moment) coffers, then we'll see what we can do.  So, what I'm saying is that you can advertise what you like but contact us first.

"All I can say further is that I hope you all enjoy www.lutonfc.com"

While we will strive to make the site as up-to-date and as interesting as possible, I firmly believe that the message board is the most entertaining and enjoyable part of any football Website.  All will be welcome to contribute to the board, including away fans and even 'scummers' (well within reason).  If messages from our 'ornet friends wind you up, then don't open the message, and don't moan if you do.  The only messages that will be deleted are the 'silly' ones, such as the W*****d 'fan' who spent the last year of Ben Wright's Website practicing html on Ben's message board (unbelievably he still took five attempts to get it right), inane comments along the lines of 'Luton are crap' etc. and 'get rich quick' spam messages.

All I can say further is that I hope you all enjoy www.lutonfc.com.  Any comments on this editorial (a bit of a poncy description I know) then leave it on the message board.

Viva Luton! Viva Luton Town FC! Viva www.lutonfc.com!