HATTERS BOSS NEWELL SNAPS UP UNDERWOOD

Luton Town manager Mike Newell has today (Thursday) moved to make a transfer deadline day signing with the capture of Rushden & Diamonds left-back and captain Paul Underwood.

After the departure of Dean Crowe to Oldham Athletic, it allowed the Hatters manager to sign a new player and he beat off the competition of Oldham Athletic and Peterborough United to sign the former Enfield player, who can also operate at centre-back, left midfield and up front.

Underwood joined Rushden & Diamonds from Enfield for £50,000 in the summer of 1997 and he quickly became an England semi-professional international and made over 200 appearances during his time at Nene Park.

He made his debut for Rushden during the 1998-99 season and he went on to make 36 League appearances, scoring 2 goals.

In 1999-00, he netted 4 goals in 41 League appearances as Brian Talbot’s side narrowly missed out on gaining promotion to the Football League.

However, they set this right the following season as they won the Conference title, Underwood captaining the side to the Championship and netting 3 goals in 25 appearances along the way.

The 2001-02 season saw him help the Diamonds retain their status as a Football League club – and in fact, they reached the play-off final and only a 1-3 loss to Cheltenham Town prevented the Nene Park-based side from gaining a second successive promotion. Underwood helped the club immensely, making 43 League appearances and earning himself a reputation as one of the most highly-rated left-back’s in the Third Division. In fact, he was even tracked as a possible target by then Luton boss Joe Kinnear, although the move never materialised.

However, he did help the club gain promotion in 2002-03, captaining the side as they won the Third Division Championship, pipping Hartlepool United – managed then by Hatters boss Mike Newell – to the Championship. He netted one goal that season in 40 League appearances.

After making 30 League appearances for the Diamonds during the 2003-04 season – taking his total League appearances for the club to over 200 – he made the move to Kenilworth Road.

He will wear the squad number six shirt and goes straight into the squad for Saturday visit to rivals Queen’s Park Rangers.
Story date: Thursday, March 25, 2004