Marvin Johnson

Ex-Youth Team Coach

Marvin Johnson became the Luton Town U-19 manager on a full-time basis in his own right in January 2004 following the departure of John Moore, who he had assisted since the start of the 2002-03 season.

A popular figure at the club, Marvin had represented the Hatters as a player for 15 years and represented the club in every Division of the Football League during that time.

Marvin embarks on a marauding run at rivals Watford.

As a player, his best position was as a central defender, but he could also be used as both a left-back and a midfielder. His commitment to the cause could not be questioned and it was fitting that whilst the supporters  had to witness a downfall in the club's fortunes over recent years, Marvin had always been there to share it with them. Marvin was also rewarded with a testimonial against Sheffield Wednesday for being a great servant.

It had been argued that Marvin had become a better player as he matured and that his consistency increased as he had got older. Whether this was true is open to debate, but he certainly never let anybody down, and in a young side such as Luton, players like Marvin were essential. One of the worst seasons for "King Marv" must have been the 1995-96 campaign as the club were relegated from the First Division, eventually finishing bottom of the table. In the absence of fellow defenders Steve Davis and Trevor Peake, Marvin was the captain and continued to make steady progress in a struggling side, proving calm under pressure, timing his tackles well, and remaining steady in the air. Although niggling injuries caused him to miss a few games during the season, many people felt he was one of the best players during the season, if not the best.

Marvin in action for the Hatters in 1994.

But Marvin suffered another setback the following season when the Hatters failed to bounce straight back up to the First Division. He formed a very effective partnership alongside Steve Davis at the heart of the Hatters defence and due to his whole-hearted displays and ability to recover situations, he was an automatic choice and missed matches only when unavailable. Unfortunately for both the team and for Marvin, he missed the first-leg play-off match with Crewe Alexandra, where his fighting defensive qualities were sorely missed, especially late in the game when the Hatters were reduced to ten men. So, it was another season in Division Two for Luton and Marvin as Crewe went on to gain promotion.

1997-98 was a big disappointment for Marvin. He was yet another of the Luton squad to be hit by injury. Although he again formed an effective partnership with Steve Davis when he did play, he only managed 16 appearances, but did score on two occasions. He was sorely missed by both the team and the fans as the Hatters struggled with a young injury-hit side in a competitive League.

The 1998-99 campaign was another very disappointing season for the club. However, Marvin remained relatively injury-free and his experience was a huge boost to the side. Although the side were mid-table for the majority of the season, they did enjoy a great run in the Worthington League Cup, reaching the Quarter-Final where they were beaten 0-3 at Sunderland. It was unfortunate for Marvin that his headed own-goal gave the home side the lead, but he had scored a sensational late winner in the Second Round at home to Ipswich Town in one of the most thrilling games experienced at Kenilworth Road for a good few years. When Steve Davis was sold back to his former club Burnley for £750,000 in December 1998, Marvin was handed the captaincy by manager Lennie Lawrence. This was welcomed by the supporters who had always had a great respect for the defender.

Marvin in action at Sunderland in the League Cup in 1998.

1999-00 was again a good season for Marvin. With the Hatters struggling financially and many of the best players either sold the previous season or during pre-season, Marvin provided a helping hand and some much needed experience to the young players. Playing on the left of a three-man central defence with Julian Watts and Gary Doherty (who was later sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £1,000,000) Marvin was a rock. After some great early performances, Luton finished the season in 13th place, which was respectable considering the young age of the side.

Marvin was out-of-contract at the end of the season and made his feelings perfectly clear - he wanted to stay with Luton. However, he wanted to be given a two-year deal and manager Lennie Lawrence was only prepared to offer him a one-year contract. So, Marvin's future was unclear for the majority of the pre-season. His future was finally settled when Lawrence was sacked in July 2000 and former player Ricky Hill was appointed manager. Hill immediately gave Marvin the two-year deal he had been seeking and he would be a Hatter the following season.

Marvin Johnson in 1999.

Marvin, Luton through and through, was a hero to many Hatters fans. Although he began his career in the old First Division as a clumsy, awkward looking youngster, he quickly progressed to a skilful genius. He once scored a goal at Tranmere Rovers that was said to be out of the Roberto Carlos book, one of the greatest ever goals scored by a Luton player. He is also your original Mr. Nice guy, no ego or attitude that came with many modern-day footballers. I don't think anyone has ever heard a bad word against him. 

Marvin entered his 13th season with Luton as the captain, playing in the first two matches, a 0-1 defeat to Notts County and a 1-2 loss at Wigan Athletic. However, he was injured at Wigan and he was on the sidelines until August 28th when he returned to the side in a 3-4 defeat to Wrexham - a game which Luton had led 3-0. Injury sidelined him again until he returned to the side in a 3-1 win at Stoke City in December. He stayed in the side for the following 4 matches, but he sustained a recurrence of his neck injury after 25 minutes of a 1-4 defeat at Reading on December 23rd 2000. He returned to the side in a 0-1 defeat to Rotherham United on April 24th 2001, a game which saw Luton relegated to Division Three for the first time since 1968. He played in the following two matches, a 1-3 loss at Bristol City and a 2-2 draw at Brentford before he was rested for the final match of the season, a 1-1 draw with Port Vale.

A reliable defender and into his 14th campaign with the Hatters during the 2001-02 season, Marvin began the season as a central defender for the Hatters, operating alongside new signing Russell Perrett, who had joined from Cardiff City. Marvin played in the opening game of the season, a 2-0 win at Carlisle United, but didn't appear in the next match, a 2-1 home win over Cheltenham Town. Back into the side for a trip to Reading in the League Cup 1st Round, Luton were beaten 0-4 and some supporters began to question whether Marvin was past his best. Question marks were further raised when Luton lost again in the following match, 2-3 at Bristol Rovers, with Marvin and young defender Jude Stirling (who later left for Stevenage Borough) heavily criticised by both supporters and manager Joe Kinnear, who said they looked as if they had never even met each other before.

Marvin remained in the team, though, for the next 4 matches, continuing to operate alongside Russell Perrett in the centre of Luton's defence. Luton were unbeaten during this 4-game spell, winning over Southend United at home (2-0) and York  City away (2-1) and drawing with Exeter City away (2-2) and Oxford United at home (1-1). However, Marvin then picked up an injury and was forced to miss over a month of the season, during which time Kinnear signed Dundee central defender Chris Coyne for £50,000.

Marvin celebrates a rare goal in 2001.

Marvin returned for a match at Dagenham & Redbridge in the LDV Vans Trophy on October 30th 2001 as Joe Kinnear fielded a weakened side full of youngsters and fringe players. Luton lost 2-3 to eliminate them from the competition. He then went another 2 months without seeing any first-team action, and returned to the field of play as a substitute in a home match with Hartlepool United on December 22nd 2001. Coming on in the 61st minute with Luton trailing 1-2, Marvin scored a rare goal, curling a terrific right-foot shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after 84 minutes to earn Luton a 2-2 draw and a vital point in the promotion-race.

Still a firm favourite with the Hatters faithful, who continued to sing the old song of "Marvin for England!", he was pretty much a regular member of the Hatters first-team squad from then on, usually operating as a left-back when coming on as a substitute for Jean-Louis Valois, which allowed the pacy Matthew Taylor to push up to left-midfield. He finished the season by making 10 League appearances from the end of February and his value to the squad was there for all to see as Luton clinched promotion back to Division Two at the first attempt, their first promotion season for 20 years. It was a great moment for Marvin, too, as he celebrated what is likely to be his final season as a regular member of the Luton first-team squad as a member of a promotion-winning squad.

Marvin in action at Swansea as Luton go up.

Out-of-contract at the end of the season, he was offered the opportunity to look for a new club by Hatters manager Joe Kinnear, who told Marvin that he wouldn't be able to guarantee him first-team football. However, Marvin, who only ever represented Luton during his career, responded in typical fashion by stating that he wanted to end his career with the Hatters, even if it meant he would only be used as a back-up player. He was offered a new role by Kinnear, which saw him still registered as a player, while also allowing him to take up a coaching position at Kenilworth Road, as assistant to youth team manager John Moore, and this delighted Luton supporters, who had never wanted to see 'Mr. Luton' leave.

Now a part of Luton’s backroom staff and assisting John Moore in running the youth team at the club, Marvin kept himself fit during the 2002-03 campaign as the club retained his registration as a player.

He featured on occasions for the reserve team and also featured twice for the first-team during the course of the campaign – both of those appearances coming in the LDV Vans Trophy. With manager Joe Kinnear deciding to field youngsters and fringe players for the matches with Conference sides Woking and Stevenage Borough, Marvin was brought into the squad to add some experience. He started the game at Woking before being replaced after 86 minutes, and he was then a 72 minute substitute at Broadhall Way, when Kinnear decided he needed an experienced head on the field to help the Hatters to hold their lead.

Now working entirely as a coach, with his boots firmly hung up, Marvin had a tough role to fill replacing the legendary John Moore, but, still a firm favourite with the supporters, there were high hopes that Marvin could become a top coach.

However, after three years as youth team coach at Kenilworth Road, Marvin was told by new Hatters boss Kevin Blackwell that he would no longer be required and he was told that he was to be released from his contract in June 2007.  It came as a massive blow for Marvin, who had been with the Hatters for some 22 years, 16 of those as a professional player.

Unfortunately for Marvin, as is often the case when a new manager takes charge, Blackwell brought in his own backroom team and it meant that there was no place for Marvin and his departure came just a few weeks after fellow youth team coach Steve Sedgley had been dismissed in a similar fashion.

In his final season as youth team coach, Marvin guided the Under 18 Hatters to a sixth place finish in the Puma Youth Alliance South East Conference and oversaw the young Hatters' 8-0 Beds Floodlit Youth Cup win over AFC Dunstable.

It was a sad end to Marvin's time with Luton Town and after 22 years at Kenilworth Road, he left for pastures new with the best wishes of the Hatters fans, who have come to see Marvin as a real Luton Town legend.

Marvin went on to set up his own football academy - and was also appointed as the manager of United Counties Premier Division side St Neots Town in March 2008.  However, in early March 2009, after a year in charge of St Neots Town, Marvin was sacked as manager.

In May 2008, Marvin appeared for Luton Town's legends side in a 2-1 win over an Arsenal Pro-Celebrity XI to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hatters' Littlewoods Cup win over the Gunners at Wembley in 1988.  Once again, the chant of "Marvin For England" was heard from the terraces!

Profile By:  James Garley