Where Are They Now?                                   Profiles of ex-Luton players

Seamus Dunne

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Height: 5 ft 08". Weight: - Born: Wicklow, 13.04.1930. Nationality: Republic of Ireland. International Honours: Republic of Ireland 15 full caps.

Seamus Dunne, who represented the Hatters from 1951 – 1966, is one of only 11 players to ever appear in an FA Cup final for the club.

Born in Wicklow and an uncompromising defender who would go on to enjoy ten successful seasons at Kenilworth Road, Seamus Dunne joined Luton Town from Shelbourne, having been signed by then boss Dally Duncan after a glittering youth career in Ireland.  It was a difficult decision for Dunne to make as he had a secure job with the Civil Service but it turned out to be an opportunity he never regretted.

Seamus made his debut for the Hatters on Boxing Day during the 1951-52 season in a thumping 6-1 Second Division victory over West Ham United at Kenilworth Road in front of 19,476 supporters.  A virtual ever-present at right-back from that match until the end of the campaign, Seamus helped the club improve vastly from their 19^th placed finish the previous term as the Hatters ended the season in a highly commendable 8^th place.

Playing in a side that included Luton legends Gordon Turner, Bob Morton, Syd Owen and Bernard Streten, Seamus continued to improve as the years went on and in only his second season with the Hatters, he helped the club finish 3^rd in Division Two and only narrowly miss out on promotion to Division One, Dunne appearing at right-back in 25 League matches. 

Two seasons later, the Hatters were promoted to Division One, Duncan’s side finishing 2^nd and Dunne an ever-present at right-back, playing in all 42 of Luton’s matches during the course of the season.  Meanwhile, another Luton legend was beginning to force his way into the side – goalkeeper Ron Baynham, who would eventually go on to represent England.  Seamus Dunne had himself become an international player, having made his debut for the Republic of Ireland against France in 1953 and also playing against Austria during the same year. 

Seamus helped the Hatters to consolidate their position in Division One, Luton finishing 10^th during their first season in the top Division of domestic football – and the Irish full-back was once again a regular member of the side, appearing in 40 of the 42 League matches for the club.

After finishing 16^th in Division One the following season (Seamus making 29 League appearances), the Hatters finished 8^th during the 1957-58 campaign – the second highest finish in the club’s history.  Dunne once again featured regularly, making 41 League appearances and also helping the Hatters to the semi-final of the Southern Professional Floodlit Cup.  He had also gained a further 10 caps for his country by this time, appearing against France and Luxembourg in 1954, against Spain and Holland in 1956, against Denmark, England and West Germany in 1957 and against Denmark, Poland and Austria in 1958.

Seamus Dunne in action for Luton Town.

The following season so very nearly provided what would arguably still be the greatest moment in Luton Town’s history – an FA Cup final win.  However, the Hatters were beaten 1-2 by Nottingham Forest at Wembley in front of 100,000 spectators.  Seamus did, of course, feature at full-back, as he had so consistently done over the last few seasons, although in the League the side struggled, finishing 17^th in Division One.  He also earned another cap for his country against Poland. 

The following campaign saw the Hatters relegated back to Division Two, the club finishing bottom of Division One with just 30 points from 42 games, although Dunne was one of the better players during the season, appearing in 41 League matches.  The season also saw Dunne earn his final two caps for his country against West Germany and Sweden, taking his total tally of appearances for the Republic of Ireland to 15.

By now Dally Duncan had left the club and had been replaced as manager by popular player and England international Syd Owen who took over as player/manager but lasted only a year in the job before being replaced as boss by Sam Bartram.

And the 1960-61 season was to be Seamus Dunne’s last campaign as a Luton Town player as the Hatters failed to live up to the expectations of a return to the top flight at the first attempt, Bartram’s side finishing 13^th in Division Two and Dunne playing only 16 League games during the season. 

Needing a fresh challenge, Seamus Dunne was transferred to Yiewsley and he then moved onto Dunstable Town, where he also enjoyed a spell as manager after making a total of 301 League appearances for Luton Town and failing to find the net on a single occasion!  He did, however, as a stand-in goalkeeper, in the days before substitutes, manage to save a penalty from Portsmouth’s Peter Harris.

Having managed Dunstable Town for a brief period, Seamus returned to his native Ireland and became a draughtsman, before doing some refereeing in a bid to keep fit and he is now retired and spends most of his time playing golf, although he is Honorary President of the Luton Town Supporters Club of Ireland.

Speaking exclusively to Lutonfc.com about his time with Luton Town, Seamus said that the best player he ever faced was Tom Finney, "The best winger and I think probably the most complete player I played against was Tom Finney, he was better than any winger, whether he was inside forward, centre-forward or outside left as he was when I played directly against him, he certainly was the best - he was just better than anyone around.  They all had their own skills, there were the ball players and the speed merchants. When we got into the First Division, which is now the Premiership, I think nearly every club had an international winger. "

Seamus also spoke about an amusing incident that took place while he represented the Hatters, "I think the funniest incident that I can think of was in a reserve match that I played on a Saturday afternoon, at the end of the season. If I had about 10 minutes to spare I could have counted the total attendance but I reckon there was probably about 500 people there.

"The game was against Portsmouth reserves and there was a little Scottish winger we had a little kick with down in Portsmouth. And we kind of had a little score to settle so I tackled him fairly but it maybe was a little bit strong and he made the most of it, the linesman who was probably a little bit stricter than the referee then called the ref over and gave me a bad report and the referee decided to book me. And while he was booking me I looked down the little red track beside the Bobbers stand and there was a guy getting over the spiked fence and he comes running up. I could tell as I saw him he was Irish and I recognised he was Sean Fallon, a friend of mine, who turned out to have been drinking beforehand.

"He came running up, (he had obviously been in the Bobbers club for a few) and what he wasn’t going to do the ref for taking my name! As soon as that happened a young policeman came up and asked: "What is the trouble Mr. Dunne?" I just replied: “No trouble constable, he is a pal of mine and he’s had one or two drinks over the top” The young police officer then told me to make sure he gets back over the fence otherwise he will be spending the night down in the station. I said back to the policeman: "Don’t worry, I will settle this fellow." I then had to help him back over the fence and into the stand."

Seamus also took time out to recognise the best player he ever played alongside, "Jessie Pye was a tremendous player, he was the one player who did more for the team than any other player while I was there. At the time he was a good age and he’d lost a lot of his skill but was nonetheless still very skilful, he was great for team spirit, he was good with the crowd and he made a lot of goals for Gordon Turner at the time. He was one of the great characters at the club."

Seamus also still sees some of his former Luton Town colleagues, "I see Terry Kelly pretty often, he’d be the closest. I met Wally Shanks a couple of months ago, as well as Ken Hawkes. They’re all a good age nowadays! I also helped arrange a reunion of all the lads a few years back in Luton, which was great to get everyone together again."

And Seamus also still keeps a close eye on how the Hatters are doing, "I do usually lookup and see how Luton Town are getting on and always keep an eye on the first-team’s results.  However, it's just not the same when you're not playing.  I find it hard to get into the games nowadays, even at international level.  Its just not the same for me, but I always manage to keep an eye out for all the results."

Profile By:  James Garley