Dallow Lane

51°52′54.35″N 0°25′36.07″W / 51.8817639°N 0.4266861°W / 51.8817639; -0.4266861OwnerExcelsior F.C. (1880–85)
Luton Town F.C. (1885–97)OperatorExcelsior F.C. (1880–85)
Luton Town F.C. (1885–97)Capacityca. 7,000SurfaceGrassConstructionBuilt1880Opened1880Closed1897Demolishedca. 1950

Dallow Lane was a football ground in Luton, England. It was the home ground of Luton Town from its formation in 1885 until a move to Dunstable Road in 1897.

History

The first organised match of association football in Luton took place at Dallow Lane on 23 October 1880 – a fifteen-a-side match between Excelsior and Luton Rovers.^[1] Excelsior, a local works team, emerged as 2–0 victors and remained at the ground until the merger with Luton Town Wanderers in 1885 to become Luton Town Football Club.^[1]^[2] The new club decided to base itself at Excelsior's Dallow Lane.^[2]

Dallow Lane, also known as the Excelsior Ground,^[2] had a capacity of about 7,000^[3] – most spectators would simply stand behind a rope close to the pitch,^[4] and there was a seated grandstand constructed in 1894. The stand was "120 feet long, 18 feet high, 13 feet deep and [had] five tiers of seats".^[5] Due to Dallow Lane's close proximity to the Luton to Dunstable railway line, players claimed to have trouble playing due to smoke from the engines.^[4] The club made a damaging financial loss during 1896–97 and was forced to sell the ground to stay afloat.^[6] Luton Town left Dallow Lane in April to play at Dunstable Road.^[7] The Dallow Lane grandstand remained on the site until the mid-20th century, used as a store shed.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Bailey, Steve (December 1997). The Definitive Luton Town F.C. Soccerdata. p. 7. ISBN 1-899468-10-2.
^ ^a ^b ^c Collings, Timothy (1985). The Luton Town Story 1885–1985. Luton Town F.C. pp. 1–2. ISBN 0-951067-90-7.
^ Bailey, p90
^ ^a ^b ^c Collings, pp. 3–4
^ Collings, p8
^ Collings, p11
^ Collings, p12