Vauxhall Motors F.C. (Luton)
{{Short description|English football club, 1907 to 1991}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{distinguish|Vauxhall Motors F.C.}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Vauxhall Motors F.C. (Luton)
| image =
| nickname = the Motors, Motormen
| founded = 1907
| dissolved = 1991
| mgrtitle =
| manager =
| ground = Brache Estate, Park Street
| chairman =
|pattern_name1= Traditional
|pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=|pattern_so1=|leftarm1=FFFF00|body1=FFFF00|rightarm1=FFFF00|shorts1=0000FF|socks1=FFFF00
}}
Vauxhall Motors (Luton) Football Club was an amateur association football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, which once reached the first round of the FA Cup and the quarter-finals of the FA Amateur Cup.
History
The club was founded in 1907 as the works side for the Vauxhall Motors company. The club was originally known as Vauxhall Motors (Luton) to distinguish from the Ellesmere Port-based works side, and, after General Motors took over Vauxhall, the Luton side was generally just known as Vauxhall Motors while the Ellesmere Port club was known as Vauxhall GM.
The club's first major honour was winning the Bedfordshire Senior Cup in 1936–37, and in 1938 it joined the Spartan League. The Motors won their second Senior Cup in 1945–46, and in 1947–48 had its best run in the FA Cup, beating two professional sides - Bedford Town and Peterborough United{{cite journal |title=Provincial clubs take FA Cup honours |journal=Daily Herald |date=17 November 1947 |page=4}} - en route to the first round proper for the only time. At the first round stage, the club was drawn at home to Walsall, and despite the achievement the company did not allow players time off for extra training, which took place under floodlights after work.{{cite journal |title=Football gossip |journal=Walsall Observer |date=22 November 1947 |page=5}} Although the club hosted Peterborough by putting out 2,000 seats for spectators,{{cite journal |title=Strong opposition at Luton |journal=Peterborough Standard |date=14 November 1947 |page=6}} the club switched the tie to Kenilworth Road. In front of a crowd of over 22,000, the Motors went down 2–1, both Saddlers goals being gifts - an own goal after goalkeeper Campbell dropped a cross onto his foot and the ball rolled over the line, and the second, on half-time, a penalty after defender Hare dived to stop a shot - and the Motors' goal coming directly from a Marriott corner with 7 minutes to go.{{cite journal |title=Motormen gave Walsall a Cup "gift" win |journal=Sunday Mercury |date=30 November 1947 |page=15}}
The club won the Spartan League title twice, in 1960–61 and 1968–69, and between 1953 and 1961 won the Senior Cup five times. Its final triumph in the competition came in 1974–75.
After playing in the United Counties League in the 1970s and the South Midlands League in the 1980s, the club joined the second division of the Isthmian League (which was sponsored by Vauxhall) in 1985–86. The club finished second in 1990–91, and should have been promoted to the first division; however, the Vauxhall sponsorship of the league came to an end,{{cite journal |title=Diadora backs the new Isthmian League |journal=Bucks Free Herald |date=7 June 1991 |page=51}} and the club withdrew from competition.{{cite journal |last1=Sutcliffe |first1=Nigel |title=Cottrell plans an inside job |journal=Reading Evening Post |date=6 September 1991 |page=54}}
=Colin Mathurin=
On 18 November 1985, Vauxhall Motors visited Stevenage Borough for an Isthmian League match. During the first half, Motors' forward Colin Mathurin and Boro defender Dave Watkins clashed heads in trying to meet a cross; both players received treatment but both continued. Six minutes later, Mathurin collapsed, and was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.{{cite web |title=Tragedy at Broadhall Way |url=https://www.boroguide.co.uk/2021/11/tragedy-at-broadhall-way/ |website=Boro Guide |access-date=12 March 2025}}
Colours
The club originally played in blue,{{cite journal |title=Strong opposition at Luton |journal=Peterborough Standard |date=14 November 1947 |page=6}} and in 1948 adopted blue and gold shirts with black shorts.{{cite book |last1=Strode |first1=Ronald |title=Newservice Amateur Football Yearbook 1948–49 |date=1948 |publisher=Newservice |location=Fetter Lane, London |page=76}} It retained the yellow and blue colour scheme in the 1980s as yellow shorts and socks with blue shorts,{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Tony |title=Non-league Club Directory 1989 |date=1988 |publisher=TW |location=Bungay |page=317}} but for its final season its kit was all white with red trim.{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Tony |title=Non-league Club Directory |date=1991 |publisher=TW Publications |location=Bungay |page=335}}
Ground
The club's ground was originally at the Vauxhall works at Kimpton Road in Luton. In 1955, the club moved to new sports premises which Vauxhall had built at the Brache Estate on Park Street.{{cite web |title=March Venue Circular! |url=https://www.venue360.co.uk/post/march-25-venue-circular |website=Venue 360}}{{cite journal |title=Loadsby joins Northampton Town |journal=Luton News |date=3 July 1958 |page=9}}
Notable players
Two of the club's players played for other clubs in the Football League - Bill Baldry at Cambridge United{{cite web |last1=Whitney |first1=Steve |title=Who Was in Charge of Your Club in 1992/93 (Part Three)? |url=https://southern-football-league.co.uk/News/127341/Who-Was-in-Charge-of-Your-Club-in-199293-Part-Three |website=Southern Football League |access-date=13 March 2025}} and Neil Madden at Luton Town.
External links
- [https://fchd.info/VAUXHAML.HTM League and cup history]
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Defunct football clubs in England
Category:Defunct football clubs in Bedfordshire
Category:Association football clubs established in 1907
Category:1907 establishments in England
Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1991
Category:1991 disestablishments in England
Category:United Counties League