FROM FLA TO TOP HA CLARK BEL IN FAIRY TA
Jordan started in Barnsley academy with John Stones and reckons it would be good for football if Luton stayed up
JORDAN CLARK believes it would be a “massive fairytale” for the Premier League if Luton Town can stay up.
But perhaps an even more remarkable story is Clark’s own journey from playing non-league football AGAINST Luton 10 years ago to facing Treble winners Manchester City today.
Clark lined up for Hyde in the Conference on April 26, 2014, when they faced Luton – and his current team-mate Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (with boss
Rob Edwards, right) – who were on their way to being promoted back to the Football League. Fast forward and Clark has worked his own way up through the divisions to now share a pitch with his former Barnsley academy team-mate John Stones.
That is what has made the Luton underdog story so special this season – from Conference to Premier League in nine years – and why Edwards’ team have so much goodwill behind them.
It would be a sensational upset if Luton could thwart City’s push for the title but, after beating the odds so many times, don’t write them off.
Midfielder Clark said: “It’s funny how things work out. For me and Pelly to play against each other in the Confe a pinch-me moment wh think about where we a
“I love watching Ci and I’ve got a soft spot f because of John.
“I speak to him a l we’re crossing paths days! But even in the leagues, I was textin when they won the titl year when they won the
“He texted me when promoted. I’m so pr what he’s done and I’m forward to seeing him.
“Hopefully we can get result. It would be a m fairytale for the Pre League if we can stay u
Clark is a down-to-e Yorkshire lad who start Barnsley, and then loaned out to Cheste
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Scunthorpe and Hyde before being released in 2014. But he worked his way back up at Shrewsbury and Accrington before joining Luton four years ago and, having scored in their play-off final with Coventry last May, he is living the dream.
He missed out on a chunk of the start of this season because of injury but has since announced himself on the big stage, not least by scoring twice against City in the FA Cup in February.
City went 3-0 up before Clark’s double made it 3-2 – but Erling Haaland’s five-goal haul sealed a 6-2 win.
Luton are known for their late goals and go into every game believing they have a chance. “That’s probably
our best attribute: our togetherness,” Clark said. “We’re like a family and it rubs off on the pitch as well.
“We know we’re not going to have as much quality as other teams, but we’ve always said that not many of the others have got our team spirit, which is why we’re still in the fight to stay up.
“The manager always says, ‘We’ve got to get the last goal.’ Even if we’re losing 3-0, we never give up, always push and you can see that in our performances. We never give up.”
Clark is full of admiration for City and knows Luton face an almighty task. They sit in the relegation zone on goal difference but, after seeing Everton and Nottingham Forest docked points, they want to decide their own fate. Clark added: “You never want it to drag on until after the season. When we had a meeting about it, we were saying we had to focus on the table now, where we are and do our best to get out.
“I don’t want to be on holiday and still be thinking, ‘Are we going to get relegated?’
“Most importantly, we believe we can stay up anyway.”