,to 10a ,to a couple more fans, i saw speak to a couple more fans, i saw you at the weekend, this is incredible, isn't it?- you at the weekend, this is incredible, isn't it? after 30 ears, incredible, isn't it? after 30 years. down _ incredible, isn't it? after 30 years, down to _ incredible, isn't it? after 30 years, down to the - incredible, isn't it? after 30 . years, down to the conference, incredible, isn't it? after 30 - years, down to the conference, back in nine _ years, down to the conference, back in nine years— years, down to the conference, back in nine years out of non—league to the premier— in nine years out of non—league to the premier league, it is brilliant, fantastic — the premier league, it is brilliant, fantastic. , , a, fantastic. can you believe the scenes down _ fantastic. can you believe the scenes down here? _ fantastic. can you believe the scenes down here? hundreds fantastic. can you believe the - scenes down here? hundreds here, but thousands are waiting in the town. we just came past it, thousands are waiting in the town. wejust came past it, this we just came past it, this commotion, sol we just came past it, this commotion, so i got my picture with nick hartford, we are going to see the close up, then straight down to the close up, then straight down to the square — the close up, then straight down to the square to celebrate. fantastic day for— the square to celebrate. fantastic day for the — the square to celebrate. fantastic day for the whole town. we the square to celebrate. fantastic day for the whole town.— the square to celebrate. fantastic day for the whole town. we are going to be jumping — day for the whole town. we are going to bejumping on _ day for the whole town. we are going to bejumping on board _ day for the whole town. we are going to be jumping on board the _ day for the whole town. we are going to bejumping on board the buses- to bejumping on board the buses very shortly. i must pop over this way, the players will be coming out shortly, they are having a bit of light breakfast, i'm sure it was a very late night. i can speak to a local councillor, we are live on the bbc at the moment, i know you are a big luton town fan, you grew up in the area, what does this mean for the town? this the area, what does this mean for

the town? �* , ,, the area, what does this mean for the town? ~ , i. .., the area, what does this mean for the town? a i. , the area, what does this mean for thetown? a , , the town? as you can see, there is hue the town? as you can see, there is huge excitement _ the town? as you can see, there is huge excitement here, _ the town? as you can see, there is huge excitement here, and - the town? as you can see, there is huge excitement here, and you - huge excitement here, and you see diversity— huge excitement here, and you see diversity around _ huge excitement here, and you see diversity around here, _ huge excitement here, and you see diversity around here, people - huge excitement here, and you see diversity around here, people from| diversity around here, people from all walks _ diversity around here, people from all walks of — diversity around here, people from all walks of life. _ diversity around here, people from all walks of life. this _ diversity around here, people from all walks of life. this is— diversity around here, people from all walks of life. this is what - all walks of life. this is what this club and this _ all walks of life. this is what this club and this win _ all walks of life. this is what this club and this win has _ all walks of life. this is what this club and this win has brought - all walks of life. this is what this club and this win has brought tol club and this win has brought to this town, — club and this win has brought to this town, hope, _ club and this win has brought to this town, hope, excitement- club and this win has brought toi this town, hope, excitement and unity. _ this town, hope, excitement and unity. and — this town, hope, excitement and unity, and luton _ this town, hope, excitement and unity, and luton is _ this town, hope, excitement and unity, and luton is all— this town, hope, excitement and unity, and luton is all about, - this town, hope, excitement and| unity, and luton is all about, you know, _ unity, and luton is all about, you know. showing _ unity, and luton is all about, you know, showing diversity, - unity, and luton is all about, you i know, showing diversity, welcoming people _ know, showing diversity, welcoming pe0pte. quite — know, showing diversity, welcoming people. quite often, _ know, showing diversity, welcoming people. quite often, we _ know, showing diversity, welcoming people. quite often, we have - know, showing diversity, welcoming people. quite often, we have put. people. quite often, we have put down _ people. quite often, we have put down by — people. quite often, we have put down by pe0pie _ people. quite often, we have put down by people from _ people. quite often, we have put down by people from the - people. quite often, we have put| down by people from the outside, people. quite often, we have put- down by people from the outside, and what you _ down by people from the outside, and what you see — down by people from the outside, and what you see here, _ down by people from the outside, and what you see here, this _ down by people from the outside, and what you see here, this is _ down by people from the outside, and what you see here, this is what - what you see here, this is what luton _ what you see here, this is what luton is — what you see here, this is what luton is all_ what you see here, this is what luton is all about, _ what you see here, this is what luton is all about, this - what you see here, this is what luton is all about, this is - what you see here, this is what luton is all about, this is whatl luton is all about, this is what this club— luton is all about, this is what this club brings, _ luton is all about, this is what this club brings, opportunity, i this club brings, opportunity, hope and also _ this club brings, opportunity, hope and also investment, _ this club brings, opportunity, hope and also investment, and - this club brings, opportunity, hope and also investment, and more - this club brings, opportunity, hope i and also investment, and more likely a football— and also investment, and more likely a football stadium _ and also investment, and more likely a football stadium now— and also investment, and more likely a football stadium now which - and also investment, and more likely a football stadium now which is - and also investment, and more likely a football stadium now which is morej a football stadium now which is more likety— a football stadium now which is more tikety to _ a football stadium now which is more likety to happen _ a football stadium now which is more likely to happen. and, _ a football stadium now which is more likely to happen. and, you _ a football stadium now which is more likely to happen. and, you know, - a football stadium now which is more likely to happen. and, you know, we| likely to happen. and, you know, we have iteen— likely to happen. and, you know, we have been waiting _ likely to happen. and, you know, we have been waiting for _ likely to happen. and, you know, we have been waiting for this _ have been waiting for this opportunity— have been waiting for this opportunity for— have been waiting for this opportunity for a - have been waiting for this opportunity for a very- have been waiting for thisi opportunity for a very long have been waiting for this - opportunity for a very long time, so they have _ opportunity for a very long time, so they have made _ opportunity for a very long time, so they have made us _ opportunity for a very long time, so they have made us proud, - opportunity for a very long time, so they have made us proud, and - opportunity for a very long time, so they have made us proud, and it. opportunity for a very long time, sol they have made us proud, and it was a reatiy— they have made us proud, and it was a really emotional— they have made us proud, and it was a really emotional moment - they have made us proud, and it was a really emotional moment for - they have made us proud, and it was a really emotional moment for me, i a really emotional moment for me, being _ a really emotional moment for me, being in the — a really emotional moment for me, being in the stadium, _ a really emotional moment for me, being in the stadium, you - a really emotional moment for me, being in the stadium, you know, i being in the stadium, you know, watching — being in the stadium, you know, watching the _ being in the stadium, you know, watching the game, _ being in the stadium, you know, watching the game, and - being in the stadium, you know, watching the game, and i- being in the stadium, you know, watching the game, and i want. being in the stadium, you know, i watching the game, and i want to being in the stadium, you know, - watching the game, and i want to be thankful— watching the game, and i want to be thankful to— watching the game, and i want to be thankful to all— watching the game, and i want to be thankful to all the _ watching the game, and i want to be thankful to all the supporters - thankful to all the supporters who made _ thankful to all the supporters who made their— thankful to all the supporters who made their way— thankful to all the supporters who made their way over— thankful to all the supporters who made their way over to _ thankful to all the supporters who - made their way over to wembley, and for those _ made their way over to wembley, and for those who — made their way over to wembley, and for those who could _ made their way over to wembley, and for those who could not, _ made their way over to wembley, and for those who could not, turned up . for those who could not, turned up in their— for those who could not, turned up in their thousands _ for those who could not, turned up in their thousands in _ for those who could not, turned up in their thousands in the _ for those who could not, turned up in their thousands in the park, - for those who could not, turned up in their thousands in the park, and| in their thousands in the park, and for the _

in their thousands in the park, and for the first — in their thousands in the park, and for the first time _ in their thousands in the park, and for the first time their— for the first time their diversity, these _ for the first time their diversity, these drums— for the first time their diversity, these drums were _ for the first time their diversity, these drums were being - for the first time their diversity, these drums were being playedl these drums were being played outside — these drums were being played outside wembley— these drums were being played outside wembley stadium, - these drums were being played l outside wembley stadium, which has never— outside wembley stadium, which has never happened — outside wembley stadium, which has never happened before, _ outside wembley stadium, which has never happened before, and - outside wembley stadium, which has never happened before, and i- outside wembley stadium, which has never happened before, and i was . outside wembley stadium, which has never happened before, and i was a i never happened before, and i was a cetebrations— never happened before, and i was a celebrations continued _ never happened before, and i was a celebrations continued until- never happened before, and i was a celebrations continued until late - celebrations continued until late last celebrations continued until late tast night— celebrations continued until late last night around _ celebrations continued until late last night around the _ celebrations continued until late last night around the town. - celebrations continued until late i last night around the town. young and old _ last night around the town. young and old were _ last night around the town. young and old were here, _ last night around the town. young and old were here, so _ last night around the town. young and old were here, so this- last night around the town. young and old were here, so this means| last night around the town. young. and old were here, so this means the world _ and old were here, so this means the world to _ and old were here, so this means the world to us _ and old were here, so this means the world to us i— and old were here, so this means the world to us. i can't— and old were here, so this means the world to us. i can't explain. _ and old were here, so this means the world to us. ican't explain. just- world to us. i can't explain. just finall , world to us. i can't explain. just finally. is _ world to us. i can't explain. just finally, is luton _ world to us. i can't explain. finally, is luton ready for the premier league? is the premier league ready for luton?! premier leauue, league ready for luton?! premier league. be _ league ready for luton?! premier league. be ready _ league ready for luton?! premier league, be ready for _ league ready for luton?! premier league, be ready for luton, - league ready for luton?! premier league, be ready for luton, we i league, be ready for luton, we are here! _ league, be ready for luton, we are here! this— league, be ready for luton, we are here! this is— league, be ready for luton, we are here! this isjust _ league, be ready for luton, we are here! this is just the _ league, be ready for luton, we are here! this isjust the beginning, . here! this isjust the beginning, there _ here! this isjust the beginning, there is— here! this isjust the beginning, there is more _ here! this isjust the beginning, there is more to _ here! this isjust the beginning, there is more to come, - here! this isjust the beginning, there is more to come, and - here! this isjust the beginning, there is more to come, and you| here! this isjust the beginning, - there is more to come, and you are going _ there is more to come, and you are going to _ there is more to come, and you are going to have — there is more to come, and you are going to have this _ there is more to come, and you are going to have this atmosphere, - there is more to come, and you are going to have this atmosphere, it . going to have this atmosphere, it might— going to have this atmosphere, it might be — going to have this atmosphere, it might be smelled, _ going to have this atmosphere, it might be smelled, it _ going to have this atmosphere, it might be smelled, it might- going to have this atmosphere, it might be smelled, it might be . going to have this atmosphere, it. might be smelled, it might be old, but the _ might be smelled, it might be old, but the people _ might be smelled, it might be old, but the people are _ might be smelled, it might be old, but the people are real— might be smelled, it might be old, but the people are real and - might be smelled, it might be old, but the people are real and the - but the people are real and the spirit _ but the people are real and the spirit is — but the people are real and the spirit is high! _ but the people are real and the spirit is high! that _ but the people are real and the spirit is high! that is _ but the people are real and the spirit is high! that is what - but the people are real and thei spirit is high! that is what you'll -et spirit is high! that is what you'll get from — spirit is high! that is what you'll get from luton! _ spirit is high! that is what you'll get from luton! so _ spirit is high! that is what you'll get from luton!— spirit is high! that is what you'll get from luton! so the players, i am told, are get from luton! so the players, i am told. are still— get from luton! so the players, i am told, are still inside _ get from luton! so the players, i am told, are still inside the _ told, are still inside the stadium, and as you can see over to my left, we are going to bejumping on board the buses very shortly, they will be heading towards st george's square,

but thousands of happy fans are waiting to greet them. 51am but thousands of happy fans are waiting to greet them.— waiting to greet them. such an amazin: waiting to greet them. such an amazing story. _ waiting to greet them. such an amazing story, talk us through | waiting to greet them. such an i amazing story, talk us through it, for people who haven't been watching the coverage of the last few days, they were last in top—flight football back in 1992, down and up, talk us through that epicjourney for people who are not as well across these things as you are. well, i suppose football fans this year have been getting increasingly familiar with the wrexham story, that hollywood style, but this is fairy tale stuff, so they dropped out of... sorry, they were last in the top flight in 1992, they went down to the conference, but before that, a tale of woe, they were beset with financial problems, they will almost liquidated. they managed to just about survive, they had five years in the national league, and then nine years ago they got back up into the football league. since then, they have been gradually building, they have got themselves on a more stable financial footing,

and in nine short years they have gone from the national league, non—league, promoted right away through to the premier league, the first club in history go from the top—flight down to the non—league and then back into the top flight, the premier league. it is an incredible story, and as we have heard from everyone here, people are so thrilled, so excited, and what i platform this potentially is for luton over the years to come. find luton over the years to come. and what a day — luton over the years to come. and what a day it _ luton over the years to come. and what a day it is _ luton over the years to come. and what a day it is for _ luton over the years to come. and what a day it is for them. i will let you go, i know you have to get on the bus, hopefully we will talk to from the bus, 0k? lovely! all right, thanks very much to tom, he is getting on the bus to join the players in a moment. hopefully we will speak to him as it makes its way from kenilworth road to st george's square, you can see the pictures there of the fans waiting, they have been having a big screen showing highlights of the season, there are local djs, the local funk orchestra, a big party, they opened the gate at ten o'clock, so they are

already in full swing. we canjoin our reporter who was among the crowds, where are you, nicky? so our reporter who was among the crowds, where are you, nicky? 50! crowds, where are you, nicky? so i am in st george's _ crowds, where are you, nicky? sr 1 am in st george's square, where crowds, where are you, nicky? sr ! am in st george's square, where the bus will arrive. i'm going to turn my camera around so that you can see some of the fans who are here, so bear with me, and there we go, this is the scene in st george's square, so that over there is st george's square, and a bus will come up the road that you can probably see which is being lined with thousands of fans. i have been here since ten o'clock this morning, and it has absolutely grown in size, as you can imagine, the band have been playing, the looting youth jazz band have been playing all morning, and in talking to some of the fans, they have said it is still sinking in that they are going to be part of the premier league next season. now, i have to admit, i have lived in

luton for the last 30 years also, so i have been part of thejourney i have been part of the journey that you heard tom mention. i remember, when i first started at radio bedfordshire, when luton town were in the first division, and then they dropped out at the first division, and it has taken them 30 years to make their way up to the premier league. and all the fans i have been talking to still cannot quite believe it, a lot of them are saying it is mental, and i was here on saturday, watching the game in the park with thousands of other luton town fans, and when the final penalty was missed by coventry, the whole place erupted, and that is the sort of feeling we have got. the council have asked them to paint the town yellow, which is what you can see is going on, yellow is the

hatters colour. add kenilworth road, tom is waiting for the players to get on the bus. the town centre here, st george's, is about a mile away from kenilworth road, so that is the route they will take. i would say normally it wouldn't take too long, i could walk it in about 10—15 minutes, but i think today it is probably going to take a little longer. i was talking to a lifelong fan, neil, a little earlier, who has been a luton town fan for 47 years, and the point that he was making to me is that he heard a lot about wrexham and their story, but as he pointed out, they had money invested by ryan reynolds and rob mcelhenney, and the difference with luton is that they haven't had what he called a sugar daddy, they haven't had someone who will put the money in, someone who will put the money in, so it is a local consortium that

owns luton town. the ground itself is owned by the council. and i have literally saved the club from financial ruin back in 2008, it was bought by gary street, the chief executive, and his consortium, and that was led at the time by the television presenter nick 0wen, who is a lifelong luton town fan as well, and for many years, certainly when i was at the radio here, he was the chairman, and i helped save the club and have managed to do it, as there is fan, neil, was saying to me, without that sugar daddy money, so it is, as they put it, a hollywood story that could be made into a film.

they are going to be playing the likes of manchester city and manchester united at kenilworth road. the entrance for the away fans is literally between two people's houses, that is the thing about kenilworth road, it is right in the heart of the community, and there are literally houses all around it, and the away fans go through an entrance that is right next to two people, two families, and you can look into people's gardens behind. the stadium only has a capacity of 10,000, so nowhere near as big as, you know, the etihad and old trafford and those sorts of stadiums, so it is going to be

interesting. . ._ stadiums, so it is going to be interesting... we are looking at some of the _ interesting... we are looking at some of the pictures, _ interesting... we are looking at some of the pictures, nicky, i interesting... we are looking at some of the pictures, nicky, of| interesting... we are looking at. some of the pictures, nicky, of the stadium now, and as you say, the away fans arrive basically in the middle of a row of terraced houses to go in, they go up the stairs, which pretty much looks like the back garden of those terraced houses, and it really does feel, when you are walking up the steps, that you are looking over everybody�*s gardens. as you say, 10,000 capacity, they are going to have to make some changes, you are basically looking in the windows are people's houses. there will have to make changes to the stadium to get it ready for the premier league, and they have not got long, and we know that there is another stadium on the way, but i have to be quick about the changes to the current stadium. the council say that the work has started already, literally the final whistle at wembley and the work started, so they will spend about

£10 million to get it up to the standard for the premier league, that will be things like video equipment for the var, that has got to go in, because that was not there in the championship. some of the seating, as i say, it is an old stadium, 191905, it has not had a lot of money over the years, and 10 million will be spent to get it up to scratch for the premier league when it starts. the new stadium that you mentioned, well, ever since i have lived in luton, the early 19905, have lived in luton, the early 1990s, there has been talk of a new stadium. it was originally going to be something called the cola dome, that fell through, and the new stadium is actually nearer to st george's than the old stadium at kenilworth road, and if i turn the camera around, i will give you an idea, so we are now in st george's,

and basically, if you go towards that direction that i am pointing in, that is where it will be. right in, that is where it will be. right in the centre of luton. they have had planning permission for quite a while, but of course covid meant that the building work did not start on time, so the latest that they hope is that they will be in by 2026, i think, hope is that they will be in by 2026, ithink, that hope is that they will be in by 2026, i think, that is when they are hoping the new stadium will be built. it will have a bigger capacity, up to 23,000, to bring them up the standard they would need for the premier league. hopefully, they will still be in the premier league at a time. as you can see, st george's square is getting very busy, a rendition of sweet caroline going on at the moment, this is the road at the bus will come down next to the galaxy centre in luton, thousands of people lining the route, waiting for the bus and the players to leave kenilworth road,

they will make their way, as i said, about a mile on the bus down here at st george's square square, where the council has asked the residents to paint the town... the nice thing about this event, i have seen all ages and such a wide diversity of the luton population. luton is a hugely diverse town, and that is shown in the number of people that, a. shown in the number of people that, a, came out to wembley and to the special showing that we had of the game in luton, but also here today, you can see literally all ages and all parts of the community have turned out to celebrate the fact that luton is into the premier league. the council, of course, hoping that it will bring money into the area as well. the council, of course, one of the big employers in

the area is the airport, which is owned by a council company. it used to be that vauxhall was a very big employer in the town here, not such a bigger deal big employer now, so the airport is a big employer, and they are hoping that this premier league coming to kenilworth road will bring investment into the town and people will get used to coming here from the big cities, like liverpool and manchester and other them in the stadium, as we said, only 10,c and .eats in that stadium, them in the stadium, as we said, only 10,c and manchesterstadium, them in the stadium, as we said, only 10,c and manchester and ium, them in the stadium, as we said, only 10,c and manchester and other sides coming to little old luton liverpool and manchester and other sides coming to little old luton with its 10,000 seats. it will be with its 10,000 seats. it will be interesting to see the allocation of interesting to see the allocation of seats as we go forward for both the seats as we go forward for both the home fans and the away fans, because home fans and the away fans, because you are not going to get as many of you are not going to get as many of the away fans being able to travel the away fans being able to travel to come to kenilworth road because to come to kenilworth road because they literally do not have the they literally do not have the capacity to be able to actually have capacity to be able to actually have them in the stadium, as we said, them in the stadium, as we said,

only 10,000 seats in that stadium, only 10,000 seats in that stadium, compared to the many more thousands in the big clubs in the premier league. studio: 0k, studio: ok, thanks very much for now, nikki. we will collect you very shortly. we'rejust now, nikki. we will collect you very shortly. we're just looking at the helicopter pictures in a moment waiting for the place to