Dallow Lane

Dallow Lane

Full name	Dallow Lane
Location	Luton, Bedfordshire, England
Coordinates	51°52′54.35″N 0°25′36.07″W / 51.8817639°N 0.4266861°W / 51.8817639; -0.4266861
Owner	Excelsior F.C. (1880–85) Luton Town F.C. (1885–97)
Operator	Excelsior F.C. (1880–85) Luton Town F.C. (1885–97)
Capacity	ca. 7,000
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1880
Opened	1880
Closed	1897
Demolished	ca. 1950
Tenants
Excelsior F.C. (1880–85) Luton Town F.C. (1885–97)

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[]