Luton's Historic FA Cup Victory Leaves Veterans in Tears
Luton Town's remarkable progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup was a night to remember—especially for the club's veterans, John and Mel, who were moved to tears by the emotional win.
The players, elated with the result, celebrated passionately with the traveling fans who had made the journey to the away fixture. In a particularly unforgettable moment, captain Kevin Keane took off his shirt and tossed it into the crowd. Amid loud cheers—and some playful jeers—he followed up by throwing his shorts, socks, and even his boots into the away end, sparking wild screams of delight from the visiting supporters.
Back in the locker room, the celebratory chaos continued. The scene was almost comical: a room full of muscular players of all backgrounds, barefoot and clad only in underwear, laughing and cheering.
Manager Ethan, although equally thrilled, didn't join in on the celebrations. He had a post-match press conference to attend.
However, the mood shifted as soon as he arrived at the press room.
"Mark Hughes said Manchester City will be active in the winter transfer window and are targeting players like Adam White. What's your view on this?" asked a BBC reporter—a rare sight for a club like Luton, which usually flies under the radar of the national media.
Ethan's expression didn't change. He fixed his eyes on the reporter, took a sip from a bottle of water, and cleared his throat. The press room buzzed with anticipation. Some reporters picked up pens and notepads, while others raised their phones, ready to capture what they hoped would be a headline-making soundbite.
It looked like Ethan was about to address the transfer rumor head-on. He even stood up from his seat. The atmosphere was electric. One reporter in particular, from the Hatbuyers newspaper—a local publication dedicated to covering Luton Town—raised her brows. Roy Zou, familiar with the volatility of media storms in English football, was visibly anxious. The wrong move here could drag Luton into unwanted controversy.
All eyes were on Ethan.
"Ahem…"
A wave of tension rolled through the room. The journalists leaned forward, poised for a dramatic statement.
But Ethan simply straightened his collar, glanced across the room, and said calmly:
"I announce that the press conference is over."
Stunned silence.
Before anyone could react, Ethan had already disappeared through the door. By the time the reporters found their voices to protest, the moment had passed.
The press officer at Preston's home stadium—helpless—could only shrug.
"Pfft…"
A sudden laugh broke the silence. The reporters turned toward the sound. Roy, who had let out the chuckle without realizing, quickly sat down and tried to blend in again. Right… I'm a reporter too. Just part of the crowd… Her face flushed with embarrassment.
Though Ethan said nothing, the media wasted no time in speculating. His silent exit sparked widespread coverage and analysis of his supposed mindset, motives, and strategy.
The next day, Ethan received an official transfer offer from Manchester City—three million pounds for Adam White.
Ethan scoffed at the figure, tossed the offer onto his desk, and didn't even consider replying.
"No need to respond," he told his coaching staff.
And indeed, no response came. Manchester City waited, but Luton never acknowledged the offer. Adam White, whose contract still had three years remaining, was already in talks for a new deal with the club. Notably, he had recently parted ways with his previous agent—another signal that he was not eager to move.
Still, the lack of official response didn't stop the story from gaining traction.
"Yes, we made an offer," confirmed Mark Hughes at his own press conference, following City's win over Sheffield United in the FA Cup's fourth round.
Manchester City faced another FA Cup test just a day after their match against Luton Town. Under the guidance of Mark Hughes, City hosted Championship side Sheffield United at the City of Manchester Stadium. Despite a tough game, City managed to secure a narrow 2–1 victory, booking their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Although Hughes had strengthened the squad in the summer with high-profile signings like Robinho, Pablo Zabaleta, and Vincent Kompany, Manchester City's performance in the Premier League was underwhelming. After 23 matches, they had collected only 25 points, placing them 12th in the table—25 points behind league leaders Manchester United.
With their league campaign falling short of expectations, Hughes shifted his focus to the FA Cup. The club's ownership, having invested heavily, was eager for silverware, and the FA Cup represented the best chance to salvage the season. Despite facing a lower-league opponent, Hughes fielded a strong side, emphasizing how seriously City were taking the competition. The hard-fought win against Sheffield United reflected that determination.
Even though results on the pitch were inconsistent, City's Middle Eastern owners—Sheikh Mansour and Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak—continued to back Hughes with significant financial support. According to media reports, City had up to £100 million to spend in the January transfer window.
Manchester City's transfer targets were ambitious. Their top priority was Brazilian superstar Kaká, with the club reportedly preparing a massive offer to tempt him away from AC Milan. Other targets included Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz, former Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge, West Ham forward Craig Bellamy, Arsenal defender Kolo Touré, and Everton's versatile Joleon Lescott. City were also interested in Newcastle's veteran goalkeeper Shay Given, with a rumored £10 million bid. Rising star Adam White had also caught their attention.
However, not everyone was paying close attention to City's spending spree. Ethan, a promising young coach, remained unfazed by the transfer rumors. When City approached Luton Town about Adam White, Ethan convinced club owner David Morton to reject the offer with a simple argument: "If you sell him now, you might get £3 million. But in two years, he could be worth ten times that."
Morton didn't need much convincing. In football, he had long regarded Ethan's judgment as authoritative.
Although Ethan wasn't concerned with the news surrounding Manchester City, fate had a twist in store. Following the FA Cup fifth-round draw, it was confirmed:
Luton Town would host Manchester City in the next round.
As the saying goes—old friends are bound to meet again.