Did you hear about the team who were once deducted 40 points in two seasons? If you did you might have expected that club to have gone out of business and have to start again. That side was Luton Town and they had other ideas.

A draconian and unjust 30pt penalty for financial problems saw the Hatters drop out of the Football League 10 years ago, but after refusing to die, overcoming the odds and bouncing back under a new, vibrant, loyal and passionate consortium, the Kenilworth Road outfit were celebrating on Tuesday evening.

That is because they were guaranteed promotion from League 1 without even kicking a ball, as they watched on as both Sunderland and Portsmouth lost on a dramatic night of football, meaning that neither can catch Luton on the last day of the season on Saturday.

It has been a long road back for the Hatters and their loyal fans. Since relegation out of the League was bestowed upon them, they have had to endure five seasons in the Conference, now National League, four play-off defeats and more kicks than you could ever imagine, but that only galvanised the club and those who follow it into making it the dangerous outfit it is today, one which will be playing Championship football next season.

The turnaround has been quite remarkable. Started by John Still, who brought Hatters players and fans together as one to form an unstoppable machine that burst out of non-league in 2014, the baton was picked up by Nathan Jones, who went about building a side fit for promotion out of League 2, and which would be competitive in the third tier, playing pleasant, modern day football, entertaining and sweeping past all in their wake.

10 years ago the FA and the FL tried to kill @LutonTown off. They failed. We pulled together. Got stronger. Became one and now WE ARE BACK!!!! #COYH This is our Town. This is our time. We'll see you all for one big party on Saturday! 🍾 — Luton Town ST (@lutontownST) April 30, 2019

He left for Stoke in January, leaving club legend Mick Harford, ironically the man in charge when Luton were condemned to their fate in those dark days of 2009, to take the managerial hotseat on an interim basis, to guide the club through a huge period, which included planning permission for a new ground in the town centre being granted.

In his first month in charge, the former England international guided the Hatters to the top of League 1, starting his second reign with a draw at Sunderland, before beating Portsmouth 3-2 in a classic Kenilworth Road showdown a few weeks later. They have been at the summit ever since and are now guaranteed a return to the second level of English football after 13 years away.

With a new stadium now in their sights, and back-to-back promotions secured for the first time in their history, the Bedfordshire outfit take on Oxford United in front of a sold out crowd on Saturday, knowing that if they win the match they will be champions of League 1, a remarkable feat for a side who were not even a Football League club five years ago.

In some ways the result this weekend does not matter. Luton are back, and after the dark years, their fans, and this writer in particular, are enjoying every minute of it!