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Oak Road in Luton is like any other street in Britain. Rows of Victorian red brick terrace houses line the road and everyone’s got a front patio with a little gate.

But sandwiched in the middle are two entrances to a football stadium.

Kenilworth Road is home to Luton Town – the Premier League‘s newest member.

Mohammed Hashim has lived opposite the entrance for more than four decades and thankfully has been a Hatters fan for 31 years.

He says the atmosphere on match days is electric and now it’ll be another level of excitement.

He told Sky News: “It gets so busy. I haven’t seen a moment like this though for a very long time. It will feel strange.

“When they had Premier League clubs coming here for pre-season games, it wasn’t too busy but now we’re there ourselves. It’s going to be so hectic but we’ve been waiting for this for a very, very long time.”

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Mohammed Hashim
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Mohammed Hashim

The kind resident of Number 99 let us into her garden to show us the iron railings of the staircases leading to one of the stadium’s stands for away fans.

Hovering above our heads were narrow walkways and floodlights, beyond the grey walls of the stadium was the pitch. Out of sight but on a match-day not out of mind.

Sunderland fans make their way into the ground before the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg match at Kenilworth Road, Luton. Picture date: Tuesday May 16, 2023.
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Sunderland fans make their way into the ground before the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg match earlier this month

She told me she didn’t mind people being able to peer into her back garden as she enjoyed the atmosphere on match days.

This quirk of the street is already attracting tourists. We saw lots of people – not just Luton fans but general football ones too – who were spending a sunny Sunday admiring the club that’s reentering English top flight football.

Tourists take a picture outside the stadium
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Tourists take a picture outside the stadium

Khuram Maqsood is also a Luton Town supporter and lives adjacent to the entrance too.

“We love it, especially seeing the energy of the crowd as they walk around and chant. I love that noise and watch them all the time.”

Khuram Maqsood
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Khuram Maqsood

But not everyone we met here was a fan.

Residents have to move their cars off the road on match days otherwise they get towed away. Part of the reason is so that team coaches can come up the road.

Hoards of fans filter into their street almost every weekend to fill the 10,000-seater stadium that’s been there for 120 years.

Fans outside of the stadium before the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg match at Kenilworth Road, Luton. Picture date: Tuesday May 16, 2023.
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Fans outside of the stadium earlier this month
A view of the pitch before the Sky Bet Championship match at Kenilworth Road, Luton. Picture date: Saturday April 1, 2023.
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A view of the pitch

Sometimes it comes with issues of public disorder, some residents told us they have to clear up their front patios and back gardens after games as they’re often strewn with beer bottles and rubbish.

Read more:
Luton beat Coventry on penalties to win promotion to Premier League for first time ever
Luton Town captain who collapsed on pitch gives update on condition after celebrating from hospital bed

Mr Hashim said he recognises the problem: “We get the local police supporting us which is nice because there are some fans that cause problems sometimes, but it’s not too bad.”

A few doors down from him, Rita Begum’s eldest son is a huge fan – but she admits she wouldn’t miss the stadium if it wasn’t there.

Rita Begum
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Rita Begum

“It’s nice when there are games on and everybody gets together, and you see all these people and it’s exciting.

“But I know there are plans for the stadium to move further into town. I’m not sure whether I’ll miss it or not – I think I’ll be happy actually if they can put something else there.

“Luton needs something more than just a football ground just there.”

Plans to build a new home for Luton Town are in the pipeline with the aim for it to be ready by 2026.

A mock-up of the new stadium Pic: Luton Town Football Club
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A mock-up of the new stadium Pic: Luton Town Football Club

Until then an estimated £10m is being pumped into the club to make it “show-ready” come the start of the season which is in just 12 weeks’ time.

The money is being spent on refurbishing the Bobbers Stand to meet the Premier League’s requirements which include high-quality broadcast specifications.

It’s an ambitious feat but all doable fans say, for a club that never stopped believing.

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Man arrested over death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey

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Man arrested over death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey

A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey.

Essex Police say Gilbey, 40, is thought to have died after a fall at work.

He was best known for appearing on the Channel 4 show alongside his mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry, who died in 2021 aged 71.

George Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock
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George Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock

The reality star also appeared on the 14th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, reaching the final.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing investigation into the death of a man in Campfield Road, Shoebury, we have arrested a man in their 40s from the Witham area on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

“This is a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive and our inquiries are ongoing.”

Essex Police previously said they were called to an incident in Shoebury, Southend-on-Sea at around 10am on Wednesday.

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A spokesperson for the force said yesterday that “a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury”.

“The ambulance service, including air ambulance, were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene.”

Gilbey, from Essex, joined Gogglebox in its second series in 2013 before he and his family were dropped the following year when he signed up for Celebrity Big Brother. The family later returned to the series.

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A spokesperson for the award-winning programme said: “George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and stepdad Pete.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda and George’s family and friends at this very sad time. The family has asked for privacy.”

Gilbey appeared on the Channel 5 version of Celebrity Big Brother alongside other famous faces including The Hills star Stephanie Pratt and American actor Gary Busey, who won the series.

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Hundreds of Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport to strike in April

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Hundreds of Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport to strike in April

More than 600 Border Force officials at Heathrow Airport will strike for four days in April.

The strike action will take place from 11-14 April, the PCS union announced.

The workers, who carry out immigration controls and passport checks at Heathrow, voted by 90% to walk out over a new roster and imposed changes to shift patterns.

The union said the changes could see 250 staff at the west London airport forced to lose their jobs by the end of next month.

Fran Heathcote, general secretary of PCS, said: “Ministers have 14 days to withdraw these unfair and unnecessary proposals or our members at Heathrow will take strike action.

“Consultation with staff has been a farce, with our members having little or no choice about the new arrangements.”

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She added: “Ripping up flexible working arrangements is no way to treat staff especially, as the government says, their work is critical to our nation’s security.

“Some members are heartbroken that the Border Force has become ‘unprofessional and inhumane’.

“If the government is serious about border security, it should look at Border Force officers’ job security, look after its staff, scrap the changes and work with us to protect jobs and working conditions.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with the union’s decision to strike.

“Keeping our borders secure remains our top priority. We have robust plans in place to avoid disruption, and will deploy necessary personnel to meet demand on what we have long known will be one of the busiest travel days. We are confident in our plans to minimise the impact of this industrial action.

“We always recommend that passengers check the latest advice from their operators before travelling.”

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King delivers personal Easter message following cancer diagnosis

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King delivers personal Easter message following cancer diagnosis

The King has said he is continuing to serve the nation with “my whole heart” in a personal Easter message in the wake of his and the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnoses.

The pre-recorded audio was broadcast in his absence at a Royal Maundy service at Worcester Cathedral on Thursday ahead of the Easter weekend.

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The King’s message was broadcast to a congregation at Worcester Cathedral. Pic: BBC/Sky/ITV News

The King, who announced in February he was undergoing cancer treatment, talked of his “special prayer” this Easter and expressed his “great sadness” of being unable to attend.

“The Maundy service has a very special place in my heart,” he said, after a Bible reading recounting Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

He said the verse, from the Gospel according to St John, “has its origin in the life of our Lord, who knelt before his disciples, and to their great surprise, washed their trouble-weary feet”.

The monarch said in doing so, Jesus set “an example of how we should serve and care for each other” – and how as a nation “we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need”.

Read more:
What is Maundy Thursday?
Queen discusses what King is like as a patient
King ‘frustrated’ about speed of cancer recovery

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King Charles III reads cards and messages, sent by wellwishers following his cancer diagnosis.
Pic:PA
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The King reads cards and messages from well-wishers following his cancer diagnosis. Pic: PA

The 75-year-old, who acceded to the throne 18 months ago, said it reminded him of the pledge he made at the start of his Coronation service to follow Christ’s example – “not to be served, but to serve”.

“That I have always tried to do and continue to do with my whole heart,” he said.

“It is my special prayer today that our Lord’s example of serving one another might continue to inspire us and to strengthen all our communities.”

He added: “May God bless you all this Easter.”

The monarch – who has stepped back from large-scale public duties while receiving outpatient treatment – was pictured sitting at his desk in Buckingham Palace’s 18th Century Room as he recorded his message in mid-March.

While the King did not directly refer to his and his daughter-in-law’s health, his words will be interpreted as reflecting on the nation’s response to his and Kate’s challenges.

He told last month how he had been reduced to tears by the messages and cards of support he received from well-wishers.

Yesterday, the Queen, during a visit to Shropshire, was given posters from well-wishers for the Princess of Wales, and said Kate “will be thrilled” to receive them.

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Queen thanks young Kate well-wishers

His message comes as he prepares to attend church on Easter Sunday with Camilla – his most significant public appearance and major royal engagement since his cancer diagnosis.

But there will be a reduced number of royals present to avoid the health risks associated with large crowds.

Prince William, the Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will not be present.

The family are spending the Easter holidays together following Kate’s announcement she is being treated for cancer.

Kate revealed she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video message to the nation on Friday.

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Kate’s message: Diagnosis ‘came as huge shock’

The statement followed weeks of global social media speculation and conspiracy theories about her whereabouts after she had not been seen on official engagements since last December.

The 42-year-old had planned abdominal surgery in January which she said was successful.

It was initially thought her condition was non-cancerous, but tests after the operation found cancer had been present.

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