Newly promoted Premier League side Luton Town have been granted permission to start their Premier League match at home without the installation of undersoil heating.
According to English FA rules, all 20 Premier League clubs are required to have undersoil heating, with Bournemouth having to bring it to the Premier League after getting promoted in 2015.
The lack of undersoil heating will leave other teams concerned about fixtures potentially being postponed.
However, it was reported that an exception has been given to Luton Town as they prepare to return to top-flight football for the first time since 1992.
Luton Town are already in talks with the Premier League to halt the serious weather conditions obstructing those Premier League matches.
When they were in the Championship, regulations stated undersoil heating was an adequate means of protecting the pitch, but that didn’t stop Luton Town from postponing their fixture against Milwall in December when their pitch froze over.
Luton Town’s first home game at 10,000-capacity Kenilworth Road against Burnley which was supposed to be played on August 19, 2023, is being postponed as the club is looking forward to upgrading their stadium and it will not be ready at that time.
Burnley, on the other hand, rejected the idea of playing the game at Turf Moor.
As a result of the development, Luton Town’s first game at home will be against West Ham United on September 1, 2023, before the first international break.
After that, Luton Town will travel to Stamford Bridge to play against Chelsea on August 25, 2023.
Facts You Don’t Know About Luton Town Stadium, Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road has been the home ground of Luton Town Football Club since 1905, after leaving their previous home at Dunstable Road.
Luton Town’s first match against Plymouth Argyle on the ground came on September 4, 1905, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
The Stadium had hosted both men’s and women’s International matches, including the second leg of the 1984 European Competition for Women Football Final, where the England women defeated Sweden on penalties.
The most recent women’s match played on Kenilworth Road was England’s win over Spain on March 22, 2001.
The Stadium is located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, and has a capacity of 10,356. Kenilworth Road’s address is 1 Maple Road, Luton, England.
It is the stadium with the smallest capacity in Premier League history.
Luton Town Pre-season fixtures
July 29, 2023: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Luton Town at 3:00 pm
August 2, 2023: Wolves vs. Luton Town at 7:30 p.m.
August 5, 2023: VfL Bochum at 12:30 pm and also at 3:15 pm
What do you think about the exception given to Luton without the use of undersoil heating? Air your views in the comment section.
