 Luton Town Football Club / <unk> <unk> / is a professional association football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road , Luton , Bedfordshire . Founded in 1885 , it is nicknamed " the Hatters " and affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association . Its first @-@ team is contesting the fourth tier of English football , League Two , during the 2016 – 17 season . The club 's history includes major trophy wins , several financial crises , numerous promotions and relegations , and some spells of sustained success . It was perhaps most prominent between 1982 and 1992 , when it was a member of English football 's top division , at that time the First Division ; the team won its first major honour , the Football League Cup , in 1988 . 
