Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: August 31st, 1918.

Although the majority of last season's players are still in the district, there are likely to be one or two positions open in the Luton Town team for aspiring recruits, and the ground will be open for training on Wednesday evening, September 4th, when the Secretary will welcome any experienced players who may have come to reside in the neighbourhood, either military or civilian.

Last season the forward line was the most unsatisfactory department of the team on account of the constant chopping and changing which the absence of so many regular players brought about. It is shoped one or two new players may be found to bring the attack up to the standard required.

Undoubtedly the club will greatly miss the services of [goalkeeper] Joe Mitchell (pictured right), who has proved the most regular player to turn out since the war started. Unfortunately, Mrs Mitchell was the immediate cause of his removal from Luton, and, acting upon urgent medical advice, she has returned to Sheffield.

Since the close of the last professional season, Abbott, the reserve goalkeeper, has had very few chances to figure in the team, but he will be given the first refusal of the vacant position.

The Secretary has received promises of assistance from three Lancashire Combination players who are working in the neighbourhood. All three have since the war turned out for the Bristol clubs while in that district, and if they can get away for the matches will certainly strengthen the side.

One at least – F. Haslam, who has played for Blackpool – will prove very acceptable, as he can take several forward positions, preferring outside left, a position which was never properly filled after Tempest was unavailable.

The opening game, on September 7th, will be against new opponents in R.A.M.C. Shafford Hospital, a team with several well-known players, including Cpl Haydn Price, late of Aston Villa, and more recently manager of Walsall.

• On the Luton Town football ground this afternoon, No 6 Artillery Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, treated the town to a gymkhana of the first quality. The proceeds were for allocation between the Wardown V.A.D. And Bute Hospitals and the Royal Artillery Prisoners of War Funds, and the fine weather brought a large crowd. For four hours there was no cessation, and for variety, interest and cleverness the display vied with the best sports of the kind ever witnessed in Luton or for many miles around. Riding, driving, tricks of horsemanship were always in progress, and there was plenty of humour as well as skill. The Royal Artillery Band (Woolwich) was in attendance and discoursed music throughout the afternoon, and tonight the Biscoteers give a concert. [A ceremony of particular interest was the presentation of the Military Medal to Mrs Kate Gentle, widow of the late Pte William Gentle, R.A.M.C., who was killed in action on April 18th,1918.]

• News has just been received that Sgt William Francis Stimson, husband of Mrs Stimson, of 34 Albion Road, Luton, has been wounded in the abdomen. He wrote home: “We were in the big advance of August week and we were coming out of the back line for a rest when Jerry bombed us on the road at night. I was sitting on the front ambulance, and a bomb dropped in front, killing the horses instantly and blowing us off the box. The horses undoubtedly saved us. I caught it in the abdomen. It is not a big wound, but penetrated thes liver.” Sgt Stimson is the eldest of four brothers, one of whom (Cpl Percy Bertram Stimson) was killed in September 1916. Sgt Stimson was employed previously by hat manufacturer Mr F. E. Shoosmith, Upper George Street.

• On Thursday evening about 5.30, Alice Dellar, aged 19, a maid employed by Mr Gurney, of Clarebank, Beech Hill, met with an accident. She was cycling down Beech Hill when some boys ran in front of her. She swerved and was thrown from her machine heavily. He right leg was broken below the knee, and she was taken to the Bute Hospital by a passing motor car. She is now progressing favourably.

• On Thursday a very singular occurrence took place at Messrs Gale & Sons Ltd (house furnishers), Chapel Street branch. When the assistant went to open the shop on Thursday morning he saw something moving in a heap of straw, and on approaching was astonished to see a full-grown hare make a dash for the gateway and thence up Chapel Street. How it came on the premises is a mystery.