Arthur Mason 1959 – 2020

Arthur Mason, 60, was a Hatters fan and regularly followed them home and away. He was also the Luton Town Walking Football Club’s player manager and was the joint founder of Jolly Topers FC, his local pub situated on Hitchin Rd, Round Green Luton. The Topers founded in 2004 and went on to win many trophies under Arthur’s guidance.

In 2015, Luton Town FC hosted a walking football tournament at Venue 360 and via a social media post ended up with a number of volunteer players wh were needed to represent Luton Town FC in its first Walking Football tournament. Once the tournament had ended, Luton Town stepped away from the project but encouraged the players to continue organising themselve and playing under the football club’s name – and the rest as they say, is history.

Arthur took the reigns and drove the Luton Town Walking Football initiative forward. becoming its manager, a player and the fledgeling club’s one and only organiser. Under his leadership, LTWFC won a national trophy at Manchester City’s Etihad stadium. This was followed by the creation of an over sixties side that also got to a national final their first season!

In 2019, Arthur was nominated for BBC’s unsung Hero Award. The nominees wrote:

“Arthur Mason is a Luton Town Football Club Walking football volunteer / manager and a Jolly Topers FC joint founder and volunteer / manager and he is special because for the last fifteen to twenty years since he retired from playing football, he has encouraged everyone from teenagers to pensioners to get back into football for social and fitness benefits and also for the more competitive players to play competitively.”

Arthur retired from playing after reaching his 60th birthday, and the Club marked the occasion by staging a walking football game at Kenilworth Rd followed by a half-time presentation from all of his team mates – photo above. “Arthur finally achieved his dream of playing on the hallowed turf ..” Since his passing and with COVID lockdowns, Luton Town Walking Football Club struggled a to regain competition success once earned under Arthur’s tenure. Re-organisation, recruitment, bringing the sport to more people has helped the club enjoy competitive footbal once again. Arthur did say to me upon my return in 2019 that he’d love to create a ladies team, well he didn’t get to see it by we managed to get there in May 2022!

In June 2024 we held our first “Arthur Mason Memorial Torphy, won by Cheshunt WFC on the day. One thing is for sure – this club would not exist without Arthur’s tireless enthusiasm and hard work. Sorely missed, never forgotten.