Former Luton midfielder David Preece has died at the age of 44 after a short illness.
Preece spent eleven years at Kenilworth Road making 336 appearances, hitting the net on 21 occasions. He began his career at Walsall and made over 100 appearances for The Saddlers before David Pleat brought him to Bedfordshire for a fee of £150,000.
A diminutive midfielder with a cultured left foot, Preece was an integral part of arguably the best side in Luton's history, picking up a Littlewoods Cup winners medal in 1989 following The Hatters' memorable 3-2 victory over Arsenal. They reached Wembley again in the same competition the following season when they were beaten 3-1 by Nottingham Forest.
Preece stayed at Luton despite their relegation in 1991/92, leaving for Derby County after his -*test*-('")imonial in the summer of 1995, where he helped them win promotion to the Premiership, before leaving for Cambridge United the following summer. In 2001 he had a brief tenure as player-coach at Torquay before ending his career at Enfield.
***
this is shocking news. I remember him from the late 80's Luton team. they were a very decent outfit, and I remember watching the Littlewoods Cup final against Arsenal (and of course laughing at Arsenal's defeat!)
he was quite a classy midfielder from what I remember. 44 is no age at all really...
RIP
I knew I recognised the name!
Sad news, no age at all...............RIP.