WHAT a glorious day Guiseley AFC had on their trip to Luton in the FA Cup on Saturday. After battling through seven matches non-league Guiseley were pitted against high riding Division Two professional side Luton Town.

The Yorkshire side proudly strode into Kenilworth Road with white Yorkshire roses in their lapels and neither they nor their flowers wilted under the onslaught as the team bravely went down 4-0.

Manager Neil Parsley was determined that whatever the outcome of the match his players and everyone connected with the club would have a happy day.

Guiseley did everything with a smile on their face, so much so that Luton was won over.

Luton Town supporter Stuart Lindsey was just one of those impressed by Guiseley's performance.

He has e-mailed the club saying: "On behalf of myself and every other Luton fan who attended Saturday's game, I would like to congratulate your players on the effort and attitude they showed throughout. They may have been beaten but we Luton fans appreciated the passion and desire they showed to play good football and especially the fact that not once in the 90 minutes did their heads drop or did they stop running or trying.

"We were even praying you would score so that your fans would have even more to cheer about but unfortunately it wasn't to be.

"Although it may not be fair to the team for what was a superb effort I would especially like to congratulate Chris Hill for a magnificent game between the posts (he had Howie pulling his hair out after that save from the header); David Cooke for a great game in midfield (he never stopped running or trying to set something up) and Ryan Senior for his often lonely but tireless efforts up front.

"They epitomised the attitude of your team, all of whom were a credit to your club.

"If they never progress in football beyond non-league level I hope one thing they will always remember is the sight and sound of Luton fans in the Kenilworth Road end standing to give them the ovation they so richly deserved and chanting your club's name.

"All the best for the future, who knows maybe one day Luton v Guiseley will be a Division One fixture?"

From setting off after lunch at The Ings pub on Friday lunchtime to returning to the Guiseley clubhouse late on Saturday evening it was fun all the way.

Ribbald comments followed midfielder Nicky Hey's pleas for the bus driver to give his fellow firemen at Kirkstall Fire Station a toot as they passed. Card games and a brain testing quiz - with Clive Freeman and Ryan Senior in the winning team - took up some of the time. The bus had a problem at Leicester Forest services but still the lads continued to laugh their way to Luton.

They arrived early evening at the Hertfordshire Moat House and enjoyed an evening meal together. Some swam, some played pool, some like midfielder Peter Sumner prowled around like caged tigers in the nearby Whipsnade Zoo. All were sent off to bed at 10pm by manager Neil Parsley ready for their big day. Only the lads left out of the playing squad were allowed to join in when invited to a party at the team's hotel.

Saturday started very misty and their were doubts if the game would go on. There were early morning calls as players and management were called to take part in the Radio Leeds Breakfast Show being broadcast live from the hotel by presenter and Guiseley follower Steve Le Fevre.

Birthday boy Kevin Newhouse was reluctantly making his way along the corridor to the 'studio' in the ballroom after being told the night before that he would have to talk for three minutes on the situation in Iraq!

His worried look soon turned to smiles at the breakfast table as his teammates and members of the club entourage surrounded him with 21st birthday balloons and handed over presents and cards.

What a day to have a birthday.

The players went for a mid-morning stroll whilst a small party went ahead to the Kenilworth Road ground to lay out the kit in readiness for the big match.

A new strip especially emblazoned with the FA Cup, a new medical bag for physio Benn Gallagher and embroidered Guiseley AFC towels on the medical bed.Was this really Guiseley's dressing room? A quick look on the pitch and back to the hotel to pick up the booted and suited Guiseley team with their buttonholes in. There they were joined by player Andrew Shuttleworth who had jetted in from Australia.

And so it was off for the biggest day in their lives.They battled heroically against all the odds, kept the score respectable and gave their fans a day to remember.