David Wilkinson, chairman:
Good afternoon to you all for the final time this season at Kenilworth Road. As is always the case at this time of year, you wonder where the time goes.
It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were waving goodbye to last season, does it? For this huge Championship clash today, we welcome our friends from Coventry City who have made the short trip down the motorway.
Like ourselves, the Sky Blues are in need of the points but for very different reasons. This is our first meeting here since our promotion at Wembley and, while it’s hard not to cast our minds back and reminisce about that wonderful sunny May day under the arch, one of my abiding memories of that day is how magnanimous in defeat Coventry were after such gruelling circumstances.
I think most Luton supporters have had a soft spot for them ever since – although there’s no chance of that today! However, we wish them the very best of luck in their quest for promotion should their form take them into the play-offs.
Much of their success this season has come following the arrival of Frank Lampard in the dugout. Much is made of ‘new manager bounce’, or rather, the immediacy of success when a new manager takes the reins.
Coventry won three of their first 10 games under Frank’s stewardship before going on to enjoy a strong run of form, proving that good things come to those who wait. It has been a similar story for Matt and his team, who needed time to implement their ideas and philosophies. This is not always evident on the pitch straight away, and new tactical and coaching styles take their time to bear fruit.
Gradually, we have started to recognise a difference – although our cause has not been helped by some bad luck in a number of games, including that trip to Vicarage Road. From day one, Matt, Richard, Lee and Ben have integrated with all other staff brilliantly, have fully embraced what it’s like to be Luton and have worked tirelessly to build discipline and unity, all the while striving to provide a clear direction when it comes to on-field results and team identity.
Our recent run of results is testament to that. We have become hard to beat, we are limiting our opponents’ opportunities and we’ve also improved our own goal threat. We can all see the progress, and you only needed to see Matt’s face at the full-time whistle after Monday’s excellent win over Bristol City to see how much the result and your support meant to him. He was grinning from ear to ear. He came into Kenilworth Road with his eyes wide open about the challenge and has shown tremendous character in the circumstances.
Away from the first team, this week we were thrilled to learn of the Under-18s’ title success in the Youth Alliance. Congratulations to Paul Benson, Joe Deeney, Ronnie Henry and all supporting staff and players for a wonderful season full of goals. I have been fortunate, along with Paul Ballantyne, to watch quite a few of their games, and it has often been a real joy to see them play with such skill, style and enthusiasm. We will celebrate their success this afternoon when they are presented with their trophy and medals.
This season has been a remarkable one for our Academy, showcasing continual improvement across all age groups, highlighted by the gratifying integration of some our young talents into our first team squad, with Taylan Harris recently included on the bench and Oli Lynch travelling with the squad following his recall after a productive spell in front of goal at Hemel.
The second half of the season has yielded impressive results from our Under-16 team and upwards. We take great pride in celebrating their accomplishments and eagerly anticipate witnessing more graduates debuting in the first team in future seasons. The Under-17 group will now strive to achieve additional success as they head to Swansea next week for the final of the PDL Cup. Good luck, boys.
Turning attention back to this afternoon and, for one final time this season, we need this place rocking like it was on Easter Monday. The fact remains that our destiny is in our own hands with two wins enough to preserve our Championship status. I think supporters of every generation have now witnessed a genuine great escape – whether that be back in 1983, 1990, 1991 or 2020. This is where heroes are made and moments last forever. Who will be this season’s Raddy Antic, Kingsley Black, Tim Breacker or James Collins?
Well, whatever happens today, nothing will be decided until next week at West Bromwich Albion. Matt, his staff and the lads have given us a chance – and we need you all to get behind the lads one last time here this afternoon.
“Each morning, we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha
Enjoy the game.
David
*
Gary Sweet, CEO
So here we are. The final home game of the season. It wouldn’t be Luton Town if we didn’t have something riding on the final two games of the season. Life is never dull here and – be honest – we wouldn’t want it any other way, would we?
We go into this afternoon’s game with Coventry City, who we warmly welcome to Kenilworth Road, buoyed by a wonderful Easter period that saw us record back-to-back victories for the first time since September.
Matt, his staff and the squad have worked wonders to get us into a position where we can attack these final two games with confidence in order to retain our Championship status.
As is the norm at this time of the campaign, it has been a busy time on and away from the pitch. This included the recent Meet the Manager event for Diamonds held in the Eric. It was, as ever, a terrific opportunity for Matt to answer a variety of questions on his philosophy and recruitment, as well as presenting his own personality and character.
There is more to life than being a football manager, and he proved that he’s a great human being, too. That is why – and we mentioned this at the time of his appointment – we believe he is a fantastically natural fit for our football club.
Naturally, questions regarding the business and commercial side were put to me, and I hope I was able to field these in the most transparent way possible. I had to quash a few – ridiculous! – rumours, too. Social media has a lot to answer for sometimes.
This event came in the evening following the well-attended open training session in which over 1,500 supporters, young and old, packed the stadium to watch the players put through their paces. Given this came two days after our home defeat against Blackburn, we maybe didn’t expect to see so many happy faces.
However, it proved to be a wonderful day, and one which Matt, the coaching staff and players have already remarked how much of an enjoyable experience it was.
Matt again spoke with a calm assurance and confidence at the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Player of the Year event on Wednesday. It was a night where Jordan Clark deservedly went home with four prizes, including three of the big ones: Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Goal of the Season.
Clicker is a player who embodies everything about us as a club, and we were delighted to see that his efforts during this challenging season have been rightly acknowledged by so many. That his teammates voted for him speaks volumes. His leadership and experience have been vital and one of the many factors behind our upturn in league form.
Congratulations go to Christ Makosso as well, who picked up two awards on the night. Christ has hit the ground running since arriving in January. It is never easy for a player, especially one so young and who is still learning the language, to fit straight in, but his transition has been seamless. It is a testament to the person he is. Keep it up, Christ!
Thomas Kaminski’s performances were also recognised with two awards. His level of consistency between the sticks has been fantastic – although we’d all prefer it if he was a little less busy! Thomas was not present on the night as he was sadly at home in Belgium following the passing of his father, Jacek. Our thoughts, condolences and prayers are with you and your family, Thomas.
Congratulations also to Tony Murray, who was deservedly honoured by winning the Kevin Catlin Memorial Trophy for his Outstanding Contribution towards LTFC – recognising his hard work, passion and dedication in his role as Trust chair, which he has relinquished for health reasons. Thank you, Tone!
Back to today, and regardless of the division we find ourselves the next time you read these notes, our future will be secure. A win over Coventry helped us do that once. Fingers crossed it will help a second time.
The summer will naturally see several changes, maybe slightly more than usual and all in the name of progress, so there will still be plenty to be excited about.
Those developments may be on the pitch, as we soon enter a busy summer transfer window, or off the pitch, as we continue to build our training ground infrastructure and, of course, witness the visibility of cranes at Power Court.
We’ll also be proud to reveal our new designs for the coming season with our new eco-friendly kit partners Reflo, as announced last week.
We’ll be restructuring our community department, where we have some exciting longer-term plans, and we will be working in conjunction with the Supporters’ Trust to establish closer ties to improve communication and build ideas for the future. The minute we know which division we’ll be playing in next season, we’ll communicate our season card prices for the 2025/26 season, followed shortly after by the release of our preseason schedule.
I would like to conclude my notes this season by acknowledging our long-serving club secretary Chris Clark and wish him all the very best as he sadly leaves to take on a new role at Liverpool next month. Over the past nine years, Mr Reliable – nicknamed Rimmer by his closest allies (one for the Red Dwarf fans there!) – has been a club stalwart, a model professional, a solid comrade and an absolute rock to me and so many colleagues. Not only on a day-to-day or match-by match basis, but for the significant part he has played in managing and coordinating many of the operational intricacies which will be included at Power Court. Chris is quite simply the best in the business, and he rightly goes to challenge himself right at the very top of our game with our blessing and warmest wishes. Farewell and fair well, my friend!
Finally, it’s time to sing up, shout loud and get behind the Town for one last 90-minute push on home soil.
Players and staff speak about the positive difference a proud and loud home crowd can make. Let’s all remain positive and resolute and use our well-tuned and well-lubricated voices to the max this afternoon!
Come on you Hatters!
Gary
We would like to lovingly dedicate these notes to Adam Dilley and Jeff Thomas, and their families, from all of the Luton Town family. Two very special people.
