Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to Kenilworth Road as we host today’s visitors, Doncaster Rovers.
Building on last season’s remarkable unbeaten run of 11 games that secured them the League Two title, Doncaster have enjoyed a good start to this campaign, sitting seventh in the table and reaching the third round of the EFL Cup.
We also extend a warm welcome to all those who have travelled from South Yorkshire and beyond, including Matty Pearson. Many of you will remember his vital role in our 2018/19 League One title-winning season – I’m told he was ‘magic’! Overall Matty made over 130 appearances and scored 10 goals during his time here.
As this is my first set of programme notes, please let me introduce myself and my role. As Operations Director, my responsibilities span first team, academy and matchday operations. I’ve now been at the club for over two years and I’m fortunate to lead a supportive team, who, together with the executive staff, are always looking at new ways to improve both on and off the pitch.
That unforgettable playoff semi-final second leg against Sunderland in 2023 was my first taste of the Kenny. The passion, pride and togetherness on that night captured exactly what I’d been told Luton stood for. To experience it first hand was so powerful, and it confirmed that joining this club and moving my family here was absolutely the right decision.
By contrast, we all know last Saturday’s performance at Lincoln City was in no way up to the standards we expect. As a club, we must hold our hands up and face that openly, apologise for the poor display and make sure we respond in the right way.
This week, staff and players have held open and honest conversations, focusing on the fundamentals that all successful Luton Town teams have been built on. PASSION, PRIDE and TOGETHERNESS – everything I witnessed during that first experience of Kenilworth Road of mine.
We have a staff and playing squad that can 100 per cent deliver on these fundamentals and I’m confident you’ll see a reaction in the performances today and going forward. We need you with us too, please, as together we are stronger and more powerful.
Looking ahead, October brings fresh opportunities: key players returning to fitness, and a busy run of fixtures including two EFL Trophy fixtures. Our Trophy fixture against Barnet was a good opportunity for some of our younger players to gain valuable minutes and I thought Jake Richards and Christian Chigozie played well in what was a good team performance and result.
At our last home game, we marked 120 years of football at Kenilworth Road – fittingly, against the same opponents from that first fixture back in 1905. Unfortunately it ended with a disappointing result but on the plus side it was fantastic to see supporters arrive early to enjoy the activities on the Kenilworth apron. We’ll continue to build on these initiatives, from introducing the new big screen to showcasing the brilliant work of the Luton Town Community Trust on matchdays.
Our thanks also go to Madinah Mosque, Discover Islam and the Bury Park community for their wonderful “Stronger Together” welcome at the Plymouth game. This included greeting supporters of both clubs with a gift of tea, water and biscuits, which was truly appreciated by everyone. Community truly lies at the heart of this town and this club.
As part of the recent EFL Youth Development Week (12-19 September), our media team put together an insightful interview with Joe Deeney and Christian Chigozie. The relationship between a coach and player is so important to help with player development, and the interview really captured the respect they both have for each other. If you’ve not seen it yet, I thoroughly recommend watching it on our website. You can also read it elsewhere in today’s programme. It was also equally inspiring to see our new Under-9 recruits paraded on the pitch at the Plymouth game. One day, we hope to see some of them representing Luton Town at Power Court!
Luton Ladies, meanwhile, had a strong away win against Milton Keynes last weekend – their second triumph over those opponents this season, having already beaten them in the FA Women's National League Cup group stages. The team travel to face Oxford United this weekend, aiming to build on their momentum, and conversations are ongoing between the club and the ladies’ team management to arrange a date for hosting a fixture at Kenilworth Road.
Across the game this weekend, clubs at every level are coming together to support Play Safe 2025, a nationwide campaign championing safeguarding for children, young people and adults in the game. EFL Play Safe Weekend encourages clubs and leagues to play their part in making the game safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone, everywhere, every time. At today’s match our Community Trust will be speaking directly with young Hatters fans to hear their views about how safe they feel in and around the stadium.
Finally, from me today, let’s try to put recent disappointments behind us and move forward together as we strive to get back to where we want to be with what is largely a new team.
As the players and the team bond, please give them all your backing: here’s to recapturing the spirit, and success, of that night against Sunderland.
One thing I’ve certainly learned in my time with Luton is just how amazing that bond between team and terraces can be, and what a difference it can make.
COYH!
James
