The Hatters are back at it again on Tuesday night Under The Lights™ when Jack Wilshere’s side entertain Exeter City in the first knockout stage of the Vertu Trophy (henceforth ‘The Vertu’).
No time for a long-winded introduction. Let’s get straight into it. Here are 10 good things to get your mind and mood ready as we gear up for knockout football on home turf.
Trophy Tales
Exeter make the long journey from Devon for this one. 100 or so hardy souls have already said “yes, Luton away on a Tuesday night in The Vertu, please” for this one – and we wish them well on their travels here and back.
A fellow League One side, Gary Caldwell’s City have struggled this season and find themselves one place above the third tier dropzone having lost their last two games, both away, in the past couple of weeks.
Despite winning two and losing seven of their nine away fixtures in League One this season (scoring just four – the lowest in the division, by the way), they have won their last two away cup ties, in the FA Cup at Halifax, and Newport, in The Vertu.
Despite their struggles in the league, the Grecians, as they are known – a nickname not even Exeter fans know the true origin of – have had one thing to smile about this season: a 2-0 win over arch rivals Plymouth back in October. Well, make it two: they’re still above Argyle in the table. Devon is red.
Haven’t we met before?
The Town’s last meeting with Exeter also came in the cup. That night, down in Devon, the Grecians caused a bit of a shock with a 1-0 win at St James Park in a League Cup second round tie against the then-Premier League Hatters in September 2003.
On Bedfordshire soil, the Town won 1-0 thanks to a heavily deflected goal from Harry Cornick in February 2018 with both clubs in League Two. Exeter last tasted success in these parts back in April 2015 when winning 3-2 at Kenilworth Road, also in the fourth tier.
This will be our first meeting in this competition.
The Vertu
This is the fifth incarnation of the Football League Trophy in which the Hatters have played in, after, in chronology sponsorshipy order, the Auto Windscreen Shield, the LDV Vans Trophy, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and the Checkatrade Trophy.
Since Mick Harford and Kevin Nicholls lifted the JPT before 42,000 Hatters fans at Wembley in 2009, our record in the competition is 12 wins, four draws and six defeats (not including penalty shootouts).
Our top scorer in the competition is Isaac Vassell with five goals, followed by Tony Thorpe on four. Striker Jerry Yates has three already this season after two goals against Brighton Under-21s and one in the win over Barnet.
A reminder, by the way, that a win would put us in the last-16 of The Vertu and, if it’s a draw at the end of 90 minutes, the tie will be decided on penalties.
In charge
Referee Kirsty Dowle makes her first visit to Kenilworth Road to take charge of Tuesday’s encounter. The official has overseen eight games this term, including one in this competition. Dowle’s major achievements in her career so far include whistling the 2022 and 2023 Women’s FA Cup finals. It will be the first time a female official has taken charge of a senior first team game in our history.
Milestone memory
As we celebrate 140 years of history, it’s worth taking a moment to remember the time Peter Thomson struck twice in a 3-1 win at Stoke 25 years ago on 2nd December. IYKYK.
Town team news
Boss Jack Wilshere is expected to ring the changes for Tuesday’s tie with another cup tie at Fleetwood on the horizon.
Gideon Kodua is among those in the reckoning after his equaliser against Bolton on Saturday, as is Reuell Walters who is now back in full training.
Cheap tickets to watch live football
Ignore the weather forecast. Ignore the fact Premier League games are on the telly. Get down to the Kenny for The Vertu.
If you’re under 16 years of age you can gain entry to the stadium for one English pound. Add another four if you’re an adult. How’s that for value? Plus, you can sit where you want (within reason). Click here to purchase and for more information.
Tune in, turn on.
If you're abroad, watch the game live on LTFC+ with audio commentary coming from the dulcet tones of Simon Pitts, who will be commentating on our 5,807th match. Passes for the remainder of the season will save you money in the long run – but matchday passes are also available.
Don’t forget, follow our social media channels for live, pitchside updates as they happen plus photos and behind-the-scenes content. Stay on lutontown.co.uk post-match for a full report, post-match reaction and the all-important highlights.
And finally...don’t be THAT fan.
A reminder to all supporters, no matter who you are, how old or who you’re supporting on the night, to go about your day with respect. We continue to support the Love Football, Protect the Game campaign.
Luton Town Football Club has committed in its customer charter to providing safe match-day experiences for all supporters regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation, and this applies equally to home and away fixtures.
In the event that any Luton supporters do make discriminatory chants, the Club will work with the police and football authorities to help identify such individuals. Any such fans would then face the strictest club sanctions, including football banning orders that would prevent them attending any matches, in addition to any criminal charges.
Furthermore, we would like to warn against pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics or missiles – which could lead to potential prosecution.
The Club can also be held responsible for the behaviour of its supporters, which could lead to substantial fines being imposed.
As a diverse and inclusive football club, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow EFL clubs in supporting the FA’s ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ campaign and call on all fans to enjoy the game in a positive spirit.
If you are offended by any discriminatory abuse of any kind at any of our games, you can report it by clicking HERE, or by contacting your nearest steward immediately.
Alternatively, email [email protected] or report the incident via Kick it Out's free, confidential reporting app on the App Store and Google Play.
We're all Luton. UTT.
This week we're mostly liking...
Our new Christmas jumper design, of course. What else?
