It was believed that former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said “a week is a long time in politics”. We looked it up. It might be a misquotation. Regardless, it stuck and people still use it. In this climate it’s now become “a day is a long time in politics”.
Listen, we never thought we’d start a paragraph like that on this website. But it’s a phrase that has naturally been shaped into football parlance.
A week’s a long time in football.
Enough. Our point is that a week is a long time in football, especially after you’ve been beaten 5-0 and followed it up with a home win on Tuesday and then face another big match on Saturday aiming for back-to-back wins.
Wilson was a lifelong Huddersfield fan, so he wouldn’t have been best pleased with his team’s 2-1 defeat at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday.
However, hopefully he would have nodded in silent acknowledgment of the way in which Luton Town showed grit, determination and character to bounce back after being walloped three days before to leap to within striking distance of the League One play-off places.
So, a week after that oh no at Oakwell, the Town entertain Bolton at Kenilworth Road aiming to break into the top six.
Enough, chat. Let’s get into it. Here’s 10 good things to know ahead of Saturday.
Trotters!
Bolton Wanderers. The Trotters. Nothing to do with animal feet. It was once a local term for practical joker. Yet this season there’s nothing funny about Wanderers’ form so far. After finishing eighth last season, hopes are high of returning to the second tier for the first time since 2019. Manager Stephen Schumacher, who took over in January this year, has the Trotters in fine form.
They arrive at Kenilworth Road one point and one place above the Town in the League One standings. In all competitions they’ve won 10 of their last 14 matches, losing just twice. Unbeaten at home, they’ve won just once away – but that came last month at Huddersfield when they hit two goals in injury time to win 2-1. You might have seen the “limbs”.
44 years of hurt
None of the past meetings will have any bearing on Saturday’s result – HOWEVER the Town will be aiming to beat Bolton in a league game for the first time since November 1981. Yes, that’s some 44 years ago! Well of course we actually beat them the last time we met, an FA Cup replay in January 2024, but let’s not get in the way of a good stat, eh?
Bolton are actually unbeaten on their last four visits to Bedfordshire, winning on their last two league visits (in the First Division, now Championship, in 1993 and 1994). The Hatters only scored once in those four home games. The scorer? Marvin Johnson, who popped up with a last-minute equaliser in an FA Cup tie in 1997. Marvellous.
The man in the middle
The EFL website tells us that Saturday’s official Reubyn Ricardo started refereeing in 2013 when he broke his wrist in school and his PE teacher suggested that he referee some of the school football matches.
Since then he’s progressed through PGMOL’s Development Group and made his Championship debut in the 2024/25 season, where he was also the first referee of Black heritage to officiate the FA Vase final.
In the 13 games he’s overseen this season, he’s shown 56 yellow cards and one red, and this will be the first time he has refereed a senior Hatters game.
Words from Jack
No need to sign up or pay a fee for LTFC+ for this. Watch Jack Wilshere’s presser right here for free.
The boss looks ahead to the game and gives an injury update on the squad, including the progress of Elijah Adebayo, which you can also watch here.
Town team news
Jack Wilshere hasn’t ruled out Jake Richards, who came off at half-time in Tuesday’s win over Huddersfield with a dead calf. A late fitness test will decide whether he faces the Trotters.
They’ll be no Nahki Wells once more – the striker’s ankle knock is not as bad as first feared but will still be a few weeks away from a return and the same could be said for Izzy Jones, who remains in pain following the knock sustained at Barnsley last weekend.
Jordan Clark is back training but not fully with the group as he recovers from a calf injury, while the boss also spoke at length on the muscular injury to Ali Al-Hamadi that the striker sustained while on international duty with Iraq.
Reuell Walters could be in contention for a place in the squad having played 45 minutes for the Under-21s last week.
Tickets please!
Tickets remain on sale for this one. Click here and buy online – but be quick before they all go!
Pints, pies and programmes
Join us for food, drink and pre-match merriment on the Kenilworth Road forecourt, soaking in the pre-match vibes. Don’t worry if it’s raining, there’s cover. There's also 25 per cent off drinks up until 1.30, so get down there early. Grab a programme for £4 and read the latest from the boardroom, Jack, Kal Naismith and for an in-depth chat with Operations Director James Mooney about life behind-the-scenes at Kenilworth Road. There’s some very good photos in there too, not to mention a whole load of love after Tuesday's win.
Orange Friday week
If you’re on the hunt for a bargain in blue, white or orange, check out the stadium club shop on Saturday. Our Orange Friday week of offers continues on Saturday with up to 80 per cent off selected items. Not everything has such a discount, but it’s worth popping your head in to see what you can save, right?
Tune in, turn on.
If you're abroad, watch the game live on LTFC+ with audio commentary coming from the delicious lips of the aforementioned Simon Pitts. 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 day, 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...
Mick Harford receiving his legacy cap.
