A warm welcome to Kenilworth Road this evening as we host Exeter City. I would like to extend a particular welcome to the Exeter players, staff, directors and supporters who have made the journey to Bedfordshire.
We hope you enjoy your visit to our historic home and experience the unique atmosphere that Kenilworth Road is known for – although, of course, perhaps a little less enjoyable once the final whistle blows.
We come into this evening’s game buoyed by Saturday’s excellent victory at Wycombe Wanderers and credit to everyone involved for securing a much-needed win away from Kenilworth Road. Not only was it wonderful to see your loyal support rewarded but it was fantastic to welcome back Elijah Adebayo to the squad having made his recovery from last season’s injury. It’s great to have you back, Elijah!
Matchdays also provide a moment to reflect not only on the football itself, but on the wider work of the club and the role Luton Town continues to play within our community. As HR Director, I am always proud to see the efforts made across the club to ensure that our club reflects the values of inclusion, respect and togetherness that have long been part of Luton Town’s identity.
One area where this commitment continues to develop is in strengthening the voice of our supporters. In the coming weeks we will begin advertising for members of our newly formed Fan Advisory Board (FAB). This group will play an important role in creating a structured forum for dialogue between supporters and the club, allowing fan perspectives to be heard clearly and consistently as we continue to evolve. Supporter insight and lived experience are invaluable, and the FAB will help ensure that engagement remains meaningful as we move forward as a club. We look forward to sharing further details and welcoming applications from supporters who are keen to play a part in shaping the future of Luton Town.
Accessibility and inclusion also remain key priorities. Our partnership with the Luton Town Disabled Supporters’ Association continues to develop through the LTDSA programme, which enables ongoing collaboration between the club and our disabled supporters. We know that accessibility at Kenilworth Road is a challenge, however through open dialogue and partnership, we continue to identify ways to improve the facilities we have here, providing maximum accessibility and to ensure that the matchday experience at Kenilworth Road is welcoming for everyone.
This work is further supported through the Unite for Access campaign, who we were proud to welcome at our last home game with Reading, which raises awareness around accessibility within football and promotes greater inclusion across the game. Football has an extraordinary ability to bring people together and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the experience remains a responsibility we take seriously.
Community engagement has also been at the forefront of our activities in recent days. Last week we were proud to host our fourth annual Community Iftar, bringing together supporters, community leaders, partners and staff during the holy month of Ramadan. It was particularly pleasing to see our manager and two of our players, Ali Al-Hamadi and Davy van den Berg, join us on the evening. For Davy, who only joined the club in January, it was a great opportunity to give him a proper Luton welcome and to show that this football club is about far more than what happens on the pitch. Events like this demonstrate the depth of connection between the club and the town, and the role Luton Town can play in bringing people together.
With Eid approaching this week, we would also like to extend our warmest wishes to everyone who will be celebrating with family and friends.
Last week also saw the celebration of International Women’s Day, which provides an opportunity to recognise the contributions of women across football and wider society. The sport has long been viewed as a traditionally male-dominated environment, and many discussions around International Women’s Day rightly focus on the barriers women have historically faced within the industry.
However, speaking personally, one of the refreshing aspects of working at Luton Town Football Club is how rarely those everyday assumptions or stereotypes appear in practice. While football may still carry that reputation externally, internally the culture at the club is far more progressive than people might expect. Across departments, women play an important role in leadership, operations, community delivery and many other areas of the organisation. The respect and professionalism shown across the workforce means people are valued for the contribution they make rather than the stereotypes often associated with the industry.
That does not mean the work stops here – there is always more to do to ensure football continues to become more inclusive – but it is something worth recognising. Luton Town has quietly built a culture that is forward-thinking, supportive and respectful, and that is something I believe everyone connected to the club can be proud of.
All these initiatives – whether centred around accessibility, community engagement, equality or supporter involvement – reflect a broader ambition: ensuring that Luton Town remains a club where people feel welcome and proud to belong. Football clubs hold a unique place within their communities, and we recognise the responsibility that comes with representing our town.
With the team continuing to push forward on the pitch, there is also the exciting prospect of a special occasion ahead at Wembley. A moment for the entire Luton Town family to come together – supporters, staff, players and community – united under the arch in celebration of everything this club stands for.
However, while it is something we can all be excited about, you have our assurance that our focus remains firmly on the league campaign. There are a lot of important matchdays between now and then, and our priority is making sure we continue to prepare, perform and collect the points we need week after week.
I hope as many of you as possible will join us on that day at Wembley, it will be a fantastic moment for everyone connected with the club. But until then, our attention stays on the immediate challenges in front of us and the work required on each matchday.
As always, thank you for your continued support. Your passion and loyalty remain central to everything we do. Please continue to get right behind the team this evening and help create the atmosphere that makes Kenilworth Road such a special place to play football.
COYH!
Jenn
