We are delighted to announce that goalkeeper James Shea has penned a new contract with Luton Town, which will take him into a tenth season at Kenilworth Road.
Our 34-year-old stalwart between the sticks arrived in Bedfordshire in the summer of 2017 after being released by AFC Wimbledon, and there began a decade-long journey with the Hatters that has so far seen him complete a hat-trick of promotions.
Before his arrival, he had dipped into Non-League football following his release from Arsenal in 2013, building up his football education at Isthmian League clubs Needham Market and Harrow Borough, while continuing to train with the Gunners each day.
Originally signed as back-up to fellow new recruit Marek Stech, the man known to all at the club as ‘Sheasy’ bided his time and eventually won his place for the final eight games of the League Two promotion-winning season.
The following year, he again started on the bench but went on to play 46 times in all competitions, winning the League One’s Golden Glove for 19 clean sheets in our title success.
In the Championship Sheasy competed with club record signing Simon Sluga as Town pulled off the Great Escape during the Covid-interrupted 2019/20 season, before he became first choice again soon into the 2021/22 campaign.
Sadly, he suffered a season-ending ACL injury at Cardiff on Easter Monday as the Hatters first qualified for the play-offs, but he fought back to fitness to make an appearance on the final day of the following campaign before taking his place on the bench at Wembley as Coventry were beaten in the play-off final.
His Premier League debut came on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign, when he came on in place of Thomas Kaminski for 20 memorable minutes against Fulham to complete his own Non-League to top-flight story.
In total, the north Londoner has so far played 111 times for the Hatters, with his latest appearance coming a fortnight ago at Coventry in the Carabao Cup, as he pushes summer signing Josh Keeley all the way and leads by example as the Club’s longest serving player.
“I’m over the moon,” he told LTFC+ after agreeing the new deal. “I’m really happy to get it all sorted, to carry on the journey and be here for another few years.
“I signed as a number two in League Two, so to come through to where we are now, it’s been some journey. The ups and the downs. I’ve loved every single minute of it, and hopefully there’s a few more ups coming.”
Recalling the summer of 2017 in the interview that you can watch by clicking the image above, he adds: “I got let go from Wimbledon and I was gutted. But everything happens for a reason and in hindsight, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“My agent rang me up and said Luton are looking for a number two, and I had nothing at the time, so I thought ‘I’ll take that’. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
“I love it here. I love everything about it. I love the people, it’s a great club to be a part of, and I just hope there are more better days coming up.”
Manager Matt Bloomfield added: “Sheasy is vital to this football club. He’s incredibly important to the dressing room, with the way he conducts himself and the way he trains every day.
“I thought when he played at Coventry he was excellent. He is giving great competition to Josh to keep him on his toes, and it’s a good fight that those two are having, but they do it in such a good way.
“He pushes all the other goalies around him. It is such an important day for us to keep him here. We are delighted he’s committed his future to the club.”
Congratulations, Sheasy!
