Jack Wilshere is pleased that Luton Town will be among the first teams to get the new League One season underway after the Hatters were handed a lunchtime trip to Reading on the opening day of the 2026/27 campaign.
Town travel to the Select Car Leasing Stadium for a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday, August 15, with the match selected for live coverage on Sky Sports+, and Wilshere admits he cannot wait to begin detailed preparations now the fixture list has been confirmed.
“I quite like that it’s a 12.30pm kick-off,” said the Hatters boss told the club’s website, adding: “I like the fact that we’ll be one of the first three matches to get the season started.
“As coaches now, we’ve just been desperate to get this fixture list and start to get planning on what we are doing for each opponent.
“I know the players will have been as well, and my experience of pre-season and how we plan to do it is to build it up slowly, so when we come to that point, they’ll be ready to go. So yes, we can now really start looking forward to it.”
Although Reading completed a league double over Luton last season, Wilshere believes the 3-2 defeat in Berkshire was one of the first signs his side were beginning to adapt to the style of football he wanted following his appointment in October.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted at Reading last year, but I said afterwards that we were outstanding – and probably actually similar at home,” he said.
“So yes, it’s a good start against a good team, a solid League One club that will have an ambition of going up, with a good manager. It’s a nice one to start with.”
Luton’s first home league fixture follows a week later against newly-promoted Notts County, with Wilshere expecting another stern examination despite the Magpies stepping up from League Two.
Town kept a close eye on County’s progress last season while academy midfielder Jayden Luker enjoyed a successful loan spell at Meadow Lane.
“Notts County is an interesting one at that stage, before we play Mansfield and Stockport in the next couple, who have been regular opponents in my time here so far,” he said.
“Even when you look at that start, there are different types of teams and Notts are coming up as a big club, and they’ll have ambition in this league.
“They’ll be good, you know. We watched them a lot last season with Jayden being there, and again, they have a good coach who wants to try and play.
“Then you go into Mansfield and we know them very well from last year, being my first game and then following the Wembley win. Again, they are a team who want to play, and then Stockport, who have a new manager but I’m sure will be a very good side again too.”
Wilshere also welcomed another Boxing Day fixture at Kenilworth Road, where League Two winners Bromley will be the visitors before Luton travel to Plymouth Argyle on New Year’s Day, which will coincide with the manager’s 35th birthday.
“A trip to Devon for my birthday again,” he said, adding: “I hope that it’ll be a better birthday with the boys than last year, but I get to walk down the beach for my birthday, which is positive!
“And Bromley, I know Andy Woodman. He was a coach at Arsenal when I was there, so I know him quite well and they’ve been outstanding, to do what they’ve done.
“Of course, there are two different games against them this season at home and then away, and going down there, they’ll make it difficult for you.
“But it’s nice to have a home one on Boxing Day. We had a home game last year against Wycombe and managed that period really well.”
The Hatters will also end the regular season at Kenilworth Road for the first time in three years when they host Blackpool on Saturday, May 8, and Wilshere believes that could provide the perfect backdrop if his side are still chasing promotion.
“In my experience, it’s always nice to have that last game at home, in front of your fans, to spend a little bit of time afterwards thanking them for their support,” he said.
“I’ve got really, really good memories of standing in front of the travelling fans at Bolton, and that’s something that will live with me for a long time.
“But there is something special about finishing at home, definitely.”
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