Jordan Clark admits the chance to walk out at Wembley again is something he feels “very lucky” to experience as Luton Town prepare for Sunday’s Vertu Trophy final against Stockport County.
The midfielder is the last Luton player to score at Wembley after netting in the Championship play-off final victory over Coventry in 2023, plus scoring in the penalty shoot-out that sealed Town’s place in the Premier League. With the Hatters taking more than 32,000 supporters back to the national stadium this weekend, Clark says the focus is now on making sure the day ends with another victory.
“[I’m] really excited,” he said, adding: “Obviously, really, really looking forward to it now. We got a good Easter period, and got the Wimbledon game out of the way, which was really important for us, but now it’s full focus on Wembley now, and winning the game of football there.”
Clark’s goal in the play-off final has become one of the defining moments of Luton’s recent history, but the midfielder says he rarely revisits the moment.
“Not loads, no. I sort of said to myself, when I retire and I’m fat and old I have to sit down and watch the whole thing back,” he said. “Probably this week, maybe a couple of times, maybe just to remind myself of the day and stuff, and just try and pick little bits from the day.
“Some players never play there in their careers, so to be there twice in three years, I’m very lucky.”
Clark vividly remembers the moment the stadium filled with Luton supporters before that famous win and is expecting a similar sight on Sunday.
“I just remember when we was on the pitch before, and we just got there, and obviously all the fans were starting to take the seats and stuff,” he said. “We saw it the day before, it was empty, it looked massive, and then when the fans start coming into the seats, it just looks unbelievable, especially with how much orange was there last time.”
Now in the twilight of his career, Clark says he is trying to pass on some of that experience.
“We’ve got quite a young squad, to be fair,” he said. “They might be a little bit more nervous than what they have been in the previous games, but just any way I can help, little pointers, little one per cents which might settle their nerves a little bit.
“But obviously you’ve got the gaffer [Jack Wilshere] as well, who’s quite familiar with Wembley as well, especially playing there with England, but I’ll just try to help as much as I can and try to tap into my experiences.”
Clark arrives at Wembley in the best scoring form of his career, having already hit a personal best 12 goals this season, including the winner against Peterborough United on Good Friday. But he insists personal milestones will mean little if Luton do not lift the trophy.
He said: “For me, personally, it would be an amazing feeling, but just as long as we win, that’s the most important thing, because we’ve got lads here like Nigel [Lonwijk] who’s been there twice and lost twice.
“I remember watching Barnsley and Mads [Andersen] lose last minute to Sheffield Wednesday, so just to win the game is most important, but if I can get another goal there, it would be the cherry on the cake.”
Luton head into the final in strong form, with Clark believing the squad’s confidence has grown after a difficult season.
“It’s been a tough season for the majority of it,” he said, adding: “But the only way you get out of that is by working even harder than what you did the previous week.
“When you’re on a winning run it’s hard to stop. Thankfully, we’re on that now and as we’ve seen this season, especially with the away form, we were on a losing run and we couldn’t get off it. It’s ups and downs and hopefully we can take this good feeling about the place and the confidence and just keep it going. You can feel it with everyone one, and even the fanbase now, it’s buzzing. It’s what we want and it’s good to see so many smiles after the games, which we’ve not had this year, especially for the fans.”
More than 32,000 Luton supporters are expected at Wembley, and Clark had a clear message for them ahead of the final.
“I always say they’re the best fans out there. I knew they’d sell the whole place out,” he said, adding: “It just shows you the fan base we’ve got, and I’m just lucky to be a part of it as a player.”
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