As Jack Wilshere prepares Luton Town for a Vertu Trophy semi-final that could send the Hatters back to Wembley, the manager has been looking back at one of the most defiant moments in the club’s modern history.
Luton lifted the trophy in 2009 under club legend Mick Harford’s stewardship, despite starting the that season with a devastating 30-point deduction that ultimately forced them out of the Football League after 89 years.
The victory — achieved during a campaign overshadowed by punishments from the The Football League and The Football Association — remains one of the most remarkable moments in the club’s history.
While relegation to non-league football was unavoidable, Harford’s side still delivered a day of celebration at Wembley with a Glaude Gnakpa inspired 3-2 victory, against then higher league opposition in Scunthorpe, that felt like a statement of pride from the club and its supporters.
Harford is now the club’s senior scout and an ambassador, after spells as player, assistant manager, manager and head of recruitment. And with another trip to Wembley within touching distance, if they can beat Northampton tonight, Wilshere says that day in 2009 has not been forgotten.
“I know the history of this club in this competition, Mick winning it,” he said, adding: “Mick’s here [the Brache training ground] in the building every day and I speak with him all the time. He’s so proud of that and I want the same feeling as Mick had. We want to take this all the way.
“It’s each game as it comes as I don’t want to get too far ahead, but the next challenge is Northampton. It’s a semi-final, with the thought of Wembley, what bigger incentive do the players need to give the fans a day out?”
Memories of that achievement underline the significance of the opportunity Wilshere’s current squad now faces.
“We’ve had the same intention the whole way through,” he said. “Ever since my first game in this competition against Brighton, that was the ambition, that was a dream.
“We’ve taken each game as it comes and done really well. Some performances we weren’t happy with, but this competition is about winning and getting through.”
The Hatters’ run has come during a season where league form has been inconsistent and supporters have voiced frustration at times, but Wilshere believes the chance of reaching a Wembley final could help unite everyone around the club again.
“We spoke a lot about the frustrations of the fans and rightly so at times,” he said. “But we want to give them something back as well and it’s an opportunity to do that.”
With Wembley now just one win away, Wilshere hopes his side can follow the example set by Harford’s team 16 years ago — delivering a moment for supporters to remember regardless of what else the season brings.
“It’s a big evening and something we’re really looking forward to,” he said. “We know Wembley is one step away and we have to take that step.”
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