EFL Trophy final LIVE: Luton Town v Stockport County text commentary

One change for Town; Two for County

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

Jack Wilshere has made one change to the Town side which won 3-0 at AFC Wimbledon on Monday to make it six games unbeaten in League One.

Town’s longest-serving player, James Shea replaces Josh Keeley in goal, having played every minute of the competition so far, despite Keeley’s fine league form which has seen the former Tottenham man – who is named on the bench - keep 12 clean sheets in 40 league appearances.

It will be a first Wembley appearance for Shea, 35, who was on the bench for the Championship play-off final win against Coventry in 2023 and also for Wimbledon as they beat Plymouth in League Two play-off final seven years before that.

Dave Challinor has made two changes to the County XI which were pegged back to draw 2-2 at Bolton on Monday, but extended their own unbeaten run to five games.

Tayo Edun and Josh Stokes are recalled with Lewis Bate dropping to the bench, where he is alongside Louie Barry, and the club's only senior right-back Josh Dacres-Cogley misses out as he had previously played in the competition for Bolton this season.

Wilshere pride in latest Wembley chapter

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

He may have won 16 England caps at Wembley and beaten Hull and Aston Villa to win the FA Cup under the arch in 2014 and 2015 but today is still a proud day for Luton boss Jack WIlshre.

"It will be a really proud moment for me to lead this club out at Wembley because it's a big club that has had a tough few years," the Town boss told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Obviously they were at Wembley a couple of years ago [in the Championship play-off final] and then I think before that it was 2009 with Mick Harford in this competition.

"To follow someone like that and lead the team out is amazing, it's something to look forward to."

Luton also played at Wembley in 2012, losing a National League play-off final to York City. Their journey since that setback has been quite extraordinary.

Since a remarkable surge through the leagues was capped by promotion to the Premier League in May 2023, Luton have suffered back-to-back relegations and are 10th in League One.

However Wilshere said the EFL Trophy final will provide an opportunity to build confidence in the quest for an immediate return to the Championship.

"It's a step because we know there's more to do and there's still a big part of the season to play and we've still got ambition in the league," he said.

"This is still a work in progress but this is a big step to bringing the fans together. We're going to have 30-35,000 fans there, which is outstanding.

"It just shows you how much this club means to so many people and they've suffered the last few years and to win something would be amazing - a big step on the road to where we want to get to."

Challinor aiming to write new chapter in County folklore

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

Should Stockport reign victorious this afternoon, Dave Challinor would write himself into the club's history books.

County have never won the EFL Trophy, having previously come up short on two occasions in successive seasons - in 1992 and 1993.

"When this competition starts, maybe the first thought isn't getting to a Wembley final, but the further you progress that thing certainly enters your thinking," Challinor told BBC Radio Manchester.

"As much as we've been successful over the past few years, the opportunity to go and play at the home of English football on a national stage in terms of what the competition brings is one that we have to look forward to."

Challinor is the first manager in Stockport's history to take them to Wembley on more than one occasion.

He hopes, however, that their second trip to the national stadium is more prosperous than the first, when they were beaten by Carlisle United on penalties in the 2023 League Two play-off final.

"The last one ended in disappointment and we'll go to right some wrongs, if you like. It's a brilliant occasion but you have to embrace it," he added.

Third time a charm for Stockport?

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

This will be the third meeting between the two sides this season, with both clubs firmly in hunt for promotion to the Championship.

With six games remaining Stockport lie fifth in League One with a four-point cushion in the play-off race and two games in hand on the chasing pack.

Luton are 10th, six points behind Stevenage in the final play-off place, with five league games to come.

Luton beat Stockport 3-0 at Edgeley Park in November, while the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road just three weeks ago, though Town boss Jack Wilshere does not believe those results will have any bearing on this afternoon's encounter.

"There's a slightly different context because it goes into who manages to deal with the occasion, the environment, better," he told BBC 3CR. "Hopefully that will be us."

Who doesn't want silverware?

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

Ben Ashton

BBC Sport England at Wembley Stadium

A mixture of glorious sunshine and heavy spring showers punctuated the walk down Olympic Way towards Wembley Stadium this afternoon.

But whose parade will be rained on in a few hours?

The London Underground was awash with orange shirts and vastly outnumbered the blue jerseys along the path leading towards the famous arch.

Speaking to fans on the Tube, they are all relishing the occasion and opportunity to see their team play at Wembley.

So don't let anyone tell you this competition doesn't matter now. It's got a big game feel and the thousands of fans here today certainly won't say otherwise.

Luton Town have tasted the Premier League and will enjoy being back on the big stage, while Stockport County were in National League North just seven years ago.

Both will hope victory today can fuel the rest of the upwards journeys they so desperately want to complete - not to mention the silverware up for grabs. And who doesn't want to win a trophy?

Should Luton be here?

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

Well, that depends on who you ask...

Luton were beaten 2-1 by Swindon Town at the last-16 stage of this competition in January, only to be reinstated in the competition after the Robins were penalised for fielding two ineligible players in that tie.

Captain Ollie Clarke started the match while he was already serving a seven-match suspension while Aaron Drinan, the club's top scorer, was one of three half-time changes despite Ryan Tafazolli being listed on the teamsheet in his place.

Play continued until the 64th minute when his presence was noticed and questioned between officials and club staff, leading to an eight-minute delay in the game and the forward eventually staying on the pitch.

Swindon manager Ian Holloway said it was a "major whoopsie" in his post-match interview and that he expected "some sort of action" - but that the match officials did not ask him to verify the team on a screen before kick-off, which he argued is normal protocol.

Swindon said they were "deeply disappointed" with the decision to expel them, with Luton going on to win their quarter-final against Plymouth with a late penalty.

Swindon were fined £40,000, with £20,000 of it suspended, which will be automatically payable if they field or name on a team sheet an ineligible player before the end of next season.

Luton's route to the final

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

Luton Town’s journey to the final has certainly been an eventful one.

They began the group stage with a comfortable 4–1 win over League Two side Barnet, followed by a 3–1 defeat by Cambridge United, but they made sure of qualification with a 3–1 win against Brighton U21s at Kenilworth Road.

Luton’s strong goalscoring form continued in the knockout stages with a 4–0 win over fellow League One outfit Exeter City in December, including two goals from Lasse Nordas.

Their EFL Trophy journey appeared to have come to an end with a 2–1 defeat at home by Swindon Town. However, less than a month later, Luton were reinstated in the competition after Swindon were expelled for fielding two ineligible players.

This set up a quarter-final at home to Plymouth Argyle. With the sides level at 1–1 and heading towards penalties, Nahki Wells was brought down in the box. Jordan Clark slammed home the resulting penalty to send Luton into the final four.

With the Wembley arch in sight, Luton hosted Northampton Town in the semi-finals. They had to come from behind after Kyle McAdam gave the Cobblers a first-half lead, but Luton responded through Wells. With eight minutes left on the clock, Liam Walsh thundered one past Ross Fitzsimons to book Luton’s place in today’s final.

Stockport's route to the final

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

Stockport County’s route to the final began with an eight goal thriller at Edgeley Park. A 5-3 win over Wolves U21s got them off to a good start in Northern Group A. However, that was closely followed by a 3-1 derby defeat away at eventual group winners Salford City. It took a penalty shootout win over fellow League One outfit Wigan Athletic to grab the two points needed to eventually finish second in the group and plan their route to Wembley.

It took penalties again to see off Crewe in the knockout stage following a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Corey Addai was the hero for the Hatters with two saves in the shootout. Stockport dispatched their first four penalties to comfortably reach the last 16.

League Two strugglers Harrogate Town provided a stern test for Stockport in the next round. The Hatter’s looked to be heading out of the competition with 13 minutes left before two quick goals from 21-year old Josh Stokes sent them through to the quarter finals.

A dominant quarter-final performance at Vale Park saw Dave Challinor’s side comfortably beat Port Vale 4-0. Two goals from Adama Sidibeh was followed by a goal direct from a corner from Ollie Norwood, before Jack Diamond added a fourth to add the icing on the cake.

There was more Norwood set-piece magic in the semi-finals when Stockport travelled to Doncaster Rovers. The 35-year old curling in a stunning 25 yard free kick beyond Zander Clark, a goal worthy of winning any semi-final. 1-0 to the Hatters it finished, sending them to their first EFL Trophy Final for 33 years.

Why are they both called the Hatters?

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

We know you're all wondering...

Hat-making in Stockport can be traced as far back as the 1600s, where, at its peak, 80,000 people worked in the industry.

From top hats to trilbies, the 30 hat factories in the town - and another 20 in the surrounding area - were a major source of income for the local economy.

Its roots can also be found in phrases still said today, such as "mad as a hatter" - a dark reminder that mercury exposure damaged the brains of some hatters.

As for Luton, the industry was much more focused on straw hats and the skill of plaiting them.

Evidence suggests people were crafting the headwear from the mid-1600s, helping to drive the town's main income.

However, the availability of cheaper materials from abroad led to the industry declining in Luton in the 20th century.

The town's football club adopted the Hatters nickname around the time of World War One, having earlier been called the Straw Plaiters.

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Only one question remains... should we make things really interesting and suggest this afternoon's losing club has to change their nickname?

Past-master v ambitious rookie on the sidelines

Luton v Stockport (15:00 BST)

The teams might share a nickname and be League One rivals but there are few parallels when it comes to the opposing managers.

Luton boss Jack Wilshere is in his first full-time senior managerial job since leaving his Arsenal under-18 coaching role in October 2024 and has never been in charge at a final, let alone won a trophy as a manager.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor has been there and done it all before with five titles, three play-off final promotions and an FA Trophy on his CV across a 16-year career in the dugout.

Wilshere will take charge of just his 39th game as a senior manager this afternoon while Challinor will oversee the 605th of his career

The 50-year-old most recently won the League Two title with Stockport in 2023-24 to follow on from National League success in 2021-22.

He faces 34-year-old former England international Wilshere, who oversaw two games as interim manager at Norwich at the end of last season before taking the job at Kenilworth Road in October 2025 following Luton's slow start after back-to-back relegations to the third tier.

The pair do have history, having completed their coaching credentials together and Challinor says his counterpart knows what is expected of him.

"I know Jack, I did my Pro Licence with him. When players come down from the Championship and you don't have alignment, it takes you a while to get going and that's probably been the case. But they've had good runs throughout the season and they've got stacks of quality within their team," Challinor told BBC Radio Manchester.

"We know it'll be really tough. We know we'll be outnumbered in terms of supporters, but our supporters will certainly make themselves heard."

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