Wilshere eyes first trophy in battle of Hatters

Luton's Jack Wilshere will take charge of just his 39th game as a senior manager in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley, while Stockport boss Dave Challinor will oversee the 605th of his career [Shutterstock/Getty Images] Luton Town and Stockport County share the same nickname - they are both the Hatters - but that might be where similarities end for these two EFL Trophy finalists. There are certainly few parallels when it comes to the opposing managers who will lead their sides out at Wembley on Sunday (kick-off 15:00 BST). 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 of 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. Challinor, 50, 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.

Sunday will present itself as a classic case of past master versus ambitious rookie. A proud moment - Wilshere "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," Luton's Wilshere 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.