The Johnstone's Paint Trophy is fantastic. Any competition that gives lower league clubs the chance to play at the national stadium is a great idea.
I'd like to say a huge thank you to Johnstone's Paint who have extended their sponsorship of this trophy for another three seasons. I met the people involved and they are proper, passionate football fans and the energies they put into this competition makes it a wonderful event.
Johnstone's Paint Trophy: who will lift it?
The financial rewards for the League One and Two clubs are absolutely imperative and gives them an opportunity to generate some serious revenue. This competition can make the difference over whether a young player gets a pro contract or not - or even whether a club survives or goes under.
I'll be at Wembley on Sunday as part of the Sky Sports live team and I think Luton and Scunthorpe will give us a marvellous spectacle. Here's what we can look forward to:
Luton Town
Luton Town are a club steeped in history. In the 1980s they had some fantastic players with the likes of Brian Horton, David Moss, Paul Walsh, Ricky Hill and the Stein brothers. They played some fantastic football on that artificial pitch and some of their players went on to play for big sides and win big honours.
They have a tradition of playing good football and they have an incredible catchment area in the Bedfordshire region - as proved by the number of tickets they've sold for Sunday's match.
But the club has fallen on hard times of late and they have been playing through adversity all season long following their 30-point deduction.
That's why this trip to Wembley has been such a fillip for the club. I was at the Southern Area Final when Luton beat Brighton and the scenes of euphoria at the end of the match were a sight to behold.
The funds they will bring in from this cup run will hopefully allow them to mount a challenge next year and rise again - because relegation seems inevitable following their midweek loss to Rotherham.
They have been on a phenomenal run given their circumstances, but survival is likely to be a bridge too far. Thirty points was an incredible deficit, they didn't reach zero until January, but if they can keep that squad together they might bounce back next year.
Mick Harford is Mr Luton. He provides the fans with entertainment on the pitch - but also off it because he runs a nightclub in the town as well!
When Mick was appointed, you knew the Luton players wouldn't be allowed to feel sorry for themselves and give up. Until the last dice has been rolled, Mick was going to make sure they would fight all the way.
Players to watch
I came across their captain Kevin Nicholls when I was at Wigan and thought he could be a tremendous player if he could learn to control his temperament - but then again he lives on the edge and maybe that gives him something extra. He is an inspirational skipper with the club at heart.As far as talent is concerned, three players really stick out for me. Young Tom Craddock (pictured) up front has got 10 goals this season and he is an old-fashioned centre-forward. He can play with his back to goal and likes to run at people.
Chris Martin is an out-and-out winger with great dribbling skills and good close control. He's a goal threat too with 12 goals this season.
And finally Asa Hall in midfield reminds me of a young Don Hutchison. He's a long and lean beanpole with a fantastic strike on him. Those three are talented boys with lots of self-belief who could thrive on the big, open Wembley pitch.
Scunthorpe United
Perhaps reaching the final isn't as great an achievement for Scunthorpe as it is for Luton, but it is a Wembley cup final and it means a lot to them.They are a League One side that recently came down from the Championship and have much greater resources than Luton. They're in with a shout of promotion with seven games to go and they are in good form - only one defeat in their last six.
Of course, I have a great fondness for the club from my time as player and coach and I know it is a very well-run club. A special mention must go to the chairman Steve Wharton, who came in at a difficult time for Scunthorpe and backed them financially.
He has put them on a sound footing, he has put a good structure in place for the next 10 years and I'd like to give him some praise because he hasn't been in the best health of late.
They are favourites and it would be a minor miracle if Luton were to win. However, anything can happen in a one-off game and if Scunthorpe are not on their mettle then the Hatters have players that can punish them.
If Scunthorpe play the occasion rather than the game they will give Luton a chance - and they will be hoping the same fate doesn't befall them as befell Arsenal in the 1988 Littlewoods Cup Final.
Players to watch
There's a core of lads that were at the club when I was playing and coaching and a special mention must go to Matt Sparrow who is celebrating his testimonial year even though he's only 27. He'll be thrilled to be playing at WembleyBut the main threat will come from the strikeforce of Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes (pictured). They've got 44 goals between them with Hooper bagging 29 from 45 appearances. For £175,000 that's an absolute steal from Southend.
They wondered whether they'd be able to replace Martin Paterson's goals, but Hooper has done that and more. Both strikers are good dribblers and have cool heads in front of goal. They are likely to be the matchwinners for Scunthorpe.
I also like a lad called Henri Lansbury on loan from Arsenal, who proves Nigel Adkins has got his finger on the pulse when it comes to young players at big clubs.
Beagrie's verdict
All of the ingredients are in place for an outstanding game of football and there's always a possibility that Luton could pull off a shock.
Everything is in Scunthorpe's favour, so Luton have got to play with no fear and hope their opponents don't grasp the opportunity. Much will depend on who settles quickest on a big day in front of a big crowd.
If you've got strong individuals with a good mental attitude then you don't necessarily need the best players. An early goal would help Luton, but the first big tackle could also help their players to grow in the early stages of the game.
Mick will tell his players to go and enjoy themselves. That side only know one way to play - and that's to go and attack. Sometimes the scripts are already written in football and I'm excited to see Luton, a team who've been up against it all season, playing in a cup final.
Scunny will be stretching every sinew to ensure there is no fairytale ending for Luton, but I just hope we get a fantastic game and it's won in normal time without the need for penalties.
I'd like to see a 5-4 win for whichever team deserves it on the day, but looking at it objectively you'd expect Scunthorpe to win with their bigger and more talented squad.
Everything points to a Scunny win, but a bit like the Grand National, there's no such thing as a dead cert in a Wembley cup final!
The Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final is live from 1.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Comments (12)
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Mike Maskery (Leicester City fan) says...
It really is time to have a rethink about Luton Town. The penalty imposed was too harsh and inappropriate. The Players and staff have responded marvelously, and surely deserve a reprieve. Come on FA show some justice!
Posted 09:53 6th April 2009
Ryan Hare (Luton Town fan) says...
i am still a luton fan despite moving up north and i am getting some stick for supporting luton but who cares what they think, The HATTERS will always be part of me and confident we can win the JPT, we are a decent sized club with great fan support and we can bounce back, we are the Mad htters
Posted 12:52 5th April 2009
Andy Rocks (Scunthorpe United fan) says...
Good luck to the Iron, Hooper to score first with a Scunny 2-0nil win.
Posted 01:07 5th April 2009
John Arnold (Luton Town fan) says...
Luton have it what it takes to win tomorrow as long as they settle, we can play good football and on the bigger pitch i think we will prove our current league position doesn't truly reflect our abilities! Would love to see Nico get the winner, True luton legend!! Up the Town!!!
Posted 22:35 4th April 2009
Daniel Varley (Scunthorpe United fan) says...
Come on u scunny Hooper Togwell Hayes will score the goals 3-0 to the iron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 17:59 4th April 2009
Kevin Dallas (Scunthorpe United fan) says...
Enjoy your day out luton. it's sad that your going down because of your points deduction but the iron will be too strong for you sunday. hoopermans comming to break your hearts 3-1 scunny.
Posted 16:24 4th April 2009
Matthew Keane (Luton Town fan) says...
botom of the football league but come sunday champion with a big crowd and a gd protest a nico speciall will clinch a great attacking performance for the town and dont b supprised if the cup doesnt return
Posted 22:04 3rd April 2009
Pete Goodall (Luton Town fan) says...
Peter's got it spot on, as it should be a great game. Luton's style of play is to attack, Just hope the Iron's don't score earlier on and kill the game off. If Luton take the lead with 40,000 fans supporting them, they could go on to win it. There will be a few messages for the FA and the League, I hope there ashamed at how they have treated the smaller clubs in comparison to the Premiership teams. I hope some of the fans going will support the town if we do drop down to the non-league later in the year, It will not be easy to bounce straight back. To all the LTFC fans please make the protest peacefull. Cheers
Posted 16:53 3rd April 2009
David Brennan (Luton Town fan) says...
Coldplay sing in Viva La Vida, "I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listen as the crowd would sing "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" and it's going to be all about the king when Chris Martin scores the winner. Come on you Hatters!
Posted 14:52 3rd April 2009
Tom Barrett (Scunthorpe United fan) says...
good luck 2 scunny on sunday, i'll be dere to watch us beat luton 4-0!! a cliff byrne 45yarder screamer and a gary hooper hat trick!! up the iron!!!
Posted 14:45 3rd April 2009
Aaron Jarman (Luton Town fan) says...
its going to be hard but luton will just win 3-2 with craddock hall and keane getting the goals after what we have been though the fans and the club deserve something to cheers about come on you hatters
Posted 13:50 3rd April 2009
Stocksbridge Iron (Scunthorpe United fan) says...
Peter, I don't think my heart could take a 5-4 victory!!! Just looking forward to a good flowing game, and a comfortable Scunny win.... UP THE IRON!
Posted 13:32 3rd April 2009
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