Academy & Development manager Andy Awford and Academy Head of Coaching, Jordan McCann, have been out on the grass coaching the boys while the process of recruiting a new youth team manager continues.

But a couple of weeks ago, Awford welcomed the new intake of first-year scholars – some of whom impressed in the 2-2 friendly draw at Hitchin last Wednesday – to Kenilworth Road.

The boys signed their contracts in the Trophy Room with Awford and club secretary Chris Clark, then posed for a picture at the side of the pitch.

Awford said: “It’s something we do every summer to welcome the players and their parents to Luton Town. It makes their progression from being schoolboys in the Under-16s to first year scholars official – and they can get the pictures for the family albums.

“We’re really pleased with the lads we’ve taken on this season, and many Hatters fans would have seen exactly why for themselves at Hitchin last Wednesday.

“They’ve all got the likes of James Justin, Frankie Musonda, Tyreeq Bakinson, Akin Famewo, Kavan Cotter and Arthur Read as examples to prove to them that there is a well-trodden pathway at this club from youth team to professional football.

“They have to put the hard work in and apply themselves on and off the pitch, but hopefully we’ll see some of them follow in those lads’ foot-steps in the future.”

From left to right, we wish Toby Byron, Jake Peck, Connor Tomlinson, Kai Phelan, Tiernan Parker, Corey Panter, Drew Richardson and Josh Neufville every success in their careers with the Town!