Luton keeper Shea labels brilliant Stockport save as the 'best' of his entire career

A thoroughly elated Hatters goalkeeper James Shea labelled his stunning save against Stockport County in the Vertu Trophy final victory at Wembley Stadium on Sunday as without doubt the ‘best’ of his long career.

With eight minutes remaining at the home of English football, County won a free kick that saw Oliver Norwood, who had scored from a similar position against Town in the 1-1 league draw at Kenilworth Road last month, standing over the ball. Having put an earlier attempt over the bar, Shea was in two minds over what was coming his way, as this time, the former Northern Ireland international swung a cross in which saw Josh Stokes meet it powerfully, sending a header goalwards that appeared to be flashing under the woodwork, with Odin Bailey already celebrating.

However, they hadn’t banked on the reflexes of the former Arsenal stopper, who threw himself to his right and fingertipped the ball onto the woodwork, making a quite superb stop. He did get a slight element of fortune, as when it bounced back down, Isaac Olaofe was unable to turn in the rebound, with Hakeem Odoffin clearing the danger as crucially it remained 2-1 to Luton.

Having played 121 times for Town, with just under 250 outings throughout his time as a professional, asked about his heroics, Shea said: “The main thing was we won the game, but to be able to contribute to it was fantastic. Yes, 100 percent, hands down, at the time I thought, cor, that was the best save I've ever made! I’ve made a few, but I don't think anything will compare to that. I'm not going to lie, I’ve probably seen my save about 60 times I’d say.

"It was a great feeling, great to be able to show people what I'm about and to leave my mark on the game, that's the biggest thing. The timing of everything, it just added to it even more. After the game my brother came to me, and said, ‘did you mean to save it?’ I said, ‘of course I meant to save it!’ I don't think he realised I actually saved it, I think he thought it hit the crossbar straight away. It's what dreams are made of. I was desperate for us to win, but to be able to contribute at a big moment, it’s what you live for. It’s all the hours you put in just for that one save, to be able to do something, to show what I’m about still, I was over the moon.”

When the set-piece had originally been set up, with Norwood lining things up, questioned as to exactly what was running through his mind, Shea continued: “I’m not going to lie, at first I’m thinking he might shoot, that's what’s going through my head, because he has done it a few times this year. So I was thinking, just be ready for this, I've got to get set and see what happens,

"Then the boy’s headed it, I’ve managed to make a save, get it on to the crossbar and then got my bit of luck when it fell to their player, he miskicked it and we managed to clear it. That is my job to try and make saves and it was a big moment, but that's what I'm there to do. Thankfully we went and got the third goal just to put the icing on the cake.”

Before Shea made that save, he had been enjoying a fairly quiet afternoon, as playing at Wembley for the first time in his career, he did well early on claim a high, hanging cross into the box and settle any nerves, before being breached on 11 minutes when Adamah Sidibeh outpaced Mads Andersen to fire past him.

On the beginning to the contest, he said: “It (the cross) wasn't an easy one, he got some height on it, it’s one of the hard ones as you've got time to think about it. I’ve gone up and thankfully I managed to hold on to it as it just puts you into the game nicely. Then it’s a good ball over the top, we got sucked in a little bit and what's killed me the most is he's hit into the ground and it's bounced up over my shoulder. I want him to hit it clean and if he hits it clean, it probably hits me, but he’s kind of scuffed it into the ground.”

Eager to prevent that happening again, Shea did then come racing out of his box when Sidibeh looked to speed away again, completely cleaning the attacker out after beating beaten to the ball. Thankfully for the ex-Arsenal youngster, the offside flag was quickly raised, meaning he escaped any punishment from referee Martin Coy.

However, Shea wasn’t worried his dream of playing at the home of English football was going to turn into a nightmare, saying: “You know what, I wasn't to be fair. I actually thought I was going to get there first, but he's rapid, he got there just before me and I've taken him out. I’ve looked up and seen he’s given offside.

"When the player was down, the ref came over and I actually asked him, if it wasn't offside, what would it have been? He said it would just have been a yellow card, so I wasn't worried as I knew he took a big touch and it was going away from goal anyway. I knew Kal (Naismith) was recovering and the defenders were recovering, so I never felt in trouble of getting sent off. I thought it would be caution and that would be it.”

After the break, and Luton leading 2-1, Shea had felt quite comfortable between the posts, with his defence doing a sterling job in keeping out the County attackers whenever they got the ball wide, which eventually allowed Nahki Wells to make the result save with a third goal in stoppage time. He said: “I thought we were brilliant, we were absolutely brilliant (in the first half).

"We showed everything that we were about and then you know second half they’re going to come out a bit more and we’ve got a lead to defend, so you knew they would have more possession, but I never felt in danger if I’m honest with you. I thought Mads (Andersen), Haks, Kal (Naismith) and even Izzy (Jones), put their bodies on the line when they had to defend the crosses as we knew that was going to be a big threat from them and I thought the back four was fantastic.”

Since making the save, Shea has seen his social media and phone blow up in the way that it did when he made his Premier League debut in the closing stages of the 4-2 home loss against Fulham back in May 2024. To get so many good wishes from supporters and his former team-mates as well was a real boost for the keeper, who said: “The messages I’ve got is incredible. One of the main things that I love, is yes, we won, but how pleased everyone was for me.

"I had the same when I came on in the Prem a few years ago, how pleased everyone was for me, that's massive for me. The messages I’ve got, the boys coming up to me after, I’m over the moon. I’ve had a message from Chongy (Tahith Chong) this morning, ex-players who have been here, I had a message from Hylts (Danny Hylton), so it really does mean a lot to me, it does. When it’s all said and done you look back at these moments and see what you've been able to accomplish, what you’ve won and no-one will ever be able to take that away from us.”