Image source, PA Media

I almost entitled this post 'Reservoir Smogs', in homage to the sharp suits echoing the Quentin Tarantino flick and Teessiders' industrial heritage... but I didn't.

The Boro players are looking sharp and relaxed though, no signs of pre-season nerves in their ranks.

Two new faces to kick off a new season.

Graeme Jones and Jonathan Woodgate enjoyed very different playing careers - one was at Bury while the other was at Real Madrid for example - but tonight they are peers - in opposite dugouts.

Jones has been an assistant at international and Premier League level - but never been a manager in his own right.

Woodgate joined the Boro staff after ending a fine career at club and international level in 2016, and got his chance to coach his boyhood team just three years later.

"The game won't define us," Jones told the press at his pre-match conference. "You hope you’ve got a long career after the game tomorrow, but I know Jonathan wants to win and get off to a good start as much as I do.”

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

It has taken 30 years, numerous promotions and relegations and a wealth of arrivals and departures for Luton Town to break their transfer record in bringing Croatia goalkeeper Simon Sluga to Kenilworth Road this summer.

The man whose record he took, Lars Elstrup, was a real folk hero.

The Denmark international joined the Hatters for £850,000 from Odense, scored 19 First Division goals in two seasons before rejoining his old club in 1991. He was even part of Denmark's 1992 European Championship winning squad.

He later joined a sect, after struggles with depression caused him to withdraw from football. He was last in the headlines in August 2016, when he invaded the pitch naked during a game between Randers and Silkeborg.

Image source, Rex Features

Who would have thought that a move to an ambitious Wigan Athletic would mark a turning point in Graeme Jones' career?

The then-Doncaster forward was a big money arrival at the Latics, and it was the relationship he forged with Roberto Martinez - brought in as one of the 'Three Amigos' at the old JJB Stadium - that would prove key.

Once both had finished playing, Jones became a loyal assistant to the Spaniard at Swansea, Wigan, Everton and even Belgium - where he worked with fellow coach Thierry Henry and stars such as Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.

He also teamed up with Darren Moore at West Brom.

This is his first strike out on his own in a main job, and he has inherited an impressive side despite a couple of departures this summer.

Image source, Rex Features

Mick Harford played a big part in Luton's League One title success last season, stepping in as caretaker boss after Nathan Jones left for Stoke in January and securing a second consecutive promotion for the Hatters.

Now back in his role as Luton's recruitment officer, he's excited for the campaign ahead.

Harford told BBC Sport: "It is the first game of the EFL season, which is an honour for the football club. It'll be under the lights at Kenilworth Road and on TV, which makes it extra special.

"I'll be really proud of what myself and we as a club have achieved so far. We have come a long way pretty quickly in terms of two back-to-back promotions.

"We are going to face a massive challenge because we know how tough the Championship is."

Image source, Rex Features

It is 12 years since Luton Town's last spell in the Championship ended with an emphatic 5-0 defeat by champions Sunderland.

It was the beginning of a spiral down the pyramid, hampered by financial issues and a savage points deduction which eventually saw the club tumble out of the league.

It has taken 12 tough years to drag themselves back to the second tier.

Last season's class roared to the title - streaking away under Nathan Jones' guidance before his mid-season switch to Stoke, and then club legend Mick Harford steered the ship home to bring silverware and the good times to Kenilworth Road.

For the fans who tasted Wembley success in the 1980s as the Hatters mixed it in the top flight, this is a little more like it. Younger fans have been able to make their own memories, too.

Image source, Rex Features

It's a bit of a cliche I know, but the opening weekend of the season can genuinely be the one time in a campaign where you actually feel a bit of optimism.

I don't know if it's that 'absence makes the heart feel fonder' type of thing, but I can fall right back in love with my team... until at least 15 minutes into the opening game when it all unravels.

Seeing your mates again, adopting all the ridiculous superstitions and pre-match rituals. Same pint, same pie, same place in the stand. Same old feeling of frustration, for most of us.

Let's enjoy that rich, wonderful, warm feeling of hope for as long as it lasts.

Luton hand debuts to Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Callum McManaman, while fellow new signings Jacob Butterfield and Brendon Galloway are on the bench.

Middlesbrough turn to academy talent in the shape of debutant Hayden Coulson and Lewis Wing, while summer arrivals Marc Bola and Marcus Browne have to settle for a place on the bench.

Luton: Sluga, Cranie, Potts, Bradley, Pearson, Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, Shinnie, McManaman, Lee, Collins.

Subs: Shea, Berry, Cornick, Moncur, Galloway, Jones, Butterfield.

Middlesbrough: Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, McNair, Coulson, Clayton, Howson, Johnson, Wing, Fletcher, Assombalonga.

Subs: Pears, Bola, Wood, Saville, Tavernier, Browne, Gestede.

Image source, PA Media

It wouldn't be unkind to say that Kenilworth Road is no Emirates Stadium or Wembley, but for Luton Town it's been a fortress in the past couple of years.

They haven't lost a home league game there since March 2018 on their way to successive promotions.

The Hatters have plans to move to a new home at Power Court in the next couple of years. And, having worked so hard on the pitch to get back into the Championship, they'll hope to have retained their second-tier status at the very least by the time they move to pastures new.

You have to go back a fair way in the archives to find the last time Luton Town and Middlesbrough met in a league game.

Tonight's curtain-raiser could bring back some special memories for the Teessiders - it was Luton who provided the opposition on their final game at Ayresome Park in April 1995 - before the move to the Riverside.

John Hendrie's two goals ensured a fitting goodbye in a 2-1 win, after David Pleat's Hatters had thrashed the Boro 5-1 in the corresponding fixture that season.

Image source, Getty Images

Cheers Ian.

All that expectation and hope, excitement and nerves, belief and bluster...

A summer's worth of waiting. Almost done. We're nearly there, folks.

It's business time.

Image source, Rex Features

Thanks for your company so far today.

I'll now pass you over to Matt Newsum for build up to and live text commentary of the first game of the EFL season, Luton v Middlesbrough.

It's nearly time...

Richard Hoskin
BBC Radio Bristol sports editor

Image source, Rex Features

After a near miss last season, Bristol City will be optimistic about their chances going into the new season.

After Chelsea trio Tomas Kalas, Jay Dasilva and Kasey Palmer impressed on loan last season, the club deserve a huge pat on the back for signing all three players on a permanent basis.

Much will depend on what happens between now and transfer deadline day.

As things stand, it'll be a pleasant surprise if the club fight off Premier League clubs and retain the services of talented defender Adam Webster.

And CEO Mark Ashton told us earlier in the week the importance of bringing a new striker into the club. Watch this space!

Andy Giddings
Sports Editor, BBC Sheffield

It’s been a turbulent summer at Sheffield Wednesday. Steve Bruce’s sudden departure to Newcastle and a transfer embargo have significantly delayed what would have a been an overhaul of their unbalanced squad.

In what transfer activity that has been possible, there has been a much-needed injection of pace. They also have at their disposal reliable quality in Keiren Westwood, Dominic Iorfa, Tom Lees, Barry Bannan, Adam Reach and Steven Fletcher. Plus, it’s great to see Kieran Lee available again after an injury nightmare.

The Owls are only an outside bet for the play-offs, but the fixture list has been kind in August and September so they can realistically hope for a good start under caretaker boss Lee Bullen.

Image source, Rex Features

Adam Oxley
BBC Radio Sheffield

The bookies have Barnsley odds-on for relegation and on paper it’s fair to see why, given the quality of the league.

The Reds have 10 new recruits with limited second-tier experience, while mainstays of their League One promotion team in Adam Davies, Liam Lindsay and Ethan Pinnock have all departed to Championship rivals.

That’s on paper though, and German head coach Daniel Stendel has instilled a real sense of camaraderie and belief in both the team and the town to try to prove the doubters wrong.

Could they stay up? Yes. Will they? The jury is out with so many unknown quantities.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have been one of the busiest Championship clubs in the transfer market this summer.

Goalkeeper Dan Bentley and captain Romaine Sawyers have departed for fellow second-tier sides, while among their incomings is Sweden centre-back Pontus Jansson from Leeds.

And there are sure to be rumours about the futures of striker Neal Maupay and attacking midfielder Said Benrahma before the transfer window closes, both having been linked with moves to the Premier League.

"I think we have a stronger squad (than last year)," said Bees boss Thomas Frank. "We are very pleased with the six we have got in and now it’s about how quickly we can get them clicking."

Image source, Getty Images

QPR manager Mark Warburton spoke to BBC Radio London before their first game of the season away at Stoke on Saturday.

Former Brentford and Rangers boss succeeded Steve McClaren at Loftus Road in the summer.

When asked about his new players, he said: "We’ve tried to be clever with the recruitment. I’ve tried to bring in players who either know how I want to play or are familiar with that style of football as well.

What about his aspirations for the season? "We want to finish as high as QPR can.

"All you can worry about is being prepared for Saturday at three o’clock and hopefully get the selection right, get the preparation right and the analysis right and the boys in the right frame of mind to go and enjoy what they do."

Huddersfield Town head coach Jan Siewert wants to see their fans smiling again this term, after their relegation last season with only 16 points.

The Terriers, whose two-year Premier League stay ended with a 20th-place finish in May, begin the 2019-20 season at home to Derby on Monday (19:45 BST).

"I’m very excited to play in front of our fans once more and see them believing in what we’re doing," Siewert told BBC Radio Leeds."

"The togetherness of this club is very special. I know what this club means to the people.

"We will try everything to bring a constant smile to the fans’ faces."

This doesn't seem ideal preparation for Bolton's first game of the season - a late getaway from Bolton to Buckinghamshire.

Then again, not much about this summer has been "ideal preparation" for Bolton's season...

Wanderers will start the season with a 12-point deficit and with only a handful of players contracted to the club.

Image source, Rex Features

One of the bright spots to come out of Huddersfield's dismal relegation from the Premier League was the form of striker Karlan Grant, who ended the season as their top scorer despite only joining the Terriers in January from Charlton.

The 21-year-old is being tipped by some as a possible Championship Golden Boot contender - how does he feel about the added expectations on him for the season ahead?

"I’ve created my own pressure by scoring goals and doing well," he told BBC Sport. "That is part and parcel of football, you need to deal with pressure.

"This season is no different, every season you have and everywhere you go there is pressure and expectations. Hopefully I’ll thrive on it.

"If I score goals and that means we win games, that's all that matters to me. If we get promoted and I don’t get the golden boot, I’d want promotion without the golden boot. Scoring goals is brilliant, hopefully I can do that but only if we win games."