We think it’s a bit of a stretch – but maybe you think a match between us and Wycombe Wanderers is one that counts as a derby? It’d certainly give the BBC Three Counties team something to sink their teeth into when Luton Town don’t have a game or something. To be honest, though, we’re not sure there’s much bad blood or big history between us and those lads across the way in Buckinghamshire. Sure, we’ve had our battles over the years. But we’ve nothing out of the ordinary to report as we both went at it hammer and tongs in various competitions.
Wycombe Wanderers: The Facts
Adams Park
Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, HP12 4HJ
For 130 years, the Chairboys are believed to have been kicking a ball around in anger. Or maybe discontent. We can’t vouch for their mood on a game-by-game basis now, let alone back in 1887. If you believe Wikipedia, it took seven years for the club to do anything ‘of note’. By that, we’re not having a pop. It’s simply that friendlies were about the extent of their competition until Wycombe entered the FA Amateur Cup (1894); FA Cup (1895); and Southern League (1896). The Football Club History Database backs up the latter, although not the former.
In 1908, Wycombe Wanderers kicked the Southern League into touch and went full-on amateur. They created a home in the Great West Suburban League ’til 1914, then the Spartan League after the First World War One had ended. In 1921, however, came the decision to join the Isthmian League and the start of an association that ran for 64 years. And in that length of time, there were seven championship wins and an FA Amateur Cup title too. By this point, however, times were catching up with them; amateur football having been axed by the FA in ’74.
Again, we bow down to Wikipedia’s knowledge. Twice between 1979 and their seventh Isthmian League title in 1983 did Wycombe reject the chance to join the Alliance Premier League (or Conference as we’d know it now). It wasn’t ’til 1985 that the Chairboys accepted promotion. Not that it lasted long; the club immediately falling back to the Isthmian League. Not that it lasted long either. A dominant eighth title win saw them return to the Conference a year later and, within six more years, Martin O’Neill was leading them to the Football League.
Wycombe were the last Conference champions promoted to the League for four years. Oh, and the Chairboys remain the last side to do the non-league double (despite our best efforts in 2010). So, there’s a fact for you…
Why do we know the Chairboys?
But for our ground ‘issues’ in 1996, our shared story would have long since started. The wait that could’ve been three years instead took 17. We first met in October 2010; the Chairboys giving us a stark introduction to life in the League. We won at their place, however, and both ended up going up to League One together. As we kept our focus upwards, Wycombe Wanderers didn’t; the Chairboys sent packing back two full campaigns before we failed in our bid to keep our heads above the League One waterline. And there, in 2014, they were waiting for us back in League Two too…
How to get to Wycombe Wanderers – Travel Information – Distance: 52 miles
By Road
Take the A1(M) south towards London, and depending on your preferred method, join the M25 anti-clockwise. We say ‘depending’. You can take the A414 towards St Albans and join the M25 at J21a to cut a corner.
Once on the M25, you’ll need to travel less than a quarter of the distance around as you leave for the Birmingham-bound M40 at J16. After about 26 miles, leave the M40 at J4 and join the A4010 heading towards Aylesbury for just over two miles.
At a mini-roundabout, you want to turn left into Lane End Road, followed by another right into Hillbottom Road.
At the ground, you’ll find a decent-sized car park that costs £5 each. The nearby industrial estate also has parking options at around £3. But, with one road in and one road out, it’s a trial to get home after the game. You might also find some street parking if you’re lucky.
By Rail
Station: HIGH WYCOMBE
Services to: LONDON MARYLEBONE
The nearest station to Adams Park is 2.5 miles away from the ground. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to jump in a taxi to complete your journey.
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