[theo_luddite]

Adams Park
The Apple of Eve's Eye
Watch out for the Snakes
Or maybe it was the Wasps?
Sands Industrial Estate
2+ miles from the Station
HP12 4HJ

Kick-off 19:45 UK Time
Tuesday 07/01/25


By DipsyDave - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 - WIKI

Town head way down south to High Wycombe for a rearranged fixture that marks the first of 3 consecutive away games. This and the one at the weekend (Shrewsbury) are in towns where the local railway station is in the middle of town, but the ground couldn't be any further away if it tried, unless it was in another town. They are both about 1 hours trudge, a serious amount of shoe leather before you call in any pubs on the way. Wycombe have faltered a bit in their form since their unbeaten run that was in full swing when the game was originally scheduled, however, Town being Town, we really haven't got close to laying a glove on them yet.

Pies, pees, beers and getting there - assuming you aren't snowed in.
https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/...erers.html

The Bill Turnbull Gantry
The gantry at the back of the Frank Adams Stand was renamed in September 2022 in honour of the late broadcaster Bill Turnbull, who had supported Wycombe and previously used to commentate on fixtures from the position.

Speaking of Wasps and Snake(s) (Oil Salesmen).

In 2002, rugby union team London Wasps (later just known as Wasps), became tenants to Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park after losing their previous groundsharing agreement with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. By 2008 Wasps owner Steve Hayes had gone from minority owner of Wycombe to 100% owner. From 2007 to 2011 he proposed increasingly outlandish plans to either increase the capacity of Adams Park or build new 20,000 capacity stadiums even further away from Wycombe than Adams Park.

Wycombe supporters, starting to smell a very foul smelling rat, were having none of it. By 2014 Hayes had moved Wasps lock stock and smoking gun barrel to The Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Whilst Wycombe's fans were happy, there was more than a little disconchantlement down Jimmy Hill Way at how he'd bought the ground, seemingly behind the back of Coventry City who found themselves tennants (after a brief spell at St. Andrews) in a ground that was built for them. Fast forward a slackhandful of years and the Snake Oil Salesman's plans disappeared in a puff of smoke as he couldn't afford to pay back the money he got from investors to buy the stadium etc. The rest, as they say - is his story.

On the tellybox

On Sky Sports+ over here, HTTV elsewhere

Latest news

Still all quiet on the transfer front - so far.
(Edit) - well it was https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthrea...#pid277249

Out Injured/Suspended/Isolating

Just when you thought it was safe to open the curtains in the sick bay ......
Well, we bring a new guy in, he plays for 9 minutes and gets himself sent off. 3 match ban unless some miracle happens at the FA and we get it rescinded. It also took only a minute (again) for another injury as Lonwijk pulled up with a hammy chasing a through ball. Two games running we've had players injuring themselves in the first minute.

Back training but not oven ready/Back in the frame

Hoggy and Evans were the unexpected (maybe, the coded messages are starting to become more decipherable) bums on the bench. Evans came on, Hoggy was still warming the bench at full time.


Musical Interlude

Hippy Rabbit rock star and former manager Gareth Ainsworth is now rocking 'em in the aisles just off the ring road in Shrewsbury, where we get to sing-along-on-Saturday. Soooo .... if you ever went to Ibiza, especially after The Sun did that exposé about the (ahem) goings on in Club 18-30 ......

Nicholas Bracegirdle, better known as Chicane is a musician, composer, songwriter and producer who was born in Chalfont St Giles. Some of his most famous hits include the Ibiza trance anthem Offshore, Saltwater and Don't Give Up, featuring Bryan Adams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTJtfytoYy4 - the shorter version of Saltwater and no it's not the one with Bryan Adams

Jack Garratt shot to fame after his 2014 single 'Worry' was playlisted on BBC Radio One, that year he played the BBC Introducing Stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. The experimental singer, songwriter and composer was born in High Wycombe and grew up in Little Chalfont.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2GTddbSe4Y - me neither. Didn't make it to Radio 2 that I recall.

Leigh-Anne Pinnock, born and raised in High Wycombe, she shot to fame after appearing in the 2011 series of the X Factor where she joined Little Mix, formerly Rhythmix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFDzhKdrN9M

Sir Barry Gibb is the co-founder of the Bee Gees, along with er, his brothers Maurice and Robin. They also allegedly played in a little bar in Ibiza, which was called The Piano Room if my few remaining brain cells from way back then still recall. No, I didn't see them, but the two lads that played there never tired of letting everyone know, "they played on this very stage". Although his main residence is/was in Miami he had a nine-bedroom mansion, Wilton Place, on Ledborough Lane in Beaconsfield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UweHX1Vpv90

I've given up trying to embed them.

Other's that have graced that corner of the world include - Howard Jones, Dusty Springfield, Judy Boucher, Beverley Craven, Val Doonican, Shakin' Stevens, Les Payne, Brian Connolly From The Sweet & Opera singer John Shirley-Quirk both Lived in Flackwell, Chris Rea Cookham, Stewart Copeland from The Police, Leo Sayer & Ozzy Osbourne both lived in Amersham, Frankie Vaughan lived in Marlow Hill, Mark Knopfler was in HW Band Brewers Droop long before Dire Straits, Matt Bianco lived in Cressex, Depeche Mode near Marlow bridge & Jim Capaldi also lived in Marlow, Bjrn Ulvaeus from ABBA Cadmore End, Rock and Roll Blues Guitarist Alvin Lee lived in Bolter End, Mrs Mills (Piano player) lived in Penn & of course Ian Dury.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WGVgfjnLqc

It's also a popular area for BBC Radio Jocks, past and present to live, given the direct trains into Marylebone Station and the shortish bike/taxi ride or walk to the Britsh Broadcorping Castration's Broadcorping House.

Last time out

Town made hard work of another home draw when a forward with any confdence could have won them the game. How many touches does Koroma need before he realises a first time shot might actually work? How many tame headers that looked like back-passes to the keeper will Mr. Bojangles win before he realises he either needs more direction (or slight lack of) or more power on them?



Wycombe were surprisingly held 1:1 at home by Blackpool, who have been very hit and miss since Steve Bruce took over and pissed us off by winning at ours. We've a return trip to the freezing cold seaside coming up soon this month. Then again with those loanees heading back to parent clubs .... see below.



Brum went back to the top with a brace from Alfie May and another goal from Willumson at Wigan. Leading scorer Stansfield had the day off. Wycombe dropped into 2nd with their draw on goal difference after Wrexham could only win 1:0 at home to Pish Posh. Town stay 4th but are now 7 points adrift and need to win this game and the other we have in hand on Wrexham to get close to troubling the top 3. Barnsalee moved into 5th following their 4th successive win, 3:0 v Creepy Crawley and Reading generated a 3 point gap over 7th placed Smogport with a draw at Charlton. Smogport's 1:2 defeat at home to Mansfield left them in 7th, with Orient winning their 5th in a row to move 8th on goal difference over Mansfield and Bolton with a 1:0 win over the Shrews.



Burton, Cambridge and The Shrews lost 1:0, along with Creepy Crawley losing at Barnsley, so no change at the bottom. Brizzle and Pish Posh are sat on the trap door but with a big fat 5 point cushion plus a few goals in hand to spare at the moment.

The Sack Race

That new bloke at Man U kept his job after a 2-2 draw at Liverpool.
Mark Bonner went home early for his Sunday dinner from Gillingham. He's been replaced by John Coleman who will be a long way from his usual Lancashire based stomping ground.

Tables, Form & ther stats

Wycombe are currently 2 places and 7 points above Town, though we have 2 games in hand.






Wycombe kicked off with two 3:2 defeats, away to Wrexham and at home to Brum. They have only lost once since in 23 games, at Charlton on December 29th, which is why we are having a hard time laying a glove on them. The wheels haven't exactly come off but they are wobbling a bit at home with draws in 3 of their last 4 home games. Good job Town aren't having any of those issues right now.



In games against other current Top 6 sides, neither team has a stellar record to date.
After this game both clubs will have played every other club at least once.



Innies and Outies

They didn't spend a fortune but Mr. Onyedimny and a certain Mr. Humphreys on loan from Ipswich (was he free?) have been helping out with the goal stats below.



Caleb Taylor’s loan spell at Adams Park has come to an end after his parent club West Bromwich Albion activated a recall clause in his deal.
The defender, aged 21, played 20 times for the Chairboys, scoring once and contributing to 15 wins and seven clean sheets. Midfielder Aaron Morley has also gone back to Bolton. They scored 4 between them for Wycombe. Noises Off, Stage Left in Wycombe may suggest they could do a job for us, but as they've also both played for their parent clubs this season, they can't sign for another club .

Who's banging 'em in

To say Wycombe are an unexepected surprise in the promotion race this season is an understatement. 14 different players have scored for them so far this season, with Richard Kone being amongst the league leaders. He only scored 3 last season.

They found him at Athletic Newham of the Essex Senior League 12 months ago. Me neither. Dagenham way apparently, Level 9 of the FL. They got him on a free transfer, which often translates as a set of track-suits and a bag of balls at this level, or some new nets and corner flags, maybe a Ford Transit kitted out as a team bus as they are from Dagenham, or at least a full service, couple of new tyres, tank of fuel and an MOT on their current one.



They can't both win

This is the only rearranged fixture this week in League One - so far. It has snowed a bit this weekend. I know, I had to get the shovel out a couple of times to get me out of my brothers cul-de-sac on Sunday morning.

We've played 'em before

It's not that long since Wycombe joined the Football League, so another side we've not played too often. They were the first to play us at The McGalphSmiths Stadium, and they had the cheek to win. On our 2nd last visit to theirs, Jordan Rhodes scored all 6 goals. Somehow I don't see Josh Koroma or Mr. Bonjangles repeating that feat combined, let alone individually on Tuesday though Adams Park is one of our happier hunting grounds.



Next up?

I might have mentioned we visit Shrewsbury down my way on Saturday. Shoe leather's gonna take some 'ommer and there's a few pubs (if still open) on the long walk there and back to visit too. I'll try not to get lost and walk round in too many circles this time.

Pressers

Post match pressers from previous games seem to be replacing pre-match pressers in this division.

If I spot any I'll add them.

The views from The Bill Turnbull Gantry

Matt Bloomfield prematch pressers are like hens teeth.

https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/highwyc...s-joe-low/

https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/highwyc...eb-taylor/

Known as 'Mr Wycombe', Matt Bloomfield returned to Wycombe as Head Coach in February 2023, following decades of service as a player.
The 39-year-old played over 550 times for the Chairboys over 19 years.
He played two matches for Ipswich Town where he started his career but went on to make over 500 appearances for Wycombe, while also serving as captain for 12 consecutive seasons. Bloomfield took on a coaching role whilst in his final few years as a player at Wycombe and retired from playing in February 2022.

[Lord Snooty]

A couple of six-nil wins in that Head to Head. I wouldn't say there's any chance of that tomorrow night.

We have had two four-nil away wins though this season. I'd settle for that again.

[themaclad]

Sky plus 412 tomorrow

[jjamez]

Sonny Bradley has joined them from Luton tonight, think he might be unavailable for tomorrow though.

Wonder if anyone else is going to be leaving Luton in the next few days? Although apparently there's a couple of others in for Taylor, so obviously we'll miss out

[Lord Snooty]

No Wycombe game in the prediction league. Count this as a pre season friendly and give us your scores and scorers.....

Wycombe 1-2 Town
Town scorers: Marshall, Bojangles
Wycombe scorers: Kone

[jjamez]

3-1 wycombe

Town- Pearson
Wycombe- low, kone, lubala

[theo_luddite]

Wycombe 2-2 Town

Kone - 2
Wiles, Evans

[Lord Snooty]

Wycombe have said tonight's game will definitely be on.

[theo_luddite]

Did I light the blue touch paper when I said it was still all quiet on the transfer front?

[theo_luddite]

Sorry - messing around on the kwiz thread when I should be on duty here.

Holy moley ....

Matty Pearson and Ollie Turton start
Lonwijk out with hamstring issue
Michał Helik suffers overnight illness
Radinio Balker named in the squad

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Goooooaaaalllll Kane, 15 mins