Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers are just four years younger than Bristol Rovers, having been formed in 1887.
In 1895 the club moved to Loakes Park, where they were to play their home games for the next 95 years and joined the Southern League in 1896.
Remaining an amateur club, they joined the Isthmian League in 1921 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1931.
The Isthmian League title was won in 1956 and three more titles followed in the late 1960’s/ early 1970’s. By the end of the 1990’s the club was competing in the fifth division, then known as the Conference and there was a move to their current home, Adams Park, in 1991.
In 1992 they completed an impressive double, winning the FA Trophy and the Conference title, which saw them elevated to the Football League.
Since then there has been promotion to League One, on three occasions, and in 2019/20 they were promoted to the Championship on a points per game basis after the season was curtailed due to the pandemic.
Relegated after one season at that level, Wycombe reached last season’s League One play off final, losing 2-0 to Sunderland in the Wembley final in front of a crowd of 72,332.
Rovers met Wycombe twice in the FA Cup before their first ever league encounter. Rovers were 1-0 winners in the January 1983 game, while Wycombe were 2-1 winners at Twerton Park in November 1993.
The first league meetings came in 1994/95 and the sides played out a goalless draw at Adams Park in August 1994, while Rovers were 1-0 winners at Twerton Park in March 1995.
In season 2019/20, the last time we met, the sides played out a goalless draw at the Memorial Stadium in August 2019, while Wycombe were 3-1 winners in the return game in February 2020.
The only League Cup meeting came about in August 2001 when Rovers were 1-0 winners at Adams Park. In the six Trophy games, Rovers have won five to Wycombe’s one.
Players to have played for both clubs include John Akinde, Ijah Anderson, Angelo Balanta, Scott Bevan, Jamal Blackman, Guy Branston, Paul Hardyman, Brandon Hanlan, Mark Foran, Jermaine Easter, Scott Davies, Lance Cronin, Tony Craig, Paris Cowan-Hall, Matt Harrold, Joe Jacobson, Alex Jakubiak, Jo Kuffour, David McCracken, Scott McGleish, Andy Sandell, Scott Rendell, Andy Rammell, Brian Parkin, Scott Shearer, Simon Stapleton, Andy Thomson, Chris Zebroski, Richard Walkerand James Tunnicliffe.
Former Rovers manager Paul Buckle made three league appearances for Wycombe, when on loan to them from Brentford, in 1993.
Former Rovers midfielder Gary Waddock is also a former Wycombe manager.
Players to have made their Rovers league debut against Wycombe include Peter Beadle and Josh Low (1995/96), Bobby Zamora (1999/2000), Alex Jeannin, Jefferson Louis and Louie Soares (all 2004/05), Darren Mullings (2005/06),Ben Swallow (2009/10), Clayton McDonald (2012/13), Alex Henshall and Will Packwood (both 2013/14), Stefan Payne (2018/19) and Josh Hare and Timmy Abraham (both 2019/20).
Nest season’s fixtures sees Rovers visit Wycombe on 26th December with the return fixture taking place at The Mem on 21st January 2023.
A round trip to Adams Park, from The Mem, takes in 202miles via the M4.
Wycombe Wanderers FC
Adams Park
Hillbottom Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP12 4HJ
Keith Brookman
All images courtesy of Keith Brookman