The definition of over-achievement in the dictionary is "to perform better or achieve more than expected, especially by others" and there is not another sentence that can sum up Wycombe Wanderers promotion to the Championship for 2020/21.
The Chairboys were amongst the favourites for relegation to League Two before a ball had been kicked this season with many pundits and fans putting the Buckinghamshire side in their bottom four predictions.
Their achievement sounds even better when read that eleven Championship clubs spent more on one player this season than Wycombe have spent on transfer fees in their entire 133 year history! In fact they have only paid an actual fee for three of their last one hundred players moving to the club.
I would say it's also a great example for clubs sticking with stability as their Manager Gareth Ainsworth has been with the club since 2012 - even in 2014 when they only stayed up in the football league on goal difference to Bristol Rovers they stuck with the former QPR, Wimbledon and Wycombe Wanderers player.
They follow five clubs who have moved from non-league football since 1986/87 when automatic promotion was introduced to play at tier two on the football ladder -
Colchester United (Conference 90 to 92 and Championship 06 to 08)
Yeovil Town (Conference 89 to 95, 98 to 03 and Championship 13/14) Doncaster Rovers (Conference 99 to 03 and Championship 09 to 12 & 13/14)
Burton Albion (National League 03 to 09 and Championship 16 to 18)
Luton Town (Conference 10 to 14 and Championship 19 to ??)
Ainsworth has already been quoted as saying he'll be giving the current squad a chance to show what they can do in the Championship - They will undoubtedly be the one of the teams expected to be relegated something on which I'm sure the players will thrive on as they have done this season.
Here's a look at their current squad - Some fans are now calling them THE BIGGEST LITTLE CLUB IN THE WORLD!
Ryan Allsop - Goalkeeper released by AFC Bournemouth in 2018 where he made 23 appearances as well as spending time on loan with Coventry City, Blackpool, Lincoln City, Portsmouth and Wycombe Wanderers. Cam through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion but never made the first team with The Baggies.
Jack Grimmer - Defender who scored for Coventry City in the 2018 League Two play off final before joining Wycombe in the summer of 2019 after being limited to only 13 games for the 2018/19 League One season. Jack was born in Scotland and played for Abderdeen before moving to Fulham in 2012 where he played a number of games as well as playing on loan for Port Vale.
Anthony Stewart - Defender aged 27 who was born in Brixton but came through the academy ranks at Adams Park. Aside from a breif spell with Crewe Alexandra in the 13/14 season he has played over 170 games for the Wanderers.
Darius Charles - Defender now aged 32 who came through the academy ranks at Brentford where he played on loan for Yeading, Thurrock, Staines Town, Crawley Town, Sutton United and Ebbsfleet United whom he joined on a permenant basis in 2009 - Has also played for Stevenage, Burton Albion and AFC Wimbledon. Charles was initally released by Wycombe at the end of last season but signed a short tern contract in August which ran until January 2020 where he signed a one and half year contract.
Joe Jacobson - Defender signed in 2014 from Shrewsbury Town. He was capped by Wales at under 21 level 14 times between 2005 and 2008. He has also played for Cardiff City, Bristol Rovers, Accrington Stanley and Oldham Athletic. Has played over 200 times for Wycombe.
David Wheeler - Started his football career in non-league with both Lewes and Staines Town before moving to Exeter City before a move to QPR in 2017. Things didn't really work out for him at Loftus Road and he played on loan for both Portsmouth and MK Dons on loan before a move to Wycombe in July last year.
Dominic Gape - Came through the ranks at Southampton where he made one Premier League appearance in December 2014 coming on as an 89th minute substitute in the 3-0 win over Everton. Spent the 16/17 season on loan with Wycombe before making the move permanent in the summer of 2017. He has played over 100 times for the club.
Nnamdi Ofoborh - 20 year old midfielder who was born in South London. He is currently on loan from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth. He has been capped by Nigeria at under 20 level. Ofoborh could be playing against Wycombe next season if he returns to the south coast club who are in danger of being relegated from the Premier League.
Matt Bloomfield - Mr Wycombe Wanderers! The 36 year old midfielder joined from Ipswich Town in 2004 - where he came through the academy ranks but never made a first team appearance at Portman Road. Since then he has played over 450 times for The Chairboys.
Alex Samuel - Welsh forward who was released by League Two side Stevenage in 2018 and subsequently joined Wycombe. His stay at Broadhall Way saw him start 12 times and come off the bench 16 times scoring 4 goals. He played for Aberyswtyh Town in the League of Wales in 2011/12 before joining Swansea City from 2012 to 2017 where he never made a first team appearance.
Sido Coelho Jombati - Joined after being released by Cheltenham Town in 2014 and has over 100 appearances for Wycombe. The defender was born in Portugal where he played for a number of clubs before being released when he was sixteen years old. He came to England with family and had a successful trial with Exeter City who were then in the National League - He only stayed in Devon for one month and then moved to Weymouth, Basingstoke Town and Bath City. He played 116 times for Cheltenham Town between 2011 to 2014. Now has over 150 appearances for the club.
Alex Pattison - Signed after being released by Middlesbrough last summer. He spent the 18/19 season on loan with Yeovil Town.
Scott Kashket - Released from Leyton Orient in 2016 and subsequently joined Wycombe. Began his career playing futsal for Maccabi GB in the English National Futsal League. He played in Spain for Herucles in the aged 16-19 and 18-21 age groups before playing for the under 21 side at Wingate and Finchley in 2013.
Giles Phillips - The Chicago born defender in currently On loan from QPR.
Curtis Thompson - Released by Notts Couty in 2018 and signed a five month contract with Wycombe which has subsequently been extended. The midfielder came through the youth ranks at Leicester City.
Adebayo Akinfenwa - Arguably one of the most recognisable footballers in the league. The 38 year old was born in Islington and was a youth player at Watford before spening time with FK Atlantas where he scored the winning goal in the 2001 Lithuanian Cup Final and playing in the UEFA Cup. He counts Barry Town (where he won the Welsh Cup and Welsh Premier League), Boston United, Leyton Orient, Rushden & Diamonds, Doncester Rovers, Torquay United, Swansea City, Millwall, Northampton Town, Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon as former clubs. He was released by The Dons in 2016 after their League Two play-off final win and joined Wycombe where he has since played 152 times and scored 46 goals. At an age where many players are looking to retire Bayo will be playing in the Championship for the first time in his career for the 2020/21 season. Has over 400 football league appearances to his name so far.
Nick Freeman - Midfielder who played in non-league for Histon, Hemel Hemptead Town and Biggleswade Town before moving to Wycombe in July 2016 following a successful trial.
Josh Parker - Antigua and Barbuda full international who started with QPR from where he initially played on loan with Wycombe in 2010. He is well travelled having played for Abderdeen, Red Star Belgrade and Slovenian side NK Domzale. Released by Charlton and joined Wycombe in August 2019.
David Stockdale - Highly experienced goalkeeper currently on loan from Birmingham City. Counts York City, Darlington, Fulham, Brighton & HA and the blues as former clubs as well as host of loan deal though his career.
No comments:
Post a Comment