A season which started with a hand shake from Jose Mourinho will end with the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for Matt Bloomfield.

Chelsea rolled into town back in July for the midfielder’s testimonial match before Bloomfield played his part on the pitch as Wanderers launched a promotion push which sees them head to Wembley in a bid to clamber into League One.

But a year of highlights hasn’t been restricted to the football pitch for the 31-year-old, who became a father for the first time when his wife, Madeline, gave birth to his daughter Mollie in March.

“It’s been an amazing season when you look back,” he said.

“To play Chelsea pre-season in my testimonial match in front of 8,000 at Adams Park, and then to have my first little baby along the way, have my daughter come into the world, and then to get to Wembley – if you’re going to describe football seasons then this is not far off the best.

“It’s been brilliant and I’ve loved every minute of it. The gaffer’s been great, the group of lads we’ve got here are top drawer, the spirit we’ve got here is genuinely fantastic and it would be the icing on the cake to finish off on Saturday with a win.”

As well as a new lease of life personally speaking, from a football perspective Bloomfield has once again become an integral part of the Wycombe team.

If he appears at Wembley it will be his 39th outing of the season – his highest total in a season since the 2006/07 campaign.

The birth of his daughter has had a knock-on effect on the way he approaches life as a footballer, and Bloomfield feels it’s changed him for the better.

He said: “I think it changes your perspective on life a little bit. She’s now my first and foremost.

“I’ve been very selfish with my football throughout my life because it’s been my job, it’s been my passion and now I have to dedicate my time more towards my daughter, which is only right.

“The good thing about it is that it allows me to switch off when I go home, I usually take my work home with me a little bit and you can end up dwelling on things.

“Now, I can switch off a little bit, look after her (Mollie) and then be a bit fresher when I come into training. She’s only enhanced my life and my career, and it’s wonderful to have her here.”

During a stay at Wanderers which has spanned 11 years Bloomfield has seen a League Cup semi-final and two play-off semi-finals but never a play-off final.

“It’s my third time in the play-offs, so I’m hoping for third time lucky,” he said.

“We’ve lost in the semi-finals twice and it’s the first time I’ve ever played at Wembley. I’m really excited about the occasion because growing up as a kid Wembley was the ultimate and I’m fulfilling a childhood dream on Saturday.

“I couldn’t be more pleased about that. I’m a football fan, I’m a football lover and to get to play at Wembley is the ultimate, and to do it with Wycombe, a club I love so much, makes it a great day.

“I want to make it a fairytale ending by winning.”