When I left the UK for my stint in the jungle, Wycombe Wanderers were bouncing ominously around the bottom of League Two and had just suffered a home defeat at the hands of Oxford that left us on 12 points after 11 games.
I dined on rice and beans for two weeks unaware that the Blues were faring no better in my absence, although the tide turned at the end of November and the team is now climbing slowly back up towards the middle of the League. I went to my first home game since October on New Year’s Day and we lost to Exeter with an unlucky 82nd minute deflection off Wanderers’ Kortney Hause, after goalkeeper Jordan Archer had made an excellent save. But this was a different Wanderers team from the one I had been watching earlier in the season. And I don’t just mean that there were new players. The passion that Gareth Ainsworth seems to have instilled in the young players that he has brought on since poor results ended the managerial reign of Gary Waddock is impressive.
When a team is struggling, some fans find it hard to offer the unwavering support that it is arguable fans should always give their team in adversity as well as in successful times. But, despite the disappointment of a loss in a match that was pretty much evenly balanced and despite the otherwise impressive Joel Grant’s regrettable failure to convert his penalty opportunity, I believe the fans were able to put their disappointment into perspective. The team is moving slowly and steadily towards safety and Gareth ‘Mr. Motivator’ Ainsworth seems to have his dressing room firmly onside.
The club has had a testing time over the last months and the new directors have a formidable task ahead, presumably with little opportunity for significant transfer window investment; indeed, there is more likely to be a demand by bigger footballing predators for our star players, sadly.
But the combination of firm and sensible control of the club and a manager who oozes an energy and passion that would be envied by players a decade his junior bodes well for the future of our local team. There were 3,679 fans there on New Year’s Day. They deserved a larger crowd, so come back, wrap up warm and exercise your lungs.
I wish my work allowed me more Saturdays off but actors, like footballers, have Saturday jobs!
