IT was back to school for Wanderers star Matt Ingram as returned to John Hampden last week.

The High Wycombe-born goalkeeper went back to his old school on Wednesday to pass on tips to promising pupils during a coaching session.

Wanderers' number one then stayed on to watch John Hampden play Dr Challoner's in a county cup game - but the Amersham school ran out victorious 3-1.

Ingram said he enjoyed his visit back to his old school, where he developed the skills needed to become a first team regular at the age of 19.

He was part of the side that won the English Schools Championship when he was in year nine, winning the final at Yeovil Town's ground.

He said: "A few of my old teachers have stopped me in the corridor and really welcomed me back.

"They've made a massive impact on my football. This is the first proper football school I came to. The main sport here is football so it helped me massively and pushed on my football career. It was while I was here I got picked up by Wycombe."

His old PE teacher, Head of Football Greg Boult, said: "I remember from the first training session I took, already he had huge potential. You could tell straight away.

"The thing that struck me about Matt was his dedication. His dedication to his studies was the same as with his football - he was so hard working. If there was a chance for him to do extra or go and enjoy himself, he'd do the extra. That mentality has always been instilled in Matt.

"I had no doubt he was going to do something within the professional game.

"He's a huge role model. We've got a lot of Wycombe fans in the school and whenever I mention to the football squad Matt's an ex pupil, their faces just beam, especially the goalkeepers.

"He was also part of the national winning team in year nine. That's something we haven't emulated since so he's kind of put on a pedestal within the school."

Mr Boult supports Wanderers' local rivals Oxford United but wasn't able to persuade his protégé to sign for them instead: "I did mention it but I think he'd been put off that early doors."