Gareth Ainsworth on 500 games as Wycombe Wanderers' manager

This Saturday will be a momentous day for Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth, as the 48-year-old will take charge of his 500th game for the club.

The greatest manager in the club's history? (Barrie Washington Childs)

His side travel up to Crewe Alexandra on March 5 in the hope of a second consecutive win, following their 3-0 triumph over Cambridge United on Tuesday night, which was their first victory in seven games.

Always having time with the fans (Aaran White)

And even though three points against the League One basement will be the best present for the ever-popular gaffer, it’s easy to forget that Ainsworth has done more for Wycombe than we will ever know.

Wild thing with a young fan (Amy Messenger)

Since walking through the Adams Park doors as a player for the first time in November 2009, ‘Wild Thing’, has transformed the club from a relegation-threatened League Two outfit, that were on the verge of falling into the Non League, to a Championship side that went toe-to-toe with former Premier League teams.

Holding the League One play-off trophy (Alan Cecil)

It’s fair to say that since taking over from Gary Waddock in September 2012, who ironically signed Ainsworth when he took over as manager in October 2009, his tenure at the club has been a real rollercoaster.

The match against Crewe will be his 500th in charge (Ashley Randall)

He officially started his managerial reign on September 24 that year after Wanderers only picked up four points from their first 21 available, with his first match being a 3-0 defeat away at Dagenham & Redbridge on September 29.

Posing for photos both home and away (Bailey Hayler)

In the squad that day were Josh Scowen, who played the whole 90 minutes and Anthony Stewart, who was an unused substitute.

Signing autographs (Barbara Illingworth)

Despite the defeat, he was insistent in becoming the full-time boss at the club, as he said after his first match in charge: “The board know I want to be a manager one day and if it comes quicker than expected then it does.

Posing for a pic (Bernie Hughes)

"If it doesn't then I still want to be a manager one day.

A man of the people (Bill Edwards)

"They know where I stand.

The gaffer has been with the club since 2009 (Carly Sims)

"But whether I'm caretaker manager or kit man, it doesn't matter.

The gaffer is a popular figure (Charley Farley)

“I still want to give 100 per cent for Wycombe to get the points and get this club back where it should be."

Lovely motor (Charley Farley)

His wish was eventually granted as he was appointed as the club’s permanent manager at the end of the 2012/13 season, in which he announced his retirement from professional football.

An icon in Wycombe (Chris Moore)

In his three seasons as a Chairboys player, he suffered two relegations (2010 and 2012) and one promotion (2011) with the club.

During the shorter haired days (Dylan Ing)

And if he thought his three years as a player were action packed, being in the Wanderers hot seat saw him reach levels of drama that hadn’t been with Wanderers for a long time.

Much loved at AP (Emily Issac)

But the transformation that followed proved that Gareth Ainsworth had the ability to be a top manager when giving time, which, in this day and age, is a rarity for some managers.

Smiles all round (Hayden Brown)

During the 2013/14 season, which was Ainsworth’s first full season in charge, Wanderers avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth with that impressive 3-0 win away at Torquay United despite only recording six wins in 34 matches from October.

During the pandemic (Henry Brown)

The victory not only kept them up on goal difference, but it sent Bristol Rovers down to the Non League, for the first time in 94 years.

An all round good guy (Ian Bartholomew)

This became the catalyst for the success the 48-year-old has enjoyed at the club as 12 months later, Wycombe reached the League Two play-off final against Southend United, but ultimately lost in the fourth tier showpiece.

Blue is the colour (Karen Harris Kenny)

Promotion followed three years later to League One, before that magical day at a wet Wembley Stadium in July 2020 saw the Chairboys enter the Championship for the first time ever.

500 up for the boss (Kathy Locke)

Speaking on his milestone, he said: “I have had letters and phone calls this week from fans getting behind me saying, ‘we are with you Gaz’.

Another young fan with Gareth (Kathy Locke)

“I have done nothing compared to what some of these fans who have been here through thick and thin for 20, 30, 40, 50 years but I am really, really proud guy to have managed this club 500 times on Saturday.

A Wanderers legend (Leanne Soper)

“It’ll be a real big milestone for me and I don’t really do a lot of milestones.

Posing at AP (Leon Dave Byard)

“But I do remember my 500th game and I will certainly remember my 500th managerial game [in charge of Wycombe].

More smiles (Liam Foster)

“It’ll be something special and people go on about managers getting 100 games, never mind 500, so I am really, really proud and I want to say thank you to every single fan that has got behind me.