Wycombe Wanderers

This is where Wanderers become such a cool story. Their founding was like virtually everyone else’s—as an amateur club in the 1880s. In their case, it was furniture workers getting together for games. But here’s the thing: as the wave of professionalism swept over the country soon after (the Netflix series The English Game covers a bit of this), Wanderers stayed amateur, all the way into the 1970s.

They spent much of the 20th century in the Isthmian League, a regional outfit at tiers 7 and 8 of the pyramid. Their biggest accomplishment was winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1931. They also won the Isthmian five times, and in 1974 they made the FA Cup Third Round—as an amateur team—where they held first-division Middlesbrough at home before losing the away replay, 1-0.

So up to that point they were a very successful amateur team. They went pro in the 1970s and won the Isthmian League a few more times, but they kept turning down promotions to higher leagues. They couldn’t afford the travel.

Then in 1990 it all changed when they moved to their current home, Adams Park, because the old one just wasn’t up to par. Among other issues, the pitch sloped about 10 percent.

They also hired a young Martin O’Neill as manager. In 1991 they won the FA Trophy, and in 1993 they did the double of Conference (now National League) champs and FA Trophy again. O’Neill turned down Nottingham Forest to stay another year and, in 1994, led Wanderers to the Football League for the first time in their hundred-plus-year history. O’Neill got them promoted again the next year, to what is now called League One, before leaving for Norwich and then many other top clubs, as well as the Irish National Team. But Wanderers stayed in the Football League, bouncing around between League One and League Two.

At the start of the 2019-20 season, though, things were dire. They had only nine players under contract in the summer of 2019. That’s when a New Orleans attorney named Rob Couhig, who had previously owned a minor league baseball team, was looking to get into English soccer and found Wanderers.

We don’t mean to paint him as the savior, but isn’t this what you want from an owner? This comes from a story in the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Couhig made his pitch. He’d open his checkbook to acquire competitive players. He’d improve the food, beverages, and live entertainment at the stadium. He’d make it easier for people to buy tickets and find parking.

Leave it to a guy from New Orleans to understand what the people want. And it worked. When the season was called for the pandemic, the league adjusted the table to a points-per-game basis, which got Wanderers to third place and the playoffs. They rolled Fleetwood Town, 6-3, in the semifinals and beat Oxford United, 2-1, in the final at Wembley. For the first time ever, they made it to the second tier.

The promotion to the Championship did not last long, as the Wanderers were relegated back to League One after finishing in 22nd place during the 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, they finished just one point behind Derby County and safety, and their fans couldn’t attend, anyway. In 2022 they went all the way to the Playoff Final but lost to Sunderland, 1-0.

2024–25 SEASON: 4th in League One (lost in playoff semifinal), 4th Round FA Cup, 3rd Round League Cup

2025–26 SEASON: League One (relegated in 2021)

Apparently there is some heat with local teams Oxford, Reading, and Luton Town.

Wycombe Wanderers Women (aka the Chairgirls) compete in the Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division, tier 5 of the pyramid. Home games are in the Flackwell Heath area of town.

Nothing special

Pictures of Adams Park (capacity 9,448) make it look as if it’s surrounded by trees and fields. And it is—on three sides. On the fourth side is the industrial estate you’ll probably spend 15 minutes walking through to get there. Bit of an odd place in that regard, but a nice one once you’re there.

Just over half the seats are in the main Frank Adams Stand on the south side. Adams was a former player who actually purchased their previous home, Loakes Park (1895 to 1990), and then gave it to the club. Owning their stadium helps these small clubs immensely. The Adams Stand is two tiers, so if you want a high view of the action (and trees), sit in the upper Adams.

The other three sides are more like a lower-league place, with single tiers of about 1,200 seats in each. The home rowdies will be in the west stand, which is also the only one with terracing. So if standing with the lads is your aim, go west! Away fans will be behind the other goal in the east stand.

The old gates from Loakes Park are just outside.

TOURS: Tour tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for children. For more information visit their website.

GETTING THERE: If you’re walking from High Wycombe Station, plan for an hour. You can knock about 30 minutes off that by taking the 32 bus from Stop S just outside the train station. This gets you to the industrial estate, at which point everyone will get off the bus and start walking. As always, follow the colors. It’s about £8 for a taxi to the same spot. There are sometimes “football special” buses from the station; ask there for details.

PUBS: There are three at the ground, which is nice because there’s nothing else within that 15-minute walk. Right at the base of the hill is the Hour Glass, which has a big space out back. All these let in both sets of fans during previous seasons.

Down in town, there’s a Wetherspoon called The Falcon, an O’Neills, and a cool traditional pub called The Antelope, among others.

GRUB: They have a proper little barbecue, Chairboys Village, right at the ground, so if the weather’s nice, that’s an option. There is also food in the stadium pubs, but nothing special. You’ll find all the usual chains down by the station and on High Street.

AROUND TOWN: Even longtime supporters say there’s little to do around town for a tourist. There is the aforementioned chair museum, on the very slim chance that appeals to you. The main attraction in town is the Hellfire Caves. Apparently, in the 18th century, old chalk mines were dug out further and became the meeting place of some kind of high-society men’s club for who knows what kind of debauchery. They claim Benjamin Franklin once visited as well. It looks a little freaky, with statues here and there and a voice narrating through speakers. Look for it online for more info.

Hughenden Manor, on the north side of town, is a National Trust Victorian-era home with a café and 1,500 acres of walkable scenery; get there via the 300 bus from Oxford Street in town. West Wycombe Park and Estate is a similar place on the west side of town; take bus 40 from the High Wycombe Bus Station for about 30 minutes to the Swan Inn Pub.