Wycombe Wanderers “secure” automatic promotion to Coca-Cola Football League One at Adams Park

My congratulations, along with everyone at Hazlemere Window Company Ltd to Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, their Manager Peter Taylor, all the players, directors and staff for securing a dramatic automatic promotion from Coca-Cola League Two which I witnessed at a very tense Adams Park in the very last minute on the last day of the season.

I am delighted for the Chairman Ivor Beeks, Managing Director Steve Hayes, the Board of Directors and all Blues fans who have had to wait 15 years since their last promotion in 1994, when the Chairboys won promotion to the equivalent of League One by beating Preston North End 4-2 in an exciting play-off final at Wembley, a game I will never forget, as Wycombe Wanderers Manager Martin O’Neill lead the Club to successive promotions.

Despite losing 1-2 to Notts County in front of 9,625 expectant fans, WycombeWanderers secured promotion with 78 points (the same as Bury) by virtue of a superior goal difference of +21 to +20. With minutes to go the Blues looked to have secured promotion, thanks to team Captain David McCracken’s 2nd half equaliser, whilst Bury were drawing 0-0 at home to Accrington Stanley, and Exeter City were drawing 0-0 away to Rotherham United.

The news then came through that Exeter City had scored to finish 2nd in the League, and soon after John Thompson scored a last minute winner for Notts County,  leaving the Chairboys automatic promotion hopes resting on Bury NOT winning by a margin of two goals. Sky Sports then reported a penalty had been awarded to Bury on 92 minutes, and that Accrington Stanley had been reduced to 10 men with 5 minutes of time added on still to play. After what seemed like an age, the final whistle went at Gigg Lane, where, much to the evident relief of every Wycombe Wanderers fan, that Bury had won one-nil to finish 4thin Coca-Cola League Two, with the Blues having “secured” the 3rd automatic promotion spot by having a one better goal difference, so as it turns out, David McCracken’s 52nd minute goal at Adams Park on Saturday 2nd May 2009 earned Wycombe Wanderers promotion by the tightest possible margin in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The celebrations after the match were ones more of relief than of elation, as everyone realised how close we had come to letting automatic promotion slip, andonce again being in the play-offs. Promotion to League One comes with the bonus of playing several former Premiership clubs next season including Southampton and Charlton, plus possibly Leeds United and Norwich City! This is great for High Wycombe, and Buckinghamshire, as if Milton Keynes Dons do not make it through the play-offs, Bucks will have its own local derby as well!

As Ivor Beeks has always rightly said, a league season is over 46 matches, and over 46 matches Wycombe Wanderers have won automatic promotion in the Coca-Cola Football League for the first time in their history, which despite being by only one goal, is fantastic for the supporters, players, staff, football manager Peter Taylor and the town of High Wycombe. Come on your Blues!