| Getting
there |
By
Car: (approx 28 miles from HW)
From
Handy Cross roundabout take A404 slip road to join M4 westbound.
After 13 miles exit at junction 11 and take A33 (signposted Reading).
The Stadium is visible from the Motorway and the parking areas are
left exits from the A33.
The pay car parking at the ground is likely to be full an hour before kick-off. |
Train: Reading mainline station is
around two miles from the ground. The trip from Wycombe is for
trainspotters only but if you're keen then go to Marylebone
(journey time approx 40 mins) and then take connection from
Paddington to Reading (journey time approx 25 minutes).
Alternatively go from Marlow via Maidenhead (Allow one hour
travelling time). From Reading station Bus No.77 goes to the
ground (every 15 mins on matchdays).
Check www.nationalrail.co.uk
for specific times and connections of trains. |
KNOW YOUR HISTORY
Apart from an English Cup meeting back in the late 19th century, Wycombe and Reading
didn't cross paths again in serious competition until 11th December 1976 when The Royals travelled to Loakes Park in the Second Round
of the FA Cup.
Isthmian League Wycombe had overcome Merthyr Tydfil and Waterlooville to reach this stage while Fourth Division Reading had scraped past Wealdstone 1-0 at Elm Park in a First Round encounter. On a frost bound pitch in front of a gate of 7,700, it was Royals' cult hero Robin Friday who scored twice to put the
Royals 2-0 up after just 32 minutes and seemingly kill the tie.
However, prolific Wanderers striker Ian Pearson pulled a goal back for Wanderers on 68 minutes and in a late surge from Ted Powell's side, it was Pearson who saw a last minute effort strike the upright and away from danager - meaning it was Reading who went on to travel to Hereford United in the Third Round (losing 1-0).
Wycombe Wanderers: John Maskell, Paul Birdseye, Keith Mead, Alan Phillips, Bobby Davies, Howard Kennedy, Gavin Fraser, Micky Holifield, Ian Pearson, Dylan Evans - sub not used: Tony Horseman
Reading: Steve Death, Gary Peters, Dave Moreline, Paul Bennett, Stewart Henderson, Gordon Cumming, Bruce Stuckey, Bryan Carnaby, John Murray, Ray Hiron, Robin Friday - sub not used: Mick Hollis
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Chairboy Connections |
A selection of players who have played for both Clubs.
Michael Barnes -
Central defender who appeared for The Royals in their 1983/84
promotion season. Moved to Northampton
Town in August 1984. Made one appearance for Wycombe under Jim
Kelman in February 1988 versus Dagenham.
Paul Barron - Goalkeeper
who made just two apps for Wycombe in the 1973/74 season before
moving into League football via Slough Town. Clubs included Crystal
Palace West Brom, QPR and a short loan spell at Reading in 1986.
Steve Blatherwick -
Defender who played three games on loan at Wycombe from Nottingham
Forest during the 1993/94 season - the highlight being a 1-0 win at
Gillingham. Loaned to Reading from Forest during the 1996/97 season
- making 7 apps.
Simon Church - High Wycombe born player who was originally with the Wanderers Centre of Excellence before switching to Reading to complete his apprenticeship. Made 12 loan appearances and scored one goal at Crewe during the 2007/8 season while still at Reading. Went on to make 6 League appearances for Yeovil Town during the second half of the 2007/8 season without scoring before a loan move to Wycombe at the start of the following campaign where he made 9 appearances without finding the net. Also played on loan at Leyton Orient and Huddersfield Town after his time back at Wycombe, before permanent moves to clubs including Charlton Athletic and MK Dons. The striker has also gained Welsh international honours at U21 (15 apps) and senior level (38 apps).
Mick Doherty -
Midfielder who made a dozen appearances for Wycombe in the mid
1980's. Made 25 apps for Reading during the 1982/83 season before
moving into non-League football.
Paul Bodin -
Former Swindon defender loaned from Reading to Wycombe in September
1997, making five Division Two appearances under John Gregory.
Archie Gomm - Centre-half who made 29 First Team appearances for Wanderers during the the 1918/19 and 1919/20 seasons before a brief time with Reading in the Southern League and then turning professional with Millwall in 1920. The popular player made 187 League appearances over a ten year spell for The Lions. Spent the later part of his football career with Carlisle United.
Lee Hodges -
Loan spell at Wycombe in 1993/94 promotion season from Spurs. Moved
to Reading via Barnet in July 1997.
Des McMahon -
Defender who made 32 apps and score 2 goals for Wycombe in the mid
1980's. Made two brief substitute apps for Reading as a non-contract
player during the 1982/83 season.
Mick Mellows -
Played for Reading in the 1970/71 season before joining Wycombe via
Winchester City the following season - making 17 apps. Returned to
pro football with Portsmouth where he made 181 League apps in four
seasons.
Graham Potter - Left back who appeared three times for Wycombe as an 18 year old during the 1993/94 season while on loan from Birmingham City. Went on to spend time with Stoke City, Southampton, West Brom and on loan at Northampton Town. Appeared on loan for Reading during the 1999/2000 season before an extended period with York City. Started the 2003/4 season playing for Boston United in Conference.
John Pratt -Goalkeeper
who moved from Wycombe to Reading in July 1969. Only made two apps
for Wycombe as deputy to the legendary John Maskell. Made 29 League
apps for The Royals.
Mark Robson - -
Midfielder who was loaned to Wycombe from Notts
County in October 1998 - making 4 apps in a Wycombe shirt. Also
spent time at Reading on loan from Spurs during the 1987/88 season.
Best remembered for a four year spell with Charlton Athletic.
Keith Scott - Goalscoring
legend at Wycombe sold to the The Royals for £250,000 in March
1999.
Nathan Tyson - Former Reading trainee who scored 44 times in 87 appearances for Wanderers between December 2003 and November 2005 before a £675,000 move to Nottingham Forest. Scored more than 40 goals at Forest in close to 200 appearances before switching to Derby County in the summer of 2011 on a free. Also spent time on loan at Millwall before a move to Blackpool in September 2013. Joined Doncaster Rovers in July 2014 - finding his goalscoring touch again - bagging 14 goals in his first season. After a spell playing in Scotland with Kilmarnock, returned to Adams Park in the summer of 2017 - netting 8 goals in his first season back as Wanderers gained promotion to League One.
Wayne Wanklyln -
Midfielder who scored three goals in 54 League apps for The Royals
between 1977 and 1981. Made one appearance for Wycombe during the
1984/85 season.
John 'Jim' Wicks -
Goalkeeper for The Wanderers in the early 1920's who went on to make
a handfull of appearances for Reading and subsequently QPR.
Other player connections include: Nick Arnold, Alan Bennett, Nicholas Bignall, Andre Boucard, Scott Davies, Kevin Dillon, Michael Duberry, Scott Golbourne, John Halls, James Harper, Uche Ikpeazu, Julian Kelly, Garath McCleary and Jordan Obita.
Also:
Lawrie
Sanchez began his pro career with Reading while his predecessor Neil
Smillie spent time with The Royals. Other Wanderers Management team to
play for Reading include Gary Goodchild (Youth Team Manager), Paul
Franklin (former Coach with Martin O'Neill) and Paul Bence (Wycombe Manager in the mid 1980's).
Lawrie Sanchez began his professional career with The Royals
in 1977 and made over 250 apps in a seven year spell.
Sanchez profile >> |
Lawrie Sanchez
Picture Paul Dennis |
|
| Chairboys
all-time record against The
Royals |
| DATE |
Comp |
V |
Res |
SCORE |
Att |
| Sat,
Oct 28, 1899 |
FAC1 |
H |
L |
0-8 |
2,800 |
|
Sat, Dec 11, 1976 |
FAC
2 |
H |
L |
1-2 |
7,747 |
| Tue,
Aug 20, 1996 |
FLC1-1L |
A |
D |
1-1 |
6,210 |
| Tue,
Sep 3, 1996 |
FLC1-2L |
H |
W |
2-0 |
5,069 |
| Sat,
Oct 31, 1998 |
FL2 |
H |
L |
2-3 |
6,373 |
| Sat,
Mar 20, 1999 |
FL2 |
A |
L |
1-2 |
10,328 |
| Sat,
Oct 2, 1999 |
FL2 |
H |
W |
5-3 |
7,042 |
| Mon,
Apr 24, 2000 |
FL2 |
A |
L |
1-2 |
11,834 |
| Sat,
Oct 14, 2000 |
FL2 |
A |
L |
0-2 |
15,443 |
| Tue,
Mar 6, 2001 |
FL2 |
H |
D |
1-1 |
6,788 |
| Sat,
Sep 22, 2001 |
FL2 |
A |
L |
0-2 |
13,565 |
| Tue,
Feb 26, 2002 |
FL2 |
H |
L |
0-2 |
9,250 |
| Tue,
Aug 13, 2019 |
FLC1 |
H |
D |
1-1 |
4,802 |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2020 |
Ch |
A |
L |
0-1 |
BCD |
| Tue, Feb 23, 2021 |
Ch |
H |
W |
1-0 |
BCD |
| Sat, Nov 25, 2023 |
FL2 |
H |
L |
1-2 |
7,073 |
| Sat, Mar 9, 2024 |
FL2 |
A |
W |
2-1 |
15,038 |
Key:
FAC = FA Challenge Cup
FLC = Football League Cup
FL2 = Football League Division Two/League One
Ch = Championship
Click date for match report where available |
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