The Story of The Blues
brought to you by
chairboys.co.uk
MORE MAGIC MOMENTS HISTORY MENU
Ten Year Retro - A look back on the 1993/94 season
first published during the 2003/4 season
Also see 1993-94 - 20 Year Retro preview
including 1993-94 - Results, Scorers, Attendances revised with match reports
Ten Year Anniversary The 2003/4 season represented the tenth anniversary of Wycombe Wanderers competing for the first ever time in the Football League. To commerate the occasion, chairboys.co.uk ran a series of retro articles throughout the season looking back at the respective time a decade ago.
Wanderers rise into the Football League had sparked massive interest in the Club locally with season ticket sales hitting a record figure of just over 2,000 prior to the first League game. This compared to around 850 during the 1992-93 season.
It was on the 14th August 1993 and after over 105 years in existence that Wycombe Wanderers made their Football League debut - a mammoth trip north for a Division Three game with Carlisle United with around 1,500 Wanderers followers there to see it.
Before the game, Manager Martin O'Neill said "It will be a bit special for me. I will be every bit as nervous as I would be for a game against Kettering, Kidderminster or Welling. It will be the first game I've ever participated in as a Manager in the Football League, so that will be historic but more importantly for the Football Club it's a big, big day. We are going to be bringing something in the region of 1,500 supporters and to make that round trip of around 600 miles or more, that speaks volumes for the Football Club."
By the end of the season and under the continued Managership of O'Neill, Wanderers had enjoyed a ride of lifetime as they battled for promotion to Division Two. In addition, on the way the team performed a near miracle against Premiership opposition in the League Cup, equalled the Club's best ever FA Cup run and came within a whisker of reaching Wembley in the AutoGlass Trophy.
There were twists in the tale as Wanderers adapted to the full-time game. Leading striker Keith Scott was sold to Swindon in November 1993 for £375,000 while later in the season former Blackburn Rovers striker Simon Garner graced the Wanderers team as the season ultimately ended in success.
Part 1 - Carlisle United away 14th August 1993
Part 2 - League Cup debut, first League game at Adams Park and first League victory
Part 3 - Good start continues and 'Big Tel' arrives
Part 4 - Colchester return to haunt the Wanderers
Part 5 - Sent to Coventry in the League Cup
Part 6 - Cousins in controversy
Part 7 - So close to dumping Coventry out of League Cup
Part 8 - Wanderers slow up in October
Part 9 - More Cup success but 'Scotty' departs to Swindon
Part 10 - Two mememorable League victories including Hacky's rocket at Preston
Part 11 - More Cup success but first away defeat in Football League
Part 12 - O'Neill has his say prior to holiday games
Part 13 - Highs and lows of the New Year
Part 14 - More cup memories against Norwich and Colchester
Part 15 - Two more League victories as Wanderers get back on track
Part 16 - Triallist earns holiday for 'Boot Hill' boys
Part 17 - Magic at Fulham - Tragic againt Mansfield and Wigan
Part 18 - O'Neill lets rip at the boo boys
Part 19 - Revenge at last over Colchester
Part 20 - Up and down the League but out the Cup
Part 21 - Getting tense with Wanderers in third place
Part 22 - Nervous Wanderers remain in third
Part 23 - Wanderers finish in Play-off spot
Part 24 - Shock Wembley Five-a-side success for Wanderers
Part 25 - Carlisle wiped aside in Play-Off Semi-Final
Part 26 - Promotion gained in classic Wembley performance
Part 27 - Quotes from the players after the Play-off success

Also see
1993-94 - 20th year anniversary retro preview
1993-94 - Results, Scorers, Attendances
1993-94 - Final Table - Football League Division Three

This look back on the 1993/94 season is dedicated to all the players and management of the time for all the great memories; to Bucks Free Press reporters Claire Nash and Nick Goodman for capturing the great quotes of the time and documenting a fantastic era in the history of the Wanderers; to the supporters of Wycombe Wanderers for being part of it and making it even more special.
This is the story of WYCOMBE WANDERERS brought to you by www.CHAIRBOYS.co.uk HISTORY MENU