More than 120 former Wanderers players are expected to turn up at Adams Park on Saturday 7th March as the 'Wycombe Wanderers Ex-Players Association' is officially launched. The Association has been created by former Wanderers press officer Alan Hutchinson and long standing Wanderers supporter and media man John Taylor. They put the call out via the local press in January of this year and have been delighted with the response. Taylor commented, "It’s had a really good response. We have had a wide variety of people from different eras, including some who actually played in the 1940s."

The former players will be entertained in Scores Sports Bar before the game and it's hoped that 17 of the surviving players who have made more than 300 First Team appearances in a Wycombe shirt, will be paraded to the crowd 20 minutes before the kick-off of Wanderers 'League Two' meeting with Chesterfield. After the game all the ex-players will be presented in the Vere Suite to supporters.

Leading the parade of those who have made more than 300 appearances, will be Wanderers top appearance maker and goalscorer of all time, Tony 'Bodger' Horseman - with an incredible 749 competitive First Team appearances and 416 goals between 1961 and 1978. Just behind 'Bodger' will be John Maskell, Wanderers popular goalkeeper between 1964 and 1980 and having made 616 First Team appearances. Maskell is on the committee of the Association and has helped send out the call for former players. The committee also includes former player Bobby Dell, while Jackie Tomlin has been elected as the first President of the Association. Tomlin played for the Wanderers in the 50's and 60's and was part of the famous sides that won the Isthmian League in 1956 and 1957 and also reached the Final of the 1957 Amateur Cup at Wembley. All the remaining surviving members of the '57 side' hope to be at the launch, including the ever popular Len Worley.

The oldest player to have been traced and accepted the invitation is 89 year old Frank Avery who first played for Wycombe in 1937. He holds the Club record for most goals scored in an Amateur Cup game when he hit six in a 10-1 victory over Kingstonian in a First Round replay at Loakes Park during the 1945/46 season.

Other names the successful 1970's period under Brian Lee, will be Paul Birdseye, Howard Kennedy, Micky Holifield and Keith Mead. Along with 'Bodger' and Mask', they were part of the Wycombe side that earned national fame by reaching the Third Round of the FA Cup back in the 1974/75 season.

Coming more into the modern era, Dave Carroll, Keith Ryan, Jason Cousins and Matt Crossley will all be present and paraded before the game having exceeded the 300 appearance mark while with the Wanderers. Meanwhile, making the longest journey will former goalkeeper Gary Lester who will fly in specially from Romania where he has been undertaking Aid Work.

Those that are unable to attend because of current football commitments include Viv Busby, Keith Scott and John Granville. However, they have asked to be kept a place for the next big funnction to be arranged by the Association, an inauguration dinner at Adams Park on 12th November 2009. More players are hoped to contacted before then. If you are a former Wanderers player (First Team or Reserves), please get in touch with John Taylor at john@calcioitalia.co.uk

The 17 players with 300 or more Wanderers appearances
                Apps  Goals  Seasons played
Tony Horseman   749   416    1961/62 - 1977/78
John Maskell    616     0    1964/65 - 1979/80
Dave Carroll    602   100    1988/89 - 2001/02
Keith Ryan      517    50    1990/91 - 2004/05
Len Worley      512    67    1954/55 - 1969/70
Jason Cousins   473     9    1991/92 - 2001/02
Paul Birdseye   459    14    1971/72 - 1981/82
Micky Holifield 422    84    1971/72 - 1980/81
Gary Lester     420     0    1979/80 - 1989/90
Charlie Gale    413    18    1961/62 - 1970/71
Howard Kennedy  407   100    1974/75 - 1982/83
Mark West       381   174    1984/85 - 1992/93
Ian Rundle      357     5    1965/66 - 1973/74
Keith Mead      352    14    1973/74 - 1981/82
Barry Baker     348    12    1963/64 - 1970/71
Bob Dell        319    32    1979/80 - 1985/86
Matt Crossley   318     6    1987/88 - 1995/96

Other surviving players with 300 or more appearances
                Apps  Goals  Seasons played
Steve Brown     443    43    1993/94 - 2003/04
Michael Simpson 339    20    1996/97 - 2003/04
Danny Senda     316     9    1998/99 - 2005/06