YOUNG KEEPER SET TO SIGN (Monday 31st August 2020) More transfer speculation saw former Blackpool and Manchester City 19-year-old keeper Curtis Anderson linked with a move to Adams Park. The 6ft glovesman, who is currently a free agent after playing in USA, was member of the England U17 team who lifted the 2017 World Cup but has yet to make senior appearance in the UK.

HIBS STRIKER LINED-UP (Monday 31st August 2020) Hiberbian winger Daryl Horgan was set to sign for Wycombe Wanderers according to reports in the Scottish press via the Daily Record. The 28 year-old Ireland international had netted 10 goals in 80 apps for Hibs in two seasons. The former Preston North End man also scored for PNE in their 5-1 FA Cup win over Wanderers at Adams Park in January 2018. His is contracted with Hibs until 2021, so Wycombe are likely to need a fee for his services.

ASTON VILLA 5 WYCOMBE 2 (Saturday 29th August 2020) A Wanderers side lost 5-2 to Aston Villa in a ‘practice match’ held at the Premier League side’s training ground. No team line-ups were made available, but the Villa scorers were recorded as Anwar El Ghazi (2), Ally Samatta, Trezeguet and Ezri Konsa. Meanwhile, Fred Onyedinma and Scott Kashket netted for Wanderers with Joe Jacobson seeing a penalty saved.

WYCOMBE 1 WEST HAM 5 (Tuesday 25th August 2020) Wanderers fielded six trialists as they went down 5-1 to a mixed strength West Ham United side in a behind closed doors friendly at Adams Park. Arthur Masuaku had given the visitors the lead on 5 minutes before a back pass by Darius Charles on 28 minutes embarrassed David Stockdale in the Wycombe goal to double The Hammers lead. Alex Samuel pulled a goal back for Wanderers on the half-hour before Manuel Lanzini and then a brace by Jarred Bowen cemented victory for the Premier League side. Wycombe 1st half: Stockdale, Grimmer, Zico Asare (trialist), Charles, Jay Williams (trialist), Thompson, Pattison, Jem Karacan (trialist), Kashket, Parker, Samuel Wycombe 2nd half: Allsop, Morgan Toney-Green (trialist), Jacobson, Andre Burley (triallist), Stewart, Bloomfield, Gape, Freeman, Andron Georgiou (trialist), Onyedinma, Ikpeazu

RETURN OF THE MAC#4 (Tuesday 25th August 2020) After much speculation via social media, the Club confirmed on 25th August 2020 the return of Jason McCarthy to Wycombe Wanderers – signing a 3-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Millwall. It will be his fourth spell with Wanderers having originally spent the 2015/16 season at Adams Park on loan from home town club Southampton. He re-joins Wycombe just three appearances short playing his 100th game for the Wanderers.

FRIENDLY VICTORY AT SOUTHAMPTON (Friday 21st August 2020) A Wanderers XI played Southampton on the afternoon of 21st August 2020 in pre-season friendly at St. Mary’s. Wycombe fielded nine triallists who have been involved in pre-season training to date. The match was won by Wycombe via a second-half goal by Alex Samuel from a Josh Parker corner. The Southampton side was believed to be mainly taken from their U23 squad. Wycombe starting XI: Stockdale, Phillips, Charles, Thompson, Pattison, Kashket, Ikpeazu + 4 trialists - 2nd Half XI: Stewart, Grimmer, Gape, Parker, Onyedinma, Samuel + 5 other trialists

FIXTURES RELEASED 2020/21 (Friday 21st August 2020) Wycombe Wanderers will host Rotherham United for The Chairboys first ever fixture in the 2nd tier of English football – with the match due to take place on Saturday 12th September 2020, behind closed doors at Adams Park. Wycombe and Rotherham, both promoted from League One in 2019/20, are the only two sides in the division who have never played in the top flight of English football. The home game with The Millers is followed by a trip to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 19th September 2020. Full fixture list 2020/21 is available via wycombewanderers.co.uk

PHILLIPS IS SIGNING #2 (Thursday 20th August 2020) Wanderers' second signing of the 2020/21 season was announced on Thursday 20th August 2020 with the news that former loanee Giles Phillips had returned to the Club on a one-year deal following his release from Queens Park Rangers. He had originally joined Wycombe in July 2019 on a season long loan from the Championship side and went on to make 16 First Team appearances - including ten starts in League One.

PFA AWARD FOR JACOBSON (Thursday 20th August 2020) Joe Jacobson became the first Wycombe Wanderers player to pick up a PFA Player of the Season award since they were introduced in 2001 when the results were announced at their virtual ceremony on 20th August 2020. Jacobson also becomes only the 2nd Welsh player to collect the award since Robert Earnshaw of Cardiff City in 2003.

NEW DEAL FOR GRIMMER (Wednesday 19th August 2020) The Club confirmed on 19th August 2020 that Jack Grimmer had signed a new deal with Wanderers - now running until June 2023. His return from injury for the Play-Offs was hugely significant for Wycombe. He had previously been out of action for seven months when he took the field for the Semi-Final 1st Leg at Fleetwood in July 2020. He went to play every minute of all three Play-Off matches. His new deal coincides with changing his squad number from 19 to 2.

BRENTFORD AWAY IN FLC (Tuesday 18th August 2020) Wycombe were drawn away to Brentford in the First Round of the Football League Cup after the North/South regionalised draw was made on 18th August 2020. Ties are scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 5th September 2020 (a week before the League season starts). The tie will be the first competitive match to be held at Brentford’s new stadium but will be played ‘behind closed doors’. Brentford - Quick Guide

TRAVEL REDUCTION FOR 2020/21 (Monday 17th August 2020) Wycombe Wanderers will travel a total of 1,000 less miles during their Championship campaign in 2020/21 compared to their League One season in 2019/20. The total travel distance in the Championship will be 5,356 miles (average one-way trip per game 116 miles). This compares to 6,336 in League One (including Bury for sake of equal number of clubs) with an average 137 miles per game. Wycombe’s total travelling is 7th highest in the division, comparing to the lowest Coventry City (4,654) and the highest Middlesbrough (8,942).

IKPEAZU SIGNING CONFIRMED (Monday 17th August 2020) The signing of Uche Ikpeazu from Hearts was confirmed by the Club on Monday 17th August 2020. The 25-year-old was signed on a three-year deal with no fee mentioned in either club's press statement at the time but believed to be a nominal, undisclosed, figure due to the two years remaining of Ikpeazu's contract with the Tynecastle side. He was allocated the No.9 in the Wycombe squad ahead of the 2020/21 season. Read full press release via wycombewanderers.co.uk

UCHE IKPEAZU SET TO SIGN (Friday 14th August 2020) Reports in the Scottish press have suggested that Wycombe are looking to sign former Reading Youth Teamer Uche Ikpeazu from Hearts. The 25-year-old Harrow born striker netted 22 goals in 88 appearances for Cambridge United prior to 10 goals in 55 apps at Hearts. The Daily Record said it understood that: “[Wycombe] are on the verge of getting their man after he travelled south to undergo his medical on Friday.”

WEST HAM FRIENDLY (Friday 14th August 2020) Wycombe Wanderers announced a behind closed doors pre-season friendly against West Ham United at Adams Park to take place on Tuesday 25th August 2020 with a 2pm kick-off. On the same day The Hammers take on League One Ipswich Town. West Ham Manager David Moyes was reported as saying he will split his squad between the two games.

NEW SHIRT DESIGNS REVEALED (Thursday 13th August 2020) The Club revealed new design kits for the 2020/21 season on 13th August 2020. The new 1st choice kit with new sponsors Dreams will be a variation of the traditional light and dark blue quarters. The change/away kit will be the existing mango design but with the Dreams sponsor. Two goalkeeper kits were also revealed – 1st choice ‘black to grey’ – 2nd choice ‘Mardi Gras’. A new 3rd kit will be launched later in August 2020. Read full press release via wycombewanderers.co.uk

2020/21 KEY DATES REVEALED (Thursday 13th August 2020) The Football League (EFL) confirmed the key dates for the 2020/21 season on 13th August 2020 as follows: League fixtures released - Friday 21st August @ 9am Season starts 12th September – ends 8th/9th May 2021 Draw for League Cup 1st Round – 18th August First Round games weekend of 5th September, with the following three rounds all within September. It was also confirmed that Wycombe will not compete in the Football League Trophy which is restricted to League One and League Two clubs, plus invited Clubs from higher divisions with recognised U23 sides.

DREAMS BACK AS SHIRT SPONSORS (Tuesday 11th August 2020) The Club confirmed on 11th August 2020 that Dreams beds would return as main shirt sponsors for the 2020/21 season. The company, with their HQ in Loudwater, High Wycombe, will enter a third spell with Wanderers having previously sponsored the shirts for seasons 2007/8 and 2008/9 and then 2011/12 and 2012/13. The new deal is for three seasons, with the new design kit to be revealed on 13th August 2020. Read full press release via wycombewanderers.co.uk

ADAMS PARK - 30 YEARS ON (Sunday 9th August 2020) 9th August 2020 marked the 30th anniversary of the first ever game at Adams Park when Brian Clough brought his Nottingham Forest side to town for a friendly with Martin O’Neill’s side in front of a crowd approaching 5,000. See the link below for a special article written for the 25th annivesary. Adams Park 25 years ago - retro chairboys.co.uk special

"Wycombe calling to the faraway towns
The Wanderers are coming, we won’t lie down
Wycombe calling to the media world
Stop calling us ‘little’ you boys and girls

Wycombe calling, start looking at us
Phony MK mania has bitten the dust"

Inspired by #JoeStrummer#WycombeCalling pic.twitter.com/sZVseqrl9O

— Chairboys on the Net - Paul Lewis (@GasmanCOTN) August 8, 2020

TRANSFER FEE RECORDS (Friday 7th August 2020) A look back through the COTN archives reveals that in Wycombe Wanderers’ 27 seasons to date in the Football League they have signed or loaned just over 400 players. The record fee as of August 2020 was £200,000 and the combined transfer costs were around £2.5m. Wanderers’ record transfer fees to date are the £200,000 paid to Barnet for Darren Currie in July 2001. Prior to that, Sean Devine also signed from Barnet for £200,000 in March 1999. The previous record fee was £150,000 for John Williams from Coventry City in September 1995.

ALL 2020/21 OPPONENTS CONFIRMED (Tuesday 4th August 2020) Wanderers’ full list of opponents for their debut season in the Championship was finalised on 4th August 2020 when the Football League confirmed that Wigan Athletic’s appeal against their points deduction had been rejected – meaning The Latics will be relegated to League One at the expense of Barnsley who will stay-up and play Wycombe for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign. Meanwhile, Brentford lost their Championship Play-Off Final with Fulham, meaning The Bees will meet Wycombe for the first time in League football since 2012, with the 2020/21 season being the first at their new ground. Barnsley - Quick Guide Brentford - Quick Guide

FA CUP INCOME DROP 2020/21 (Monday 3rd August 2020) The FA revealed details of the FA Cup for the 2020/21 season on 3rd August 2020 – a season when Wycombe Wanderers will be exempt to 3rd Round Proper for first time ever. The FA confirmed that the prize fund will return back to 2017-18 levels due to the "financial impact of the COVID-19" - as an example in the drop of prize monies, 3rd Round winners will receive £82,000 compared to £135,000 during the 2019/20 season. The competition is set to start in September 2020. More via The FA website - thefa.com