All the latest news brought to you by Chairboys on the Net May 1999 News
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NEWS FROM WEEK ENDING 29th May 1999
SANCHEZ WANTS NO FEAR(28th May 1999)
Lawrie Sanchez has indicated in the local press that he's no longer interested in midfielder Peter Fear, his old team mate at Wimbledon. He told the Bucks Free Press "I don't need any midfielders now. It's a strong area of the field, we've got enough players who can do a job." Sanchez has obviously impressed with the way the current midfielders have performed, particularly after Keith Ryan was moved from his position in defence. With money at a premium, the likes of youngsters Lee Holsgrove and Martyn Lee could play part in Sanchez's plans next season along with the fast recovering Maurice Harkin. Sanchez's priority seems to be getting a 'big striker', with Steve Anthrobus still the favourite.
GIBBO STAYING(28th May 1999)
Terry Gibson has accepted the offer to stay with Wycombe next season. He was brought in on a short-term contract when Sanchez took over and the partnership has gelled. Terry Evans will also continue but will concentrate on his original role as Youth Team physiotherapist.
SANCHEZ GETS TOUGH(28th May 1999)
The Wycombe squad will resume training on 1st July with a two-week intensive work-out at RAF Halton. Sanchez is hoping that Daley Thompson will be able to join the squad for the first week. The first pre-season friendly will be the short trip to Oxford City on Wednesday 21 July in a game arranged as part of the Jermaine McSporran deal. The following weekend it's off to Ireland for the game with Bohemian of Dublin. The first game at Adams Park will be on Wednesday 28 July when Nottingham Forest are the visitors.
TICKET PRICES OUT FOR 1999/2000(23rd May 1999)
The Club have announced Season Ticket and entrance costs for the 1999/2000, the tenth season at Adams Park. The "pleasant surprise" for Wycombe fans is that all adult prices have been held and all junior prices have dropped. There are also further savings to be made if you buy your season ticket before 17th July 1999. Full details of all prices and offers are available via the Chairboys on the Net Ticket Office.
In a press release issued with the new prices, Manager Lawrie Sanchez said "This Club needs to mobilise its support, raising sufficient funds along the victory trail to keep the bandwagon rolling. We need to build on the fantastic support the team received from all those fans who made the trip to Lincoln City." Sanchez added "My sights are set on the play-offs and promotion. I'm not interested in another relegation battle, one was enough for me". Read the full message >>>>>>.

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NEWS FROM WEEK ENDING 22nd May 1999
LAWRIE GOES FOR FEAR FACTOR(21st May 1999)
Lawrie Sanchez has added 25 year old midfielder Peter Fear to his shopping list for the 1999/2000 season. The former England Under 21 international has been released by Wimbledon after 12 years with The Dons. Fear made his first team debut for Wimbledon in April 1993 and went on to make 23 appearances the following season. Unfortunately for Fear, injuries and suspensions during the 1994/95 season restricted his appearances and he failed to regain a regular place back in the first team. Sutton born Fear would be available on a 'free' although Sanchez will have to persuade him that there is life outside the Premier.
PRICES - WILL CLUB KEEP PROMISE?(19th May 1999)
Season Tickets for the 1999/2000 season will go on sale from Tuesday 1st June with the Club promising that fans may be "pleasantly surprised" by the prices. At the recent supporters forum at Adams Park, Chairman Ivor Beeks said "We are actively looking at how we market the Club next season in terms of season tickets and prices. Football has to be careful that it doesn't price fans out of the game and we are conscious of that." Beeks went on to add "But we have a budget and we've got to try and balance it or make a profit. When we look at the budgets this year we will actively be looking at how can we actually give you something back and better value for money" The comments from Beeks, made before Wycombe's dramatic last ditch survival at Lincoln, will leave fans waiting with baited breath following consecutive price increases in every season since Wycombe joined the League in 1993. Beeks concluded by saying "This fellow (Sanchez) can give you value for money out on the pitch, we are on about value for money for your season ticket and I hope that we will come up with a package this year which may have you pleasantly surprised."
Chairboys on the Net understands that all adult Season Ticket prices have been held at 1998/99 prices, with junior prices dropped. Full details, including match day entry costs are expected to be announced next week. The Club have lost close to 800 season ticket holders since the highs of the Martin O'Neill era and are keen to take advantage of the euphoria surrounding the new reign under Lawrie Sanchez.
TRANSFER TALK(16th May 1999)
Lawrie Sanchez is said to have opened talks with Crewe's 6'2" forward Steve Anthrobus. The 30 year old is a former team mate of Sanchez while at Wimbledon in the early 1990's having begun his professional footballing career at Millwall when he was 18. During his six season spell at Wimbledon, Anthrobus made just 28 League appearances and failed to hit the net. It was his move to Shrewsbury at the start of the 1995/96 season that saw him start finding the target - netting 10 goals in his first season and six the next before moving on to Crewe for a £75,000 fee just before deadline day in March 1997. Made 30 appearances for Crewe in the First Division the following season - scoring 6 times but was not a regular last season and scored just three times, the last being in December 1998 in a 1-1 draw with West Brom.
There is also speculation amongst Wycombe fans of a possible return to his local roots for Kevin Keen. 32 year old Keen has been released by Division Two promotion failures Stoke City and would add needed strength to Wycombe's midfield. Keen played one game for Wycombe in 1982 aged just 15, prior to joining West Ham as an apprentice. He went on to spend ten seasons at Upton Park, making over 200 appearances before moving to Wolves at the start of the 1994/95. He transferred to Stoke the following season.

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NEWS FROM WEEK ENDING 15th May 1999
NICE TO SEE YOU(13th May 1999)
Michael Forsyth Michael Forsyth has left Wycombe and will probably retire from the playing side to pursue a career in football management. "Bruce" joined Wycombe in December 1996 for a £25,000 fee from Notts County but a series of injuries, including a 13 month lay-off after being injured in March 1998, limited his appearances in a Wycombe shirt. Forsyth made a fairytale comeback in the sensational victory at Maine Road at the end of April and stepped in again for the final three games of the season when fellow defender Paul McCarthy was injured. 33 year old Forsyth told the Bucks Free Press "I'm not daft. I knew my age and my injuries were against me. I'm not downhearted about being released. The manager has been very fair and I admire him." After 17 years as a professional footballer Forsyth now wants to try his luck in management and said that he had been taking notes on Sanchez's training sessions. Forsyth made 58 appearances and scored two goals during his 2½ year spell at Adams Park.
Paul Read Forsyth joins three other players who have not had their contracts renewed by Sanchez at the end of the campaign. Last week Paul Read and John Cornforth were released and youngster Aaron Patton joined shortly afterwards. Read failed to hit it off at Adams Park after being signed by John Gregory in January 1997 for an initial fee of £35,000 from Arsenal. Wycombe have had to pay further installments on this fee since but having made 65 appearances in a Wycombe shirt, was ten short of the final payment that would have taken the total to £135,000. Read scored 12 goals for Wycombe, the last being on the final day of the 1997/98 season at Walsall. Read is currently having talks with Peterborough United.
John Cornforth Ex-Welsh International Cornforth joined Wycombe in December 1996 but was injured in first game and didn't play again until near the end of that season. Has his best spell when he scored seven times in the opening three months of the 1997/97 campaign. Lost his way during the remainder of the season and solitary penalty at Preston was his only contribution this season. He totalled 57 appearances for Wycombe - scoring eight times. Woking are said to be interested in Cornforth, although Stevenage could be the better option with ex-Wycombe assistant Richard Hill managing the Conference side in Cornforth's current home town.
20 year old Patton failed to make the First Team this season after making just one appearance as substitute on the final of the 97/98 season. Sanchez is now scouring the 'free' transfer market in search of players that will help him continue his revolution at Adams Park.

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NEWS FROM THE DAY WYCOMBE SURVIVED (8th May 1999)
COACH CONVOY TO LINCOLN
Close to 3,000 Wycombe fans made the journey to Sincil Bank on Saturday as the battle for Division Two survival reached its final day. Wednesday's nail-biting victory over Wigan meant that victory at Lincoln on the last day of the season would see Wycombe stay in Division Two. Only Man City failing to beat York at Maine Road OR Oldham winning against Reading AND scoring five more goals than Wycombe, would have meant the dreaded drop. With free coach travel available, more than 30 coaches were waved off at Adams Park by Chairman Ivor Beeks at 9.30 on Saturday morning to see the biggest game for Wycombe since the 1994 play-off final against Preston at Wembley.
Adams Park Saturday morning 8th May 1999 - Just look at all those coaches, a bus spotters dream!
Paul Emblen, the hero on Wednesday night against Wigan, popped up again to get the only goal of the game with just seven minutes remaining and spark a mass celebration on the away terrace. At the final whistle the new messiah, Lawrie Sanchez, took it in his stride as players, officials and fans alike, hugged, danced and cried with joy as the pains of the season were finally left to rest. Wycombe fans are now left with the thoughts of games against Bristol City, Oxford United and Brentford next season in Division Two, rather than Cheltenham, Macclesfield and Northampton in the basement division.

For the first match reports and comments click here. Chairboys on the Net has compiled the fans comments and congratulations from the tension filled day at Sincil Bank. These have been posted to a web page for permanent recognition of this memorable day.

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SURVIVAL PATH - THIS IS IT THEN (5th May 1999)
After Saturday's disappointing draw with Blackpool and then Northampton's 0-0 draw at Chesterfield on Monday, Wycombe came back to life on Wednesday evening to take three crucial points against play-off chasing Wigan. Victory at Lincoln on the last day should keep The Wanderers in Division Two. 24 hours earlier Lee Thorpe kept Lincoln's hopes alive with an 88th minute winner against Wrexham, while 10-men Oldham beat Stoke City 1-0 against a City that included seven changes from the side that played Saturday at Gillingham. Macclesfield were relegated after drawing 1-1 at Notts County. Permutations for Saturday are too many to mention and the pressure is almost too much to bear but by Saturday afternoon at 5.00pm we will know our fate.
Visit the Chairboys on the Net - Awayday guide for more info on Lincoln
NATIONWIDE DIVISION TWO - bottom half

including 5 May   P  W  D  L  F  A PTS
                                       
13 Burnley        45 13 15 17 52 71 54 
14 Bristol R      45 12 17 16 61 53 53 
15 Notts Co       44 14 11 19 51 59 53 
16 Blackpool      45 13 14 18 42 53 53 
17 Colchester     45 12 16 17 51 68 52 
18 Wrexham        44 13 13 18 43 61 52 
19 York           45 13 11 21 56 76 50 
20 Wycombe        45 12 12 21 51 58 48 
`````````````````````````````````````` 
21 Oldham         45 13  9 23 46 66 48 
22 Northampton    45 10 17 18 41 55 47 
23 Lincoln        45 13  7 25 42 73 46 
24 Macclesfield   45 11 10 24 40 59 43 


Monday May 3 1999
Chesterfield 0-0 Northampton
Wigan        0-0 Burnley


Tuesday May 4 1999

Lincoln    1-0 Wrexham
Notts Cty  1-1 Macclesfield
Oldham     1-0 Stoke
Walsall    2-2 Fulham

Wednesday May 5 1999
Wycombe     2-1 Wigan

Saturday  May 8 1999 

Blackpool    v Colchester
Bournemouth  v Wrexham
Fulham       v Preston
Lincoln      v Wycombe
Macclesfield v Bristol Rovers
Man City     v York City
Millwall     v Luton
Northampton  v Burnley
Notts County v Gillingham
Oldham       v Reading
Stoke        v Walsall
Wigan        v Chesterfield

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DEFEAT IN BERKS AND BUCKS FINAL (3rd May 1999)
A Wycombe side consisting of a mixture of reserves and youth teamers lost 4-1 after extra-time to Ryman League Division One outfit Maidenhead United in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup Final at Chesham on Bank Holiday Monday. On an awful pitch, Wycombe simply didn't have the ideas or the passion to break down an experienced Maidenhead side. At a sunny Meadow, United dominated the early stages but failed to test Wycombe 'keeper Mark Westhead. It took Wycombe 38 minutes to force a serious effort at goal when Richard Thompson sent in a dipping twenty yarder that was held comfortably by Keiron Drake in the United goal. Thompson was guilty of another miss a minute before the break when his snap shot from the left side drifted the wrong side of the bar.
United took the lead four minutes into the second-half when Mickey Creighton shot on the turn after a cross from the left. Wycombe had chances to equalise but a Mark Rogers header was took weak on 57 minutes and Thompson mis-hit again after 66 minutes following a lofted ball in from Captain for the John Cornforth. It was Welshman Cornforth who took the match into extra-time with ten minutes remaining when he placed a free-kick into the bottom left hand corner of the United after Lee had been fouled. You have thought that the professional team would have had the upper hand in extra-time but it was Maidenhead who claimed the trophy when Peter Terry headed home on 95 minutes and veteran Gary Attrell sealed the game on 104 minutes when his delicately placed chip left Westhead stranded. Creighton added a fourth six minutes before the end but by then the minds of the Wycombe fans were on other things.
WYCOMBE TEAM:Westhead, Townsend, Johnson, Leach, Rogers, Cornforth (sub 102 Holsgrove), Senda, Lee, Read, Thompson (sub 73 Gray), Bulman. Att:750 (approx)

 

NEWS FROM WEEK ENDING 1st May 1999
SANCHEZ PLEA(30th April 1999)
Lawrie Sanchez is urging fans to turn out for Saturday's vital game with Blackpool. Sanchez said on local radio "It's a classic game for proving Alan Parry wrong for what he says about you out there..,shove it down his throat that Wanderers fans do come out and support the team when they're needed. The lads are fired up and with you on our side, the league table can look completely different come Saturday evening."
OTHER NEWS(30th April 1999)
Steve Brown has received a two match after attending another disciplinary hearing on Thursday (29th April). It means that Brownie could be involved in the last game of the season at Lincoln if he manages to recover from the injury he picked up against Man City. Dave Carroll is fighting to regain fitness for the clash with Blackpool at Adams Park as Wycombe reach the do or die stage of the season.
A new issue of the WWISC fanzine, The Wanderer, will be on sale before the game with Blackpool. Supporters can also pick up the final issue of the Club publication, The Quarterman, using season ticket voucher Q4 or by paying £1.50.

SURVIVAL PATH - TIGHT AGAIN!(29th April 1999)
Last Saturday's victory at Maine Road was quite simply the best result since Wycombe joined the Football League in 1993. The vital victory, coupled with fellow strugglers failing to win, meant Wycombe were within a single point of climbing out of the relegation zone. Tuesday's game at Notts County gave Wycombe that chance but unfortunately it was a case of 'back to reality' for Wycombe fans and now it's all eyes on Oldham's and Northampton's results.
Northampton drew 3-3 at home to Wigan on Thursday night and have now climbed out of the bottom four but Wycombe have a game in hand.
NATIONWIDE DIVISION TWO - bottom half
                                                                            
including 29 Apr   P  W  D  L  F  A PTS
                                       
13 Bristol R      44 12 16 16 59 51 52 
14 Notts Co       43 14 10 19 50 58 52 
15 Colchester     44 12 16 16 50 65 52 
16 Wrexham        43 13 13 17 43 59 52 
17 Blackpool      44 13 13 18 40 51 52 
18 York           44 13 11 20 56 75 50 
19 Burnley        43 12 14 17 51 71 50 
20 Northampton    44 10 16 18 41 55 46 
`````````````````````````````````````` 
21 Oldham         43 12  9 22 44 63 45 
22 Wycombe        43 11 11 21 47 55 44 
23 Lincoln        43 11  7 25 38 72 40 
24 Macclesfield   43 10  9 24 37 57 39 
MORE INJURY WOE FOR WYCOMBE(26th April 1999)
Steve Brown is out for the rest of the season after pulling a hamstring in the game at Man City. Brownie played on with the injury and has written himself out for the rest of the campaign. Jason Cousins is also unlikely to be fit again this season, with Lincoln away being the earliest possible return for the heavily nominated Player of the Season. Jamie Bates and Paul Emblen will return from suspension for the midweek game at Notts County while the stunning display of Michael Forsyth on his return at Man City will give Sanchez more options in this department. As suggested last week, Paul McCarthy has been given a new two year contract with Wycombe. His partnership with Jamie Bates has been a major factor in The Wanderers' recent revival.
YOUNG GUNNERS BLOWN AWAY(26th April 1999)
A virtually unknown Arsenal line-up were beaten 2-0 by Wycombe's reserve side on Monday evening (26th April) at Adams Park. A crowd of 1,520, a record for a reserve league fixture at Adams Park, saw ex-Gunner Paul Read on 28 minutes and Paul Johnson on 81 minutes get the goals.
WYCOMBE TEAM:Mark Osborn, Gary Wraight, Ben Townsend, Lee Holsgrove, Nicky Leach, Mark Rogers, Danny Senda, Martyn Lee, Paul Read, Dannie Bulman, Richard Thompson subs:Eddie Gray, Stuart Reeks, Paul Johnson.
ARSENAL TEAM:Stuart Taylor, Alan McLeod, David Grondin, Paulo Vernazza, Brian McGovern, David Livermore, Michael Black, Greg Lincoln, Fabian Caballero, Graham Barrett, Tommy Black subs:Rhys Weston, James Harper, Julian Gray.
 
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