Joshua helps Wycombe punch above their weight
WYCOMBE’S Wembley triumph in the League One play-off final was inspired by a series of motivational video messages from sports stars and celebrities, including Anthony Joshua and AP McCoy. Manager Gareth Ainsworth then stirred the emotions of his players with another sequence of film shown moments before they left the team hotel. It featured clips from friends, staff and fans, including from the daughter of Mark Bird, a supporter who died after suffering a heart attack at a game in January. Ainsworth was rewarded when his side beat Oxford United 2-1 to reach the second tier for the first time in their 133-year history. It sparked a long night of celebrations, led by talismanic 38-year-old striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, whose jubilant post-match interview went viral and even triggered a response from Jurgen Klopp. Before he had changed from his kit, Akinfenwa was trading WhatsApp messages with Klopp and, yesterday, the Liverpool boss was fielding questions on Wycombe at his media briefing and invited Akinfenwa to join him on the title parade. Tiny Wycombe are on the rise and they are stealing hearts. Pete Couhig, nephew of the club’s American owner Rob Couhig, hailed them ‘the biggest little club in the world’ on social media. The Couhigs, who took over this season, hired a private bar in Marlow and Ainsworth did not make it to bed before 6am. But the party was not allowed to begin until the players had been back to the training ground in Buckinghamshire, unpacked the equipment and cleaned the team bus. Only then were they able to relax and savour the night and reminisce about a campaign which started with nine players, including two triallists on the first day of pre-season training. They have dubbed themselves ‘The Misfits’ with many of them unwanted before they were drawn to Adams Park. Akinfenwa was released by AFC Wimbledon. Alex Samuel, who started up front, was released by Stevenage. Joe Jacobson, scorer of the penalty which beat Oxford, was released by Shrewsbury. Matt Bloomfield has been at Wycombe for 16 years. Darius Charles was advised to retire last summer due to hip problems, but defied the medics. There are more. Ainsworth, at the club as player and manager for more than a decade, has led them from the depths. In 2014, they escaped relegation from the Football League on goal difference on the final day. Six years later he is still rising with a side stitched together on a budget and kept together through lockdown, which forced the club to furlough all but five of its non-playing them to look staff for new and advise jobs. Uncertainty remains, with no clarity on crowds returning, nor when the new season starts. When it does, they will be favourites for the drop — and they will set out to defy reality again.