Grimmer must be a winner for Wycombe

JACK GRIMMER’S first appearance at Wembley remains the best day of his career. His second — should he get there — would likely be the most surreal.

The famous arch beckons once again for the former Aberdeen defender, this time in the colours of unfancied Wycombe Wanderers. Should they get past Fleetwood Town in the semi-finals of the League One play-offs, they would be just one game away from reaching the second tier of English football for the first time in their history.

That game would take place at Wembley but in circumstances far removed from Grimmer’s previous visit two years ago. That time the full-back soaked up the adulation of the Coventry City fans in the 50,000 crowd by scoring in a 3-1 victory that saw the Sky Blues triumph in the League Two play-off final.

This time the home of English football will be eerily quiet as a result of Covid restrictions, barely a few hundred people inside a stadium that can hold 90,000 when full to bursting.

‘It will be really surreal if we get there,’ said the 26 year-old. ‘I’m just glad my first Wembley experience was a normal one with all the fans there and of course scoring to help get Coventry up. This time — if we get there — it will be really strange for those who are playing there for the first time.

‘The atmosphere will be night and day from my last time. It will feel like a bounce game but with so much at stake for both clubs.

‘But most importantly we have to make sure we get to the final.’

Eight years have passed since Grimmer left hometown club Aberdeen after just a few first-team appearances, spirited away to the bright lights of London by then Premier League outfit Fulham.

The right-back came close to returning north last summer only for a move to fall through. But he hasn’t been discouraged, with any moves from Hearts, Hibernian or especially Aberdeen likely to find favour.

‘I spoke to a couple of Scottish clubs last summer before signing for Wycombe,’ he revealed.

‘I was close to coming back up the road at that point and it’s something I’m definitely going to do at some point.

‘I was only 18 when I left Aberdeen so I never really got a taste for Scottish football and it feels like unfinished business for me. I’ve also been away from family and friends for a while now and it would be nice to get back home.

‘Without hopefully sounding overly confident, I’d like to think I could play in the top end of the Scottish Premiership.

‘If it’s not a return to Aberdeen then maybe one of the Edinburgh clubs would be a good fit for me.’