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BWK - Wycombe Wanderers history

edited November 15 in Football

Following a proper saddo discussion with a fellow Chairboy yesterday, I'd like to see what others believe...

Wycombe Wanderers reached the third round (proper) of the F.A. Cup for the first time in the clubs history during the 1974/75 season,

They held first division Middlesbrough (Jack Charlton, Graeme Souness et al) to a goal-less draw on Saturday 4th January 1975 at Loakes Park.

What position in the first division table were Middlesbrough in on that date?

BWK - Wycombe Wanderers history
  1. What position in the first division table were Middlesbrough in on that date?68 votes
    1. Top (1st)
      73.53%
    2. 2nd
      22.06%
    3. 3rd
        2.94%
    4. Other
        1.47%

Comments

  • I have no idea. Does that mean I do not qualify as a Wycombe Wanderers saddo?

  • With the late great Jack Charlton as their manager.

  • The day we played them they were second on goal difference.


    Ipswich 30PTS 34GF 19GA 15GD

    Middlesbrough 30PTS 37GF 28GA 9GD


    However they had already beaten Ipswich 3-0 that season in the league. Interestingly they played Ipswich away after our games and lost 2-0.

  • I was there of course. Where else. Wasn’t able to get to the replay unfortunately. Brian Lee said afterwards he was glad the game hadn’t gone to extra time as we would have been murdered. The Middlesbrough players carried goalkeeper John Maskell off at the final whistle, fireman style.

  • I was at the Middlesbrough match sitting on the shelf on the front of the stand and a section nearby was full of visiting supporters. After the game had been going a while I will always remember one of their supporters shouting out loudly "give us a kick". At that point, it was that one-sided and it was a game we richly deserved to win. Their goalkeeper was Jim Platt who had a good game.


  • I know Dennis Rader is known as BTK among crime buffs but BWK? Bluey Wycombe Kill???

  • From memory Middlesbrough were top when the draw was made in early December.

    I'd have been listening on a portable wireless radio, Monday lunchtime, when the draw was made.

  • edited November 15

    I suppose Adams Park just about falls into the Midsomer Murders universe so the idea of Bluey the Swan being a serial killer could make a typical episode.

    More plausible than that one episode I had to watch with my mother that was absolute bollocks from start to finish.

  • My third ever game after the Cheltenham 1st round and Bournmouth 2nd.

  • My late mother had quite a big part, for an extra, in Midsomer Murders. She was bumped into by John Nettles leaving a café

  • Turn up screen brightness as full as possible 👇

    https://youtu.be/Ln8NMo4z2XY?feature=shared

  • Seems the Ex-Players Association are holding a special reunion do on 2nd January 2025. Watch out for further news.

  • edited November 16

    As we've hit 50+ votes I can reveal the answer. @wwfcblue is spot on. Middlesbrough were second in the first division, behind Ipswich Town on goal difference.

    It has been reported in several places since that Middlesbrough were top, enough for me to have believed it. They were never top of the table. Moral of the story is find some less saddo mates always check your sources.

    @Twizz Middlesbrough were half-way down the table at the time of the second round draw. @username123 thank you for the link. Tremendous stuff, even with the lights off.

  • I'm calling that joint top. Certainly not prepared to admit I've been wrong all these years

  • I was vaguely aware they had (in my head) slipped to second by the time the match came around. Surprised to learn that apparently they never reached top spot.

    Whether top or second , our success since has perhaps narrowed in perception the yawning gap that existed between the teams at the time.

  • What was the gap in divisions? What would the equivalent be today?

  • This would have been pre Conference so hard to know where we really were in the non-league hierarchy. I would say perhaps a mid table Conference side against a team at the top of the Premier League but not one normally at that level. so equivalent perhaps of a Tamworth drawing and nearly beating say Aston Villa.

    But I get the impression that the non leagues are stronger and more professional now than they were then so perhaps feeling more like say Dorking or Chesham??

  • edited November 16

    Yeah, I feel like the gap between the Football League divisions has grown but the gap between top flight and the top of non-League has shrunk?

    It wasn't exactly common, but until the 80s it wasn't unheard of for lower-league sides to win either of the two major domestic cups. Swindon were Div 3 when they beat Arsenal in the League Cup final in I think 69? West Ham possibly the last team from outside the top flight to win the FAC?

  • I knew for sure they weren't top when we played them, didn't know they were actually Joint top with Ipswich, but I've believed for years that my explanation was the correct reason many thought they were.

    You live and learn. I watched from the lower cowshed up towards the hospital end on the day. If only the Alan Phillips header had gone in.

  • edited November 16

    On Thursday February 5th 1953, having recently finished my National Service I was able to go to Highbury to see one of the Wanderers' main Isthmian league rivals Walthamstow Avenue play Manchester United in a 4th round FA Cup replay having achieved a draw at Old Trafford. Walthamstow had England Cricketer Trevor Bailey in their side It was an entertaining game but they lost 5-2

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