Happier Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers v Darlington Coca-Cola League Two Saturday 18th October 2008, 3pm Wanderers are capable of a push for the play-offs - again. We say this every year. Wycombe match photos from October 2008 Some shots from Wycombe by Ted Blair The experienced Peter Taylor, who has had a topsy-turvy last 18 months in management, replaced Paul Lambert at the end of the season and has pushed them to the top of the league by the start of October. Man to watch Full match preview on the D@rlo Uncovered website. Away supporters sit in the Dreams Stand behind the goal, with prices up for adults, and down for juniors: Adults £19, OAPs £16, students £15, under 16's £7 and under seven, £6. Buying in advance is cheaper - adults £17, OAPs £14, students £13 and under 16s, £5 and under sevens £4. Despite being set in an industrial estate and having portakabins for the club shop, the stadium - also the home of the London Wasps - has good facilities and looks quite impressive.

Wycombe Wanderers FC: Adams Park, Hillbottom Rd, High Wycombe HP12 4HJ Tel: (01494) 472100 Official website History: Formed in 1887 by local furniture workers (hence nickname). Won FA Amateur Cup at Highbury in 1931. Isthmian League from 1950s, held Middlesbrough to 0-0 draw in FA Cup in 1975. Promotion to Conference in 1987, won title under Martin O'Neil in 1992/93 by record 15 points. Reached FA Cup semi-final in 2000-2001 under Lawrie Sanchez, losing 2-1 to Liverpool at Villa Park. Record Attendance: 9,007 v West Ham Ut, FA Cup, 7 Jan 1995 Capacity: 10,000 Last season: 7th (play-off semi-finals) Honours: Conference champions 1992/1993, Div 3 play-off winners 1994/94. Relegated after a decade in Div 2. Record victory: 5-0 v Burnley, Div 2 15 April 1997 Record defeat: 3-8 v Aston Villa, Coca-Cola Cup, 20 Sept 2005 Nickname: The Chairboys. Colours: Dark and light blue quarters Manager: Peter Taylor Chairman: Ivor Beeks Players in: Lewis Spence (Crystal Palace), John Mousinho (Brentford), Chris Zebroski (Millwall, £20,000), Lewis Hunt (Derby), Nathan Ashton (Fulham), Magno Silva Vieira, Simon Church (Reading, loan). Players out: Stefan Oakes (Lincoln), Anthony McParland (Livingston), Sergio Torres and Russ Martin (both Peterboro, £200,000 combined), Sam Stockley (Port Vale), John Sutton (Motherwell), Chris Palmer, Andre Boucaud, Alan Massey, Tom Cadmore, Steven Gregory and Jack Obersteller (all released) Famous fans/players/connections: Alan Parry (Sky commentator - fan/director), Bill Turnbull (BBC Breakfast presenter, fan), Martin O'Neill, John Gregory, Lawrie Sanchez, Tony Adams (managers), Steve Claridge, Steve Guppy (players) Click for Streetmap of ground

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Leave the M40 at junction 4 and take the A4010 (signposted Aylesbury) and then follow the signs for Wycombe Wanderers F C. Pass through three mini-roundabouts (John Hall Way) and down the hill in New Road. At the bottom is the first of two more mini-roundabouts. Take a sharp first exit left at the first one into Lane End Road and at the next roundabout travel right into Hillbottom Road (Sands Industrial Estate). Parking: There around 800 spaces close to ground, mostly on the hill side over looking Adams Park, costing £3 per car. This car park is to the right of the ground entrance gates as you drive through. There can be big queues at full time so an alternative are industrial units that allow parking for a charge of around £3. Another option is to park in town in one of the mult-storeys or at the station and catch one of the shuttle buses. The club is trying to encourage fans to car-share or use the park-and-ride service to cut congestion.

High Wycombe is not the most accessible of towns and you know why Wycombe are called the Wanderers when you evenually find the stadium. The town, west of central London on the Network South East line, can be reached from either London Marylebone or Birmingham Moor Street via the Chilterns line. The station is in the town centre, three miles away from the stadium. It's a long walk. There are two special buses on match days, (one leaves the station at 13.55 for 3pm kick offs), costing £2 each way. You can pick them up at the gate outside the ground straight after a game, then it's about 20 minutes in traffic back to the town centre. Or taxis cost £5-8. Some service buses run within a 15 minute walk of the ground.

Crown Taxis 01494 534341 Abba Cars 01494 550000 Alpha Cars 01494 450444 Neale's Taxis 01494 522555, do six-seaters too. Atlas Cars and Minibuses 01494 535393 Eagle Taxis 01494 444414 Tiger Taxis (station) 01494 461111 Darlington FC Supporters Club Coach Time 8am, £28. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details.

TRAIN TIMES ( UPDATED OCT 08): Darlington 08.28-London King's Cross (10.58), tube to London Marylebone 11.53-rr 12.28. Rtn High Wycombe 17.56-arr 22.09 via London Marylebone (arr 18.35) and King's Cross (dept 19.30). Fares: £102.80 London Marylebone Plenty of services - 10.00-10.48, return 17.56-arr 18.35. Cheapday return £14.50. Birmingham Moor Street Direct trains at least - 09.15-arr 10.57 and 10.15-arr 11.57, rtn: 17.50-arr 19.53. Fares: £24.40-£27.10 Saver returns. Sheffield: 08.31-(Leamington Spa, 10.37) 10.54 arr 11.57; rtn: 17.50-(Banbury, 18.35) 18.53 (Birmingham New St, 19.45) 20.03 arr 21.38. Fares: Saver return, £58.40.

Only one pub remotely near the ground, so best to drink in the town centre and travel to Adams Park. There's a local real ale list if you don't trust our judgement. Real ale/town centre/near station The Belle Vue, 45 Gordon Road A short walk from the railway station - turn out of the station, up the hill and take first right into Totteridge Road. Walk past the flats and take a right down down Slate Street to reach it. A small, friendly street corner pub with Hydes and Hop Back ales, usually three or four on. No cooked food or rolls though. DAFTS recommended. Click for streetmap

Inside the Belle Vue Real ale/country alternatives The Three Horsehoes, Burroughs Grove Hill, Marlow Bottom, SL7 3RA A village off the A4010 and four miles from the ground. Taken over by the Rebellion Brewery - which is a few hundred yards away - and is supposed to be very popular. Six of the local brew usually available. A get-there-early place. Click for streetmap Another idea is to exit the M40 at junction 5 and call at the Fleur De Lys in Stokenchurch, five miles from Adams Park. The pub lies to the right of the main through road and is directly opposite the Kings Arm Hotel. It serves real ale and food. At the ground It's at the doorman's discretion but the Centre Spot, close to the away entrance, may be open to visiting fans - £2 entry charge, so if only going for a quick pint, not worth it. If you walked all the way, you may need it though.

Town centre/station The Hour Glass, 144 Chapel Lane, Sands A mile from the ground and popular with home fans. Visiting fans are let in at the doormen's discretion. Food, pool tables, Sky TV. Real ale is Benskins and usually Marston's Pedigree. The Bell, Frogmoor, High Wycombe. Town centre local with 16th century frontage - does London Pride. Fairly close to the railway station. Click for streetmap The Hobgoblin, 35 High Street - Small, characterful locals pub, used to be owned by the Hobgoblin Brewery. Not a huge choice of ales on our visit, but good enough. The Falcon, 9 Cornmarket, High Street - JD Wetherspoons - Real Ale, Food, no Jukebox The Rose and Crown, Desborough Road

The "Chairboys" nickname for Wanderers comes from High Wycombe's historical association with the furniture industry - chairs in particular, but not forgetting 70s kitsch like G-Plan furniture. Little of it remains but it is celebrated in the town's museum in Priory Avenue. Wycombe is small, hilly market town right in the middle of the London commuter belt - there are a few pubs around the High Street. Tourist Information: 6 Corn Market, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 2BW. Tel: (01494) 421892. See also the tourism pages of the local council site. There is also a town centre map. If you want to stay in the area, rather than London, then there is accommodation in the town and around. There is a fish and chip shop about 400 yards from the Hour Glass on the corner of Mill End Road and Dashwood Avenue. (opposite direction to the ground). There are a few burger vans on the final approach to the ground. The stadium does a range of (average) pies, burgers, chips, tea/coffee and snacks.

Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map Hotels/B&Bs Bucks Free Press Wycombe Council Bucks area CAMRA Wycombe W Supporters' Trust Surfing there... The official website has all the usual stuff, while highly recommended is the unofficial Chairboys.co.uk: A good-looking and informative independent website, with none of the usual Rivals' clunkiness and lots of useful details to make your visit easier and more enjoyable. The Rivals site When Skies Are Blue isn't bad either, with most of the news pages regularly updated - although some of the features are quite old. Next away match: Rotherham (Tuesday 28th October) and Grimsby Sat 1st November. No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling. © DAFTS 2008 Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page

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