The English football season is drawing to a close. Although most of the focus is on the outcome of the Premier League, the final matches below will also be baffling. One of the most interesting bands is the Wycombe Wanderers. The Chairboys are led by Gareth Ainsworth, a mysterious figure by all accounts.
Two years ago you were cheering us on from your couches.
In two weeks you’ll be there with us at Wembley.
They may even give us seats close to the stadium!
Even Wyc.# pioneers pic.twitter.com/2P7skMe2mA
– Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) May 8, 2022
Wycombe suffered relegation from the championship in 2021, and is looking to recover immediately. Ainsworth has been in charge for nearly a decade, and was one of the longest-running managers in the EFL system.
His long hair, bountiful nature, and array of colorful outfits made him a cult hero. However, the most interesting thing is that Ainsworth is in a band called “The Cold Blooded Hearts”.
ππ’π πππ ππππππππ
Gareth Ainsworth is the lead singer of the rock band, style icon and second longest serving manager in the Football League.
Rock ‘n’ Roll celebrates his 200th win as head coach of the Wycombe Wanderers.# pioneers pic.twitter.com/N132wlDTZJ
– bet365 (@bet365) April 23, 2022
Ainsworth will enjoy the chance to take on one of the Championship regulars at Sunderland. After getting a taste of victory through that same path in 2019-20, Wycombe will rely on Ainsworth and co. to repeat.
Unmatched manager
Gareth Ainsworth has been in the Football League for a long time. A long and successful career playing with Preston North End, Port Vale, Wimbledon, Cardiff City and more. Ainsworth was a part of the Division Three season and the Division Two team of the season during his career.
Furthermore, he also named Port Vale Player of the Season in 1998. Ainsworth joined the Wycome Wanderers as a player in 2009, and played four seasons. However, he was actually appointed as player manager in November 2012. Ainsworth officially retired in the summer of 2013 and took up the managerial role full time.
This may be his second match this weekend, but Gareth Ainsworth originally had no ambition to be a manager!#EFL | Tweet embed pic.twitter.com/iOWWno1UPr
– EFL (EFL) March 4, 2022
Therefore, his connections to the club are deeper than most. The entire city loves their club, thanks in large part to their charismatic manager. Wycombe regularly punched above his weight, with the championship experience being the highlight.
“These fans, I want to give it to them” πͺβ€οΈ
Gareth Ainsworth says he loves the ‘underdog’ nickname Wycombe would have had if they had been promoted to the championship and still managed to cause a nuisance to any team. pic.twitter.com/bvCtwh6SAT
Sky Sports Football May 21 2022
Wycombe finished the 2021-22 season in sixth place, with 23 wins and just nine defeats. They surprised the MK Dons in the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory on aggregate. Sunderland is going to be a great match at Wembley, and Ainsworth is more than ready.
growing wycombe
Gareth Ainsworth has no doubts about the scale of the job he does. Sunderland will certainly start as a candidate, given his history. However, Ainsworth enjoys being “the underdog”, as he himself stated to free press dollars,
βWe will be the underdogs and that will be our approach because that is the way we do things here. This is David and Goliath without a doubt.β
Wycombe has a staff full of experienced veterans and young talent who know the EFL scene. Top scorer, Sam Foxes, with 16 goals, was a starter for Burnley a few years ago. Left winger Jordan Opita was a mainstay at Reading previously, and champion against MK Dons, David Stockdale spent time with Fulham.
Gareth Ainsworth: βThe owners and I share a plan to get us into the Championship and continue building this club into something bigger and better than it was before.
“Sam is a key ingredient to making this happen.”# pioneers pic.twitter.com/pncl9UFDfD
– Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) May 16 2022
Therefore, this network of different colored characters was vital to Ainsworth. He’s managed to keep morale high and make Wycombe an uphill challenge for any club. Moreover, he is very adept at using a variety of systems depending on the match situation.
π£ βWhen someone is selfless, that is a powerful thing.βTweet embed He sings lyrically to his manager, Gareth Ainsworth. pic.twitter.com/4YWtBEPF0w
– Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 20 2022
Club legend Adebayo Akinfenwa was brought off the bench at the end of matches to sway matters. He strengthens the midfield pivot when his team needs to defend their lead, as demonstrated against MK Dons.
Premier League soon?
The ultimate dream for all involved. It wasn’t Gareth Ainsworth shy of male The club aims to become a regular championship,
“Hopefully we can take 25,000 to Wembley, so I think naming it ‘Little Wycombe’ now would be a mistake. I think ‘Growing Wycombe’ would be better because we’re definitely building something. There’s more groups downtown, more journalistic activity, and I think we have to We have to start getting rid of that βlittleβ mark.β
Ainsworth and his team have gone above and beyond the football side of things. There is a complete belief that this team can achieve the biggest things. Ainsworth has been associated with the club for a long time, so he is immersed in the culture.
Two days to go!
Gareth Ainsworth has got his boys fit and shooting for Saturday’s final, and can’t wait to get out on the pitch at Wembley.
His full conversation from this morning is now live on WanderersTV.# pioneers
– Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) May 19, 2022
He has developed a fan following his photo and connection. Even if Ainsworth and the team fell into this hurdle, there is no doubt that the support would remain just as strong. Wycombe has been doing something special lately, and Ainsworth is the right man to lead change.
