Focus On... Accrington

SMBU soccer historian Paul Hunchback looks back at connections between Accrington Stanley and Wanderers ahead of tomorrow’s game.




The War
During the war (NB: I’m not sure which one, the page is smudgy) Accrington challenged Wycombe to an exhibition game to entertain the women working in the local gate factory. A crack Wanderers outfit caught the train to Manchester and then were driven to the ground in a red bus. (NB: some eyewitnesses have said the bus was blue but I don’t believe them). As local paper ‘The News & That’ reported at the time: “The High Wycombe players seemed inebriated, with the goalkeeper urinating in great arcs in his goal at regular intervals, something that brought steady jeering from the home supporters”. Rumours also spread that Wycombe were supporters of the enemy (NB: probably Germany) and a pitch invasion saw many of the Wanderers players attacked. The match was never completed and while the WWFC party made it back to Buckinghamshire safely, three days later the gate factory was bombed and every single person killed. (NB: I am informed that wartime gate production was not affected because of another factory eight miles away.)

Snowy The Dog
Do you remember when that dog ran on the pitch during the Accrington v Wycombe game on the opening day of the season? Yes, it was shocking. But it wasn’t the first time it had happened. No, it happened last season as well (NB: unproven using modern definitions of “dog”). Last season the dog was called Snowy and there is an amusing story about Snowy the dog, unfortunately I do not have it to hand. Suffice to say, this dog will never be forgotten and is in many ways the symbol of Wycombe Wanderers, although a swan is the true symbol, not a dog.

Cultural Event
Wanderers fans travelling to Accrington tomorrow could well find securing a room at a local hotel difficult as the town will be celebrating Chinese Jew Year, a festival dating back three years. Every Chinese Jew within eight miles of the town hall is allowed to perform 10 minutes of light entertainment to the rest of the town and it has proven slightly popular. (NB: If you are a Chinese Wycombe fan or a Jewish Wycombe fan it must be stressed you are NOT welcome at the event but if you are a Chinese Jew then please come along, as there aren’t enough people.)

01.02.2008. 12:05

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