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When Wycombe Wanderers fans shifted their attention from giving their own team a standing ovation to sending referee Darren Bond down the tunnel with what could be politely called a flea to his ear, it was confirmation that part of the lost soul of the football had returned.
Bond, who has been leading a relatively quiet life officiating in empty stadiums, couldn’t resist a smile, as even he seemed to acknowledge that at least some of the game’s normal service had resumed.
If football has sometimes seemed like a cold and heartless occupation in recent months, it is because an irreplaceable part of that soul was missing. He returned in the form of 1,000 Wycombe supporters at Adams Park.
And despite the loss and disappointment of the local fans here, this was the night that some of the most important connections finally began to be reestablished between the clubs and their fan bases.
As the fog rolled in from the Chiltern Hills on a very cold night in Buckinghamshire, the new normal needed in the midst of a global pandemic was replaced by good old-fashioned rough football, fueled by the kind of crowd noise and verbal outpouring that confirmed months. yelling at television is no substitute for reality.
This was a carefully managed test event by Wycombe, the success of having 1,000 fans present hopefully means double that number can watch the championship game here against Coventry City on December 12. It was a night this club that specializes in defying the odds can be justifiably proud.
It was a pleasure to watch the vehicles wind their way through the parking lots, along with the sight of fans walking down the industrial park towards the stadium, 285 days after watching the Chairboys beat Tranmere 3-1 en route to a debut season in the Championship.
Wycombe’s historic day, the play-off win against Oxford United at Wembley in July, was played behind closed doors, so there was a special atmosphere around this compact 10,000-capacity stadium.
This was an evening to celebrate the fans’ return to soccer after that long absence, but also for Wycombe fans to cheer on their heroes and see them in the Championship for the first time, a remarkable feat by coach Gareth Ainsworth and his team.
They entered the stadium at staggered time intervals over the course of an hour, and old acquaintances were renewed even among the small numbers who were lucky enough to receive the email granting them entry.
Ian Monk, a Wycombe fan since 1964, told BBC Sport: “I’ve been following Wycombe since the fan days.
“I found out this morning that I was one of the lucky ones. Someone left and I got an email saying I was in. In fact, it feels very emotional to be back here and to enter the land.
“This is a special night, not only because we are allowed to see the team live again, but also because it is our first game in the Championship.
“It’s been a long time. I travel all over the country from home and abroad and the club has organized it very well. They have done magnificently to carry this game forward with our fans here under difficult circumstances.”
Ainsworth received a well-deserved standing ovation as he walked the perimeter of the field before kickoff, while fans received a tribute of their own on the team’s official sheet, listed as the twelfth man under the Jason McCarthy name as “Season 1,000 Headlines of tickets “.
However, the best laid plans are never foolproof, let alone for a black Honda owner who was asked to return to his car moments before the start, presumably just as they were relishing the moment they had waited months for. Those who sympathized, and judging by some ironic cheers, many did not, hoping it was a simple case of lights on and that the great moment would not be missed.
For a rock star looking manager, it was fitting for Ainsworth’s side to come out with a great roar and the deafening sound of The Cult’s ‘Fire Woman’.
Wycombe’s strict support protocols discouraged hugs, handshakes, or handshakes with people outside of their bubble and signed with “be careful when singing, singing, or celebrating.”
This was put to the test in a matter of seconds when Alex Samuel of Wycombe fell to the ground after a strong aerial challenge: the fickle home support gathered at the Lords Stand took it upon himself to inform referee Bond exactly what they thought of his decision to follow. Playing.
Bond was even ordered, at various points and in colorful terms, to visit a local optician, not the kind of advice that will have been lost in these months behind closed doors.
And when Nick Powell concluded a period of pressure from Stoke to lead the visitors to the front after 72 minutes, he took the opportunity to mark the fans’ comeback with a cupped-ear celebration that wasn’t exactly well received by disappointed fans of Wycombe.
In that time-honored scene that proves soccer fans really were back, referee Bond left the pitch at the final whistle with shouts of “cheat” along with some old-fashioned gestures of disapproval from the home crowd.
Ainsworth smiled widely even in the loss, proud of the efforts of his Wycombe team and their fans when he said: “This was fantastic. It was great to see them at home and the players were fantastic too.
“We won a throw-in in the first minute and they cheered like it was a goal. It was eight months of frustration, desire and need at that moment.
“It was an emotional night because we have been away so long. There has been a promotion there, so it was great to share tonight even though we lost. It was an emotional moment for me to walk the field at the beginning.”
“We showed that we can compete in the Championship here and even though there were only 1,000 fans, they showed they are fans of the Championship.
“It was a joy to see the fans here with us again. They were outstanding before, during and after the game and we can’t wait to have more of them here with us.”
Wycombe may have lost and remained in the Championship relegation spots, so those 1,000 passionate fans were disappointed, but in many other ways they will feel it was so good to be back.
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