Thought it would be a good idea to do a little preview of our away trips for next season. Let's hope it's a set of memorable away days in 2011/2012. Your thoughts are not only appreciated, but required! Sheffield United - Our first visit to Brammal lane since 2004 under Sanchez, and it should be a memorable one - 32,000 seater stadium fit for the Premier League, Gareth Ainsworth's probable heated reception, it has all the ingredients to become a classic. S****horpe - Attractive football under Alan Knill should be there. Attractive away day? Not particularly. Inevitably will involve, a miserable, cold, wet 2-0 defeat on a Tuesday night. Preston North End - One of the 3 grand days out 'uuupp north'. Preston should be strong under Phil Brown, excellent stadium and infrastructure once again should see a reasonable away turnout. A long trip, but one that could be worth it. Chesterfield - Revenge is on the cards after our 4-1 hammering there last season. Ground lacks the character of Saltergate, but let's face it, it's an enormous overall improvement. Better to be sat under cover than on that rickety old terrace at the spireites' old stomping ground, right? Right? Bury - Gigg Lane, sight of one of the best performances in recent years last April. Last April!!! It does seem a while away. Could a repeat happen again? Quite possibly. Then again, I don't think we'll see quite the same situation, or away turnout. But we do have a good record there. Stevenage - Reviled by many on here. Personally I was delighted to see them go up - close, local game, good, traditional ground, one of our better away attendances will be there, hopefully to see us get 3 points. It's all good. Bournemouth - I was delighted they lost that play off semi. Not because of any irrational hatred but because it makes for a great away day on the south coast. I enjoyed my last visit to Dean Court, and I'm looking forward to it again. Huddersfield - We all remember our last visit to the Galpharm - that 6-0 hammering in Novermber 2009. Dark days for the club. Our current side is almost unrecognisable from that mob, whilst their team has stayed relatively intact. It couldn't happen again, could it? Charlton - The Valley. A superb ground holding some truly wonderful memories for blues fans. One of my favourites - a proper London club without pretension, friendly people, and you know what, I think we might beat them this time, after coming so close under Taylor in 2009. Who knows what Petey - T's fate might have been had Pittman's shots not been cleared off the line? Was that 3-2 defeat the game that changed everything? Oldham - Meh. 3 sided Boundary Park, low attendances, everything about it says nondescript. Although our record there isn't bad. Dull as hell however - one for the hardcore. MK Dons - Highly controversial - indeed there are some Wycombe fans who will still not attend games involving Franchise FC. But who can forget Betsy's last gasp winner in April 2010? I certainly haven't, and I would love to watch us crush the most plastic, crass club in Britain once again. Rochdale - Football aside, little to say about this one. How I'd love us to sign Gary Jones. Away end holds over 3000 - it'll need to be all ticket for us then. Colchester United - Derby day is back. Though many feel this rivalry has all but died out, those at their place (can't remember the sponsored name) in 2010 will otherwise disagree. A game that always attracts controversy - who can forget Scott Barrett, Frazer Stretton and that penalty in injury time, Shearer getting tackled on the edge of his box, Pittman's last minute equaliser, and Ainsworth's supremely taken handball goal? I can't wait. Leyton Orient - Site of our relegation in May 2010, hopefully the scene of happier times next year. Should be one of our best days in terms of away numbers, although I have a sneaking suspicion it will be a Tuesday night game, this one. Exeter City - Oooh ahhh, Exeter. Slices of dominos' pizza, whilst stood on the most hazardous away 'terrace' in the league, admiring Paul Tisdale's eclectic dress sense as we inevitably get thrashed. What could be better? Hartlepool - Agonisingly long away trip number 1. Sheffield Wednesday - Perhaps the high point for many. Historic ground, enveloped in both fame and infamy over the years. Our first visit to the 39.000 seater Hillsborough since 2004 under Adams. A day when the trip may overshadow the result. Be sure to visit the statue in memory of the 96 Liverpool fans who died in 1989. There's more to life than football. Brentford - Local rivalry? Not really. But a fixture that has brought about a couple of classics in recent years; it's a mere 30 minutes down the motorway, and for those so inclined, there's a pub on each corner of Griffin Park. I think I'll leave Rocky, Blue Slasher et al to take me through the rest.......... Walsall - Reasonable, in every sense really. Resonable distance, ground, away support. Could be a crucial match as they're likely to be one of our main relegation rivals. A nailbiter awaits. Carlisle - Agonsing long away trip number 2. Tranmere - Rovers do pretty well given the presence of two footballing giants so close nearby. Very nice stadium holding 16,000+, though it can lack atmosphere with crowds of 4-5000. Let's hope we never go down the same route eh? Yeovil - Ugh. Huish Park is a ground deviod of anything, really. I'm not sure what to say about this one, other than that we'll be turfed into the side stand again, crammed in like sardines, and to add insult to injury we'll probably capitulate once again to Skiverton's average side. Notts County - Magnificent stadium, and the site of a couple of memorable wins down the years, this one could be a good un'. especially if like me, you'll be in close proximity whilst at uni. Not a bad away day to round off the list. Overall, it's not bad is it? There are a few too many nondescript northern sides in there, but I think the 'big' games more than make up for it. Throw in some good local fixtures, and I think it makes for a 2011/2012 to look forward to. Thoughts? Which game are you looking forward to? Which one are you Dreading?
That was a good read, thank you! Being out of the Motherland, I'm hopefully going to make the two agonising away trips and they're likely to be the only ones i get to. So looking forward to them immensely. Personally looking forward to the games at Yeovil (old rivalry), and obviously the local-ish derbies at MK and Stevenage. On top of that are the natural massive matches, Charlton, Sheff U, Preston - all giant clubs who could be in the premier league in two years. We seem to perform in these games well and I'm really confident that Waddock will guide us to a respectable position this year. I think our football is better suited to the higher division and for the first time in years I'm feeling confident that we will punch above our weight in League 1. UP THE BLUES
Good post JS. As im deep in the west country, I shall only be able to get to Yeovil and Exeter but well looking forward to it. SUPER BLUES!!
Hopefully, next year Bristol Rovers will get promoted and Bristol City will get relegated. It would be nice to have a pair of Bristols to visit.
I like Brentford away as I can walk there from my place and I'm a big fan of the pubs on each corner! Looking forward to the trips to the 2 Sheffield clubs and hopefully a sunny trip to the coast at Bournemouth.
Yeah hopefully. I'm at Bath so only a few miles from Bristol but the 2nd nearest footballing town is probably Swindon, another team we managed to miss going in the opposite direction. At least it's not too far from Yeovil
brentford away,i cant wait to see those yobs that threw bricks bottles and anything else they could find at me and slasher and co.apart from that the big games at the sheffield clubs and preston away stand out for me,and most of all hartlepool and carlisle where i can meet up with jock and have a wee dram or two
Thanks Rocky, and everyone. Who do we all want on the first day? I'd like one of the big guns away, or perhaps MK at home.
Really good post Quite flattering that some of you refer to us at PNE as a big club. Not really, a famous one maybe but not big by any means!! My favourite one out of the list was Brentford. Went there in 96/97 season I think and did the pub crawl It ended up 2-2 but don't ask me what happened in that game because I don't for the life of me remember!! Never been to Wycombe but if it's a weekend game and money ain't too tight, I'd like to try and get there this season if I can
Cheers JS We're looking forward to this division. Proper football, proper grounds and fans. I think you may be pleasantly surprised just how much Deepdale has changed since your last visit!!!
Deepdale was the scene of a truly great Wycombe victory years ago. I recall Hakan Hayrettin scoring an absolute stonker that day.
It's certainly a modern ground but has character IMO. What do the Preston fans think of Phil Brown ahead of the new season? How do you rate your chances and is promotion expected?
preston to me are a big club and i am looking forward to playing them and hopefully we can get a result.
Too many PNE fans think we're going to walk this division JS!! Really need a reality check I think!! We've lost Billy Jones. Sean St Ledger, Keith Treacy, Andrew Lonergan and Paul Hayes on their way out too. Others will follow. We will have to rely on Phil Browns brilliant contacts and people skills along with Brian Hortons footballing knowledge to get us being a force in this division. We are going to have to make the best use possible of youngsters and loanees next season as I don't think the chairman will give PB much cash to spend. Iain Hume will score lots of goals IMO, Ashbee will be as committed as ever but we are short on players really unless we can bring a few in. My fear is that they will be journeymen, and it's always hit and miss with those type of signings. I'd be over the moon with a play off place but I'd be happy with 8th-10th place TBH. Rocky <oK> Looking forward to your visit too but hopefully it's us that get the result!!
the way col u mike is spouting off i really want col u away first game just to shut his mouth when we beat them.
