Interviews ~ F.A. Cup Special.

We're doing it differently for this special edition of The Wanderer. I went around the players bar with the trusty Dictaphone and asked players and a few other people involved in the club how they feel about us reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Sam Parkin

Ted: How did you feel getting that goal?

Sam: It was a great feeling, but just playing in the FA Cup was the amazing sensation of this year. I know I'm at Chelsea but this wonderful feeling will stay with me throughout my career. I've enjoyed scoring goals at Millwall and for Wycombe in the league this season but the FA Cup goal was beyond anything else so far.

Ted: How is the injury coming on?

Sam: It's getting a lot better thanks, I should be back in training this week.

Ted: So we might see you back for the next round of the cup?

Sam: Yes! It's not as bad as it was first suspected, hopefully I'll be back for the game against Oxford but if not then I'll be definitely be back for the following Saturday.

Chris Vinnicombe

Ted: What are your feelings about us getting past Wolves in the last round?

Vinny: I thought it was a pretty even game on the day, but we won. They had some chances, we had some chances and we stuck them away.

Ted: What do you think of our chances of perhaps moving on?

Vinny: If we get Middlesbrough who're not doing to bad at the moment and they've got a good defensive record, not beaten in eight or nine or if we get Wimbledon, we've got a chance to go through. They're a first division side, I wouldn't say they're struggling but they're finding life in the first division difficult. If we can get on top of them early-doors as we did with Wolves, we could make it an easy game and then we've a chance of going through to the next round.

Ted: What did it mean to you personally to get through in the last game?

Vinny: A real big plus for everybody at this club. For the fans, for the lads in the changing room and obviously for the Gaffer and Gibson. That's part and parcel of football, getting a bit of glory out of it and that game put Wycombe right on the map. Beating Wolves and getting into the next round is phenomenal for the club and hopefully we can get a draw against Middlesbrough if it them or beat Wimbledon and get a real big team in the next round.

Mark Rogers

Ted: What does it mean to you, getting through to the next round of the FA Cup?

Mark: I think that it’s absolutely fantastic, everybody all over the world has heard of the FA Cup. It might mean more to an Englishman but it sure means a lot to me. It’s one of the best feelings ever.

Ted: What was it like scoring up at Grimsby?

Mark: If you've seen the highlights on TV you'll know exactly how I felt about scoring that goal. It was a good goal to score at that time because it closed the door on the game, it put us 3-1 up and there was no coming back for them then.

Ted: So are you looking forward to the next round?

Mark: We'll have to wait and see who we're playing but whoever it is it'll be a great day. It'll be good for the fans it will be a bonus on the season. You never know we could make it to the quarter-finals yet. 

Jock McSporran

Ted: You're out injured and you're missing out on these cup games, it must be frustrating for you?

Jock: Seeing as we've got this far it’s been a big disappointment but that's the way it goes. Its been a great cup run for the boys and I'd have loved to play my part in it but I'm not going to as I'm not going to take part again this season so I'm just getting on with the things that'll get me back. Yes it’s been a big disappointment but these things happen it now just trying to get fit again.

Ted: How is the injury coming along?

Jock: It's fine, the recovery is going well and I'm just hoping to be back for pre-season.

Danny Senda

Ted: Dan, how are you enjoying our cup run?

Danny: The FA Cup is something special that you can look back on. Seeing how far you can go in it and doing it here at Wycombe is getting the club more press coverage which is only good for the club.

Ted: Have you ever been this far before?

Danny: No, this is the furthest I've ever been so it’s something new to me and its more experience for my career.

Ted: Who'd you fancy in the next round?

Danny: Wimbledon would be nice as I feel we could possibly turn then over but then Middlesbrough would be nice as they're a Premier league club.

Dave Carroll

Ted: Dave how frustrating is it for you missing out on this cup run?

Dave: I've been involved in a lot of big games for this club but these things happen. You can't play in every game but I'm just glad for the lads that they got a result. You never know, I might even be fit enough to play some part in the next game.

Ted: You've been here a long time and never got this far before it must rankle a bit.

Dave: As I said there's nothing I could do about it, it would have been nice to have been a part of it but I'm aiming for the 5th round.

Ted: How is the injury coming on?

Dave: It's pretty good and I hope to be involved in the next couple of weeks.

Dannie Bulman

Ted: Dannie we've got to this stage of the FA Cup, what does it mean to you personally?

Dannie: It means a lot to me. I've never really been involved in the FA Cup before it’s always been the FA Vase. I'd never been though to the first round proper so it’s pretty good getting this far.

Ted: Fancy anyone in particular?

Dannie: We'll take anyone at Adams Park and we'll raise our game as well.

Keith Ryan

Ted: We've got to the fifth round, you missed out on playing in the fourth round how are you feeling?

Keith: I'm very disappointed, I've been involved in most of the good times that the club have had over the past eleven season that I've been here and its one that I'd have loved to have been involved in. So I'm a bit disappointed but the lads have done tremendously well. If we'd lost I could have moaned but we won so I've got to try to get myself back into the team for the fifth round. 

Ted: Coming on today will have put you back into the spotlight.

Keith: Exactly, I've had a few problems with injuries and my form hasn't been particularly great so I'm after a place in the next round and any other games we play in the near future.

Ted: Fancy anyone in particular in the next round?

Keith: I think Middlesbrough will probably be our opponents but it would be a lovely story to have Wimbledon down here with the connection of Gibbon and The Gaffer.

Simon Garner

Ted: Garns, how do you feel about the lads getting through to the fifth round?

Garns: It’s brilliant; when I played I never got past the third round whether at Wycombe or at Blackburn so I think they've done really well.

Ted: How would you like to be playing now?

Garns: When you've played the game you always miss it. LOVE TO.

Jason Cousins

Ted: You've obviously never been this far in the FA Cup, how does it feel?

Jason: It’s brilliant, there's a real buzz about the place that we've managed to go this far.

Ted: I see that you got 'Man of the Match' in the last round.

Jason: Yes! I believe that there's a stewards inquiry about that but Rammers was outstanding and Sam coming on and getting the winner, everyone played well and anyone could have got it.

Ted: Do you think we've got a chance in the next round?

Jason: Without a doubt! It wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility for us to beat either side. Obviously we're going in as underdogs and it'll be a tough game but just a couple of seasons ago we held Boro up there and except for a dreadful mistake by me we'd have beaten them. So I think we've proved that we can do it.

Steve Brown

Ted: Coming on as substitute when you did was very timely.

Steve: The Gaffer makes the decision and I was on the bench with the other subs and when he put me on it just worked out that I was able to cross the ball for Sam Parkin to head the winning goal in a massive FA Cup tie. It was a great feeling.

Ted: Ever been this far before?

Steve: Not as far as the fifth round, I'm looking forward to it. It’s causing a great feeling around the club and its very nice.

Michael Simpson

Ted: How do you feel about getting to the fifth round of the cup?

Dannie: It’s great and hopefully we'll get Middlesbrough in the draw.

Ted: You fancy Boro then?

Dannie: Yes, it'll be nice to go up against a premiership side and maybe cause an upset but we've done well to get this far.

Ted: How do you feel about your own performances so far?

Dannie: I got a goal so it’s going well.

Sean Devine

Ted: Missing out must be tough.

Sean: I'm gutted really, I'd have liked to have played this year but its one of those things and hopefully I'll come back stronger next year.

Matt Brady

Ted: Matt, it's the fifth round of the FA Cup and you've come from non-league football. What are your feelings?

Matt: A massive, massive win for the club. These are mental days for the club. As you say last year I was playing in the non-league and hopefully we'll get Middlesbrough which will be a massive game for the club. BRILLIANT!

Jim Gardener

Ted: What does it mean to you watching the lads get this far?

Jim: Superb mate, best thing that happened to me in thirty years of following Wycombe.

Ted: So you're up for it.

Jim: Down here I fancy us against anyone, away from home I don't fancy anything but here we stand a real chance.

Martin Taylor

Ted: Martin, have you been to the fifth round before?

Martin: Yes, I have been here before; I've played in the quarter finals twice so I know what the feeling is to get this far. It's a real buzz for the fans and the players and the town has picked up on it now as it just about sunk in that it's a special competition. It takes the pressure away from you of league football. We can just enjoy our football, everyone enjoys it. I've lost two quarter-finals and its very disappointing but this gives a buzz around the town.

Ted: You're obviously the most experienced FA Cup player that we have here. 

Martin: It's one of those competitions that you have to be at the right place at the right time. I was fortunately at Derby to play in two Quarter Finals and being only five minutes from a semi-final place. But we're just looking forward to the game and we'll give it our best shot. It’s decided by the team that scores the goals on the day. 

Ted: Which of the two do you fancy?

Martin: Club-wise it’s Middlesbrough but I think we'll stand more of a chance against Wimbledon but on the day its 'Place your Bets' and we'll give it our best shot.

Alan Parry

Ted: You missed the last round of the cup.

Alan: I did yes. I was in Leeds for Sky and I went to great lengths to try to get back in any way, shape or form but it was impossible. I was two hundred miles away so I came up with the next best alternative. I managed to get the pictures beamed back into the studios at Granada in Manchester. I left Eland Road at two-fifteen and broke the land-speed record and would you believe I actually got into this little room at Granada Television just as the referee was putting the whistle into his mouth for the kick-off. So even though I wasn't here I was able to so most of the game live via our camera here. And then with two minutes to go and I'm sitting there watching it with my son Simon and the pictures went! Could you believe it! We're leading two-one, they're having a late surge and not pictures. He rang his mates behind the goal on his mobile and he talked us through the last few minutes of the game. Nail Biting. And I might have to go through the same scenario in the next round as there's another twelve noon kick off at the Sunderland v West Ham game and although I haven't had it confirmed at the moment, I think I'm going to be doing that. So how sick am I? The two biggest games in our history, I couldn't stand to miss them both. 

Ted: What do YOU feel about the club getting this far?

Alan: I think it’s absolutely fantastic. I mean I was there when we lost to Basingstoke the Met Police, struggled against Oxford City over three matches. I always thought "wouldn't it be wonderful to get beyond the third round" but to get beyond the fourth round 'WELL' that's been beyond my wildest dreams. When I watched the draw I was up at Old Trafford working for radio and I watched the draw and then David Davis said "and now the teams going into the hat are only three games away from the Cup Final" and I thought "my god he's right, we're only three matches away from the Cup Final" so that sums it up really doesn't it.

Ted: Which of the two do you fancy?

Alan: If you were to twist my arm I'd go for Wimbledon because they're from the lower division, having said that they've got a very good away record. Middlesbrough as we speak haven't lost since Terry Venables went there and I've done some commentaries on them and they've got some world-class players there and it would be a fantastically hard game for us. Wimbledon would be hard in a different way if you know what I mean, I wouldn't really like to say I'd prefer one or the other. All I would say is that I think we're all a little disappointed that we didn't draw a really big club away from home. It would have been nice to have had a day out at an Arsenal or a Liverpool, it would have been a big payday for the football club but realistically we'd have say "well that's it, we'll bow out with a bit of honour a bit of glory and a bit of pride and a lot of MONEY" well that won't happen now, BUT against that we MIGHT a big MIGHT have a better chance of getting through to the Quarter-Finals. Hey! I'm stood here talking about us being in the Quarter-finals, you wouldn't believe it would you.