Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

Wycombe give guard of honour to Adebayo Akinfenwa on day of celebration for striker

Wycombe Wanderers used their home game with Doncaster Rovers as a day of celebration for veteran striker Adebayo Akinfenwa.

The 39-year-old is set to retire at the end of the current season. He has been at Wycombe since 2016 - the longest spell he has had at any club in a career spanning more than two decades. Wanderers organised a guard of honour ahead of kick-off and those in attendance will all receive a commemorative e-ticket featuring an image of Akinfenwa.

A club statement said earlier this week: "Wanderers' players and staff will form a Guard of Honour for Adebayo Akinfenwa when the teams emerge ahead of kick-off for Saturday's League One fixture against Doncaster Rovers at Adams Park.

"The 39-year-old will be hanging up his boots at the end of the current season and his stunning career is being celebrated at Saturday's game against one of his former clubs. Included in the parade will be the club's all-time leading goalscorer Tony Horseman, who'll be on hand to present the modern-day hero with a token of appreciation on behalf of the Ex-Players Association. Be in your seats from 2.50pm to make sure you're ready to raise the roof to honour an all-time Wycombe great."

Akinfenwa has scored 60 goals since arriving at Adams Park and he is expected to still play an important part as they chase a League One play-off spot. Wycombe are eighth in the table with seven games remaining.

Can Akinfenwa help Wycombe seal a Championship return? Let us know in the comments

Adebayo Akinfenwa received a standing ovation ahead of Wycombe's game with Doncaster (Dennis Goodwin/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

Boss Gareth Ainsworth said: "He deserves all the plaudits he gets because that guy has been fabulous for Wycombe. This one's going to be for Bayo on Saturday and I'm not going to shy away from it. People might say we've got too much to focus on it but this is what we are. If somebody does well for you, give them the recognition they deserve.

"When we signed him it was billed as a publicity stunt: 'What are Wycombe doing, surely that guy's finished?' But he's gone on to become our greatest ever EFL goalscorer and he deserves that. Somewhere in this next seven games, I'm sure there'll be some big part that he's going to play."

This season has seen Akinfenwa's involvement scaled back, with only three of his 28 league appearances coming from the start. Nevertheless, he has chipped in with four goals and two assists. Asked on what emotions he is likely to have on Saturday, Akinfenwa told Wycombe's website: "It's a beautiful thing. It's a bit weird, I won't lie, because there's still unfinished business and still six games left to play afterwards - potentially nine, fingers crossed.

"I'll take it all in but at the same time, the bigger picture is for us to finish what we started. At the end of the day we want three points. I got asked if I'll tear up but I said 'I'm the beast, I won't tear up!' But it is overwhelming. I won't lie, there'll be a tingle. I'm going to take it in and appreciate it and feel honoured."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.