I have been surprised at the level of hostility shown towards Wycombe Wanderers by fans of certain clubs.

Sunderland supporters are a prime example, possibly based on their club’s failure to beat the Chairboys on three of the four occasions the teams have met.

Some Ipswich fans also expressed dismay at how Wycombe finished third in League One when the points-per-game format was applied. Ipswich were unable to win either of their games against Wanderers last season.

However, both Sunderland and Ipswich are clubs with an illustrious history, winners of the game’s major trophies and with a long record of playing at the highest level. That is no doubt the reason why their fans feel they are superior to ‘little Wycombe’.

Then there is Peterborough United. A fine club, whose last major achievement was winning the old Fourth Division title 46 years ago.

Many of their supporters were beside themselves with rage when Wycombe were promoted, believing they should have gone up instead. Their protests were led by cheerleaders like radio host Adrian Durham and newspaper columnist Alan Swann.

Judging by the article he penned recently, Mr. Swann has still to get over his disappointment. He described the poor start made by Wanderers in the Championship as ‘the inevitable outcome of finishing the League One season early and awarding final positions on a PPG basis’.

He went on: ‘A Wycombe side managed by the overrated Gareth Ainsworth heading for mid-table instead found themselves in a brief knock out competition (the play-offs)’, and then concluded: ‘They are now so far out of their depth they are predictable (sic) stinking out the second tier’.

I have no doubt that Mr. Swann is a fine journalist who would never let personal prejudice influence what he writes.

However, if he had been a little more diligent with his homework, he would have discovered some relevant facts.

• Wycombe spent more time in the top three of League One than any other club.

• They led the table from the beginning of November till the end of December.

• They were never lower than fourth place up to one week before the season was suspended.

• Far from ‘heading for mid-table’, Wanderers were just one win away from the automatic promotion places before lockdown was introduced.

He might have also discovered that the last club before Wycombe to lose their first seven games in the Championship was Peterborough just a few years ago, but why let the facts get in the way of a good rant?