Saturday’s home match against Doncaster Rovers won’t be your normal matchday at Adams Park, as the Chairboys are celebrating the career of a certain fan favourite.
Adebayo Akinfenwa, who has donned the light and dark blue quarters for the last six seasons, is hanging up his boots at the end of this season, calling an end to his 22-year-old footballing career.
🎟️Celebrate Akinfenwa's Last Dance this Saturday against Doncaster Rovers.
— WWFC Ticket Office (@wwfctickets) March 29, 2022
Tickets in the terrace are selling fast so secure your place today!
Don't wait for the ticket office to open on matchday, buy online today @ https://t.co/ecVRYX3F11 pic.twitter.com/olLNN5XIFW
From Islington to Watford to Wimbledon to Wycombe, this weekend’s fixture against the Yorkshire outfit is expected to be an emotional one for everyone connected to the club, as the Beast gets ready to say his goodbyes to the Adams Park faithful.
READ MORE: Fan favourite Adebayo Akinfenwa signs new contract with Wycombe Wanderers
So let’s just take a moment to really sit down and analyse how Akinfenwa has impacted Wanderers during his six-year stay.
Already known as a fan favourite at nearly every EFL club he has represented, Bayo’s stint with the Chairboys has been the longest his has ever been at one club, and his loyalty and dedication to Wycombe has seen him reap rewards.
Emotional 😭 😂 #FinalChapter #LastFootyDance https://t.co/l07hPjCh4X
— daRealAAkinfenwa (@daRealAkinfenwa) March 28, 2022
In those six years, he has achieved two promotions (2018 and 2020), two Player of the Year awards (2017 and 2018), a spot in the Team of the Year (2017/18 season), played over 200 games and became the club’s highest goal scorer in the EFL era with 54.
His goals and performances in the promotion winning seasons will forever be cherished, as well as his last-minute winner against Bristol City in April 2021, which not only ended a 14 month run without a goal, but, it secured his first in the second tier of English football at the age of 38.
Therefore, he became the eighth oldest goalscorer in the league’s history following his reformation in 2004.
READ MORE: Wycombe fans show Adebayo Akinfenwa support with photos following Milton Keynes abuse
But away from his footballing ability and his popular online persona, Akinfenwa has done something in the last six seasons that most current footballers would shy away from, and that talks to the fans on a personal level.
How can you not love this guy?@daRealAkinfenwa took time after the team's pre-match warm ups to grab some photos and videos with a section of Man City fans.
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) September 23, 2021
Wycombe through and through! pic.twitter.com/SeoQPSTcCC
Every fan interaction with the Beast has been unique in its own way, and there are hundreds, if not, thousands of stories of supporters telling tales of how Akinfenwa made their trip at Adams Park, or at an away ground, extra more special.
This could be with a chat, with a photo, an autograph, or something out of the ordinary but whatever it was, you left feeling positive.
That's what Akinfenwa has brought to Adams Park away from football, and these are things money can’t buy, as they cherished long after the final whistle is blown.
Adebayo Akinfenwa:
— City Report (@cityreport_) September 22, 2021
"As for the ovation the #ManCity fans gave me, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to them all. It was a really classy thing to do and it’s another special moment and memory for me to look back on that I will add to my final chapter."
[via @ManCity] pic.twitter.com/E32B9weVDD
So it’s very apt that his celebratory match this weekend is against the team he scored his first EFL goals for, as in a shot spell with Doncaster in 2004, he bagged four goals in nine matches.
READ MORE: Gareth Ainsworth's passionate defence for Adebayo Akinfenwa
🗣 "They faced a legend of English football, absolute legend”
— Manchester City News (@ManCityMEN) September 22, 2021
Pep Guardiola has nothing but praise for Adebayo Akinfenwa after Man City's victory against Wycombe in the Carabao Cup pic.twitter.com/8iAxIoTg5J
He has scored 190 goals in the EFL since then, and whether you’ve been lucky enough to encounter the Beast, watch him live or watch him play for your team, he will be missed when he says goodbye to the sport he loves this spring.
Thank you for the memories, Bayo.
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