After three months of no competitive football, every weekend until May is now booked up as the EFL is back.
And Wycombe Wanderers will begin the 2023/24 campaign at home to Exeter City in what has been a summer of anticipation.
New signings, new kits, new fans, new flags and new optimism.
But the Grecians will be no pushover and they’ll want to gate crash Wanderers homecoming.
READ MORE: Richard Keogh on his move to Wycombe and why he convinced Kane Vincent-Young to join
So, what can we expect from Wycombe Wanderers vs Exeter City?
😃 The wait is nearly over.
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) August 4, 2023
COME ON WYCOMBE! pic.twitter.com/wMIssnGCyQ
The lowdown on Wycombe Wanderers
It’s fair to say that there has been a lot going on at Adams Park this summer.
In terms of transfers, nine new faces have walked through the door and there are suggestions that there could be a handful of more.
Richard Keogh, Kian Breckin, Joe Low, Harry Boyes, Laurie Shala, Dale Taylor, Freddie Potts, Luke Leahy and Kane Vincent-Young have all arrived and will no doubt have their roles to play during the season.
🇲🇽 #WorldwideWanderers - here's @WycombeMexico's preview for our Spanish-speaking fans around the globe!
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) August 4, 2023
Vamos Wycombe. pic.twitter.com/LOXtQOJCST
Those who have departed include Lewis Wing to Reading, Nick Freeman to Stevenage, Daryl Horgan to Dundalk, Curtis Thompson to Cheltenham Town, Jordan Obita to Hibernian, and Jack Wakely to Ebbsfleet United on loan.
READ MORE: 'We’re ready to go' - Richard Keogh on Wycombe Wanderers' season ahead
Dominic Gape also left after seven years and is currently a free agent, whilst Tyla Dickinson, Charles Hagan, Ben Kaninda, Arnold Matshazi and Josh Blunkell all exited once their contracts expired.
In terms of kits, Wanderers are now with Hummell after their deal with O’Neill’s came to an end, the club shop has been reshuffled, there is a new catering staff and the home dugout will now be closer to the terrace.
This leads nicely to the creation of the 1887 Club, a group of Wanderers fans who have come together to try and improve the atmosphere at Adams Park.
🚨And they're up!🚨
— The 1887 (@the1887wwfc) August 4, 2023
The banners are now proudly on display.
Special thanks to @wwfcofficial for their help, @MightyFTN and @sillylittledrea for the amazing designs but above all thank you to all those who have helped fund this.
Without your donations this would not be possible pic.twitter.com/PJralav9qf
The drum has returned, banners have been erected, and a singing section has been created.
These are very exciting times.
The lowdown on Exeter City
It’s also been a busy summer for Exeter City too.
They have signed eight new players which include the former Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City man, Tom Carroll and the Brentford midfielder, Ryan Trevvit on loan.
Gary Caldwell’s side finished in a respectable 14th place in League One last season in what was their first year back in the division for a decade.
Oh, go on then...
— Chairboys on the Net - Paul Lewis (@GasmanCOTN) August 4, 2023
Here's Wycombe Wanderers scoring a 102nd minute winner against Exeter City in 2015 🤫pic.twitter.com/oPKLqKgTSI https://t.co/CF2nAjfjkJ
READ MORE: Ex-Wycombe midfielder joins fellow League One club following Wanderers exit
They were also the first opponents at Adams Park under the Matt Bloomfield era where they left Adams Park with a point following a 1-1 draw.
The aim for the South West side will no doubt be survival in what would be one of the toughest League One seasons in recent years, but they picked up four points off the Chairboys last year, we know they’ll be a tough test.
Head-2-Head
Games: 23
Wycombe wins: Nine
Draws: Eight
Wycombe defeats: Six
Last five meetings
2022/23: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Exeter City (League One)
2022/23: Exeter City 3-1 Wycombe Wanderers (League One)
2021/22: Exeter City 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers (EFL Cup)
Wycombe Wanderers are likely to field 6 or more #chairboys league debutants when they take on Exeter City on the opening day of the EFL season. That would be the highest for Wanderers since their FL era record of 9 under Paul Lambert in August 2007 v Accrington Stanley. pic.twitter.com/2uDKlzBGjw
— Chairboys on the Net - Paul Lewis (@GasmanCOTN) August 3, 2023
2017/18: Exeter City 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers (League Two)
2017/18: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Exeter City (League Two)
Miscellaneous
Wycombe are winless in their six matches against Exeter in all competitions (four draws and two defeats).
One of these matches was in the League Cup back in August 2021 which Wanderers won 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Wycombe - Exeter match preview?
— WycombeDJ (@WycombeDJ) August 4, 2023
Don't mind if I do, I went over anything I felt important to mention about tomorrow game, including what to expect from Exeter. Hoping to get out one for EVERY game this year, so let me know if you like the format or nothttps://t.co/OPNw3AXjiK
Wycombe have played Exeter 11 times at Adams Park and have only lost once – this was on New Year's Day 2013 when a late John O’Flynn goal gave the South West side a 1-0 win.
Wanderers boss Matt Bloomfield played the last match of his professional career against Exeter with his first home fixture in charge of the Chairboys also being at the hands of City.
If he were to start, it’ll be the 600th of Richard Keogh’s career.
READ MORE: 'Some take months of work' - Matt Bloomfield opens up on Wycombe's transfer activity
It’ll also be his first appearance in a Wycombe shirt for 18 years following his first stint in November 2005.
Wycombe have never lost a game in which Keogh has played for them (two wins and one draw).
The referee for the match is Charles Breakspear.
He took charge of two Chairboys games last season which were the 3-1 home win against Peterborough, and the 1-0 home loss to Barnsley.
He also took charge of Joe Jacobson’s testimonial last week.
His assistants are: Dean Treleaven and Stuart Butler and the fourth official is Stephen Brown.
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