At long last, the new league season is here.

It’s been 105 days since Wycombe were last in competitive action, and it’s fair to say that a lot has happened over the previous three months. 

They start the 2024/25 campaign with a trip to North Wales to face Hollywood-owned Wrexham, with roughly 12,000 fans expected to arrive for the fixture.

So what can we expect at the Racecourse Ground on August 10?

Lowdown on Wanderers

For Wycombe, it’s been the summer of transition.

A new owner, a new training ground, nine new players and optimism for the season ahead.

New arrivals for the first team in Tyreeq Bakinson, Daniel Udoh, Daniel Harvie, Alex Hatridge and Nathan Bishop have impressed during pre-season, whilst names such as Richard Kone, Garath McCleary, Luke Leahy, Jack Grimmer and Josh Scowen have also shown their talents.

The changes have also seen several familiar faces depart the club, with Joe Jacobson leaving after 10 years, whilst Chris Forino declined a new contract to join Bolton Wanderers on a free.

In addition to this, goalkeeper Max Stryjek also left to return to his homeland of Poland. 

There is a lot of positivity around Wycombe for what lies ahead over the next 10 months, and after learning several harsh lessons last season, which included going 2-0 down inside four minutes on the opening day to Exeter City, as well as going 12 consecutive league games without a victory, let’s hope those lessons have been learnt.

Lowdown on Wrexham

Before their promotion back into the Football League just over one year ago, Wrexham were probably the most reported Non League club across the world.

The sale of the club to Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020 has transformed the outfit’s fortunes.

After two back-to-back promotions, they are now aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive top-three finish, and a place in the Championship - a feat that has never been done before in England's top five leagues. 

The last five meetings between the two

2007/08: Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Wrexham

2007/08: Wrexham 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers

2006/07: Wrexham 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers

2006/07: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Wrexham

2005/06: Wrexham 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers

The last five meetings at Wrexham

2007/08: Wrexham 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers

2006/07: Wrexham 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers

2005/06: Wrexham 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers

2003/04: Wrexham 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers

2001/02: Wrexham 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers

Miscellaneous

  • The last time Wanderers scored away at Wrexham was in February 2007, with Mike Williamson and Jermaine Easter getting on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win
  • The match also saw goalkeeper Ricardo Batista receive a straight red card for the Chairboys
  • In the last seven matches against Wrexham (these were played between 2004 and 2008), Wanderers boss Matt Bloomfield played in six of these fixtures
  • This is the first time in eight years that Wycombe are starting a league season away from home (1-0 loss away to Crawley in August 2016).
  • For Wrexham, it’s the second year in a row that they have started the league campaign against a team from Buckinghamshire (they lost 5-3 at home to Milton Keynes 12 months ago)
  • The last time Wanderers won a match in Wales was against Newport County nearly eight years ago (1-0 away win in November 2016).