Victory is sweet

Fans conga-ed their way through the High Street and celebrated into the night. It was a marvellous achievement and tributes poured in from everyone and anyone.

Helen Evans, 51, from Downley said: "I am ecstatic. They have done so well. I am hoarse from shouting."

Gareth Cousins, 21, from High Wycombe said: "I am not a huge football fan but the feeling is excellent today. It is a fantastic win and I am so pleased for them. I might start coming to see more matches."

James Galvani, nine, from Tylers Green said: "I am so excited, I just wished I had been there."

Chairman of Wycombe District Council David Cox said it was a wonderful performance.

He said: "I was walking down the High Street after the game and somebody, on a mobile phone to a friend said it was a wonderful Wycombe Wanderers win. I thought, the four W's wonderful Wycombe Wanderers win was a wonderful tribute."

Cllr Cox added: "I was in the Parish Church for a concert later that evening. After the programme, the conductor said it was good that we came instead of celebrating Wycombe's win.

"Then the orchestra played For They Are Jolly Good Fellows and we all sang lustily."

High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire Martin Jourdan said it was a great result for the whole of Buckinghamshire, as well as High Wycombe.

He said: "I think what is wonderful about this performance is Wycombe have beaten bigger teams with panache. I've no doubt they're going to beat Liverpool and go on to Cardiff."

Sir Nigel Mobbs, the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire said it was "a great, great result."

He added: "It was a marvellous achievement and the first time any team from Buckinghamshire has reached the semi-final of the FA Cup."

Lucia Ercolani, director of Ercol, who sponsored the screen at Adams Park on Saturday, said: "As a company we were absolutely delighted to be able to sponsor the big screen and we are thrilled at the result. We wish Wycombe all the best in the semi-final."

..but pubs put dampener on celebrations

WHILE Wycombe fans enjoyed themselves celebrating after the team's fantastic victory, some pubs tried to put a dampener on the day.

Nick Slevin and his friends had driven to Leicester for the game. On arrival back in High Wycombe, they went to the Firmament and Firkin, in the town centre, to meet up with more friends and celebrate, expecting a party atmosphere.

Mr Slevin, of Alford Way, said: "We had only been in there about ten minutes when the doorman started asking all Wycombe shirts to be covered up or removed, or please leave the pub."

Undeterred, Mr Slevin went to the Hobgoblin, High Street, where there were a few fans inside but the doorman, while allowing them to wear shirts, asked them to stop singing.

The party ended up at Finn McCaul's where they were allowed to sing and wear their shirts with pride but Mr Slevin thought the attitude of the other pubs was wrong.

A spokeswoman for the Firmament & Firkin said its policy was because there had previously been some violence in the pub after a large number of football fans had come in.

Foxes fan finds himself footing bill for drinks

LEICESTER City fan Glyn Thomas paid out a small fortune over the weekend as Wycombe went through to the semi finals.

The 54-year-old father-of-three from Hillcroft Road, Penn, had to pay out £100 for drinks in the Red Lion pub, Penn, and also had to give £120 to friends for lost debts.

He phoned up Radio Five Live on his way back from the game and invited anyone who wanted to pop into the pub and he would buy them a drink.

Glyn said: "I am unemployed at the moment so I had better start looking for a job! The banter was flowing but Leicester were so poor, Wycombe just outplayed them. I had to go to the Red Lion and pay those gambling debts and face up to them all. My son Greg had to go into school on Monday and face up to the lads as well. He is the only Leicester supporter at John Hampden.

"I went on Radio Five Live saying that I had to return to Wycombe as a Leicester City fan, and it all transpired that any Wycombe supporters should go in to the pub as I would buy them all a drink. There were certainly a few in there."

Never felt more like singing the Blues!

Wycombe Winter Blues

Winter has dragged slowly across the hills

leaving - fields drowned, roads blocked

and filthy disease hissing across pasture and lane,

We've had a fill of rain and colds without end;

continuous like a toothache pain,

a hangover from a party we didn't attend.

And then just as it was blackest and drear

there was a flashing shaft of sun,

the wood was full of snowdrops

and Wycombe beat Leicester two-one.

And Wycombe beat Leicester two-one

and the blood skipped faster and strong

as we all leapt up punching the air

with a Yes! Yes! Yes! loud and long,

For the team and Essandoh's flair

for that moment we rubbed on the woad.

We painted our face blue on blue

and it wasn't for Bucks flooded roads

but for all of the Adams Park crew;

and it wasn't for joy at the snowdrops

but for Leicester one - Wycombe TWO!

Christopher North, BFP poet in residence

To Col Bogey: Wycombe 2001

Wycombe is doing great this year!

Wycombe weve all come out to cheer!

Wycombe

Knows how to pick em

The Blues can lick em

And then win the Cup!

Cardiff is where the Blues should be!

Cardiff lets go to victory!

Cardiff

Well cheer so hard if

The Blues make Cardiff

And then win the Cup!

Frances and Eric Alexander

Chesnut Avenue

High Wycombe