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Exciting end to the 1974-75 season - part 3

Wycombe v Dagenham programme 1974-75 The meeting with Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday 13th May 1975 was a tense affair. The game was still goalless going into the final 20 minutes when Steve Perrin ran into the Stortford penalty area and was felled by Martin Smith. The referee pointed to the spot and to the relief of the mass ranks of the Gasworks End, Dave Alexander smashed home to break the deadlock. Late goals from Steve Perrin made the final score 3-0 but it was never easy. The victory extended unbeaten run in the League to 20 games and took Wanderers to the top of the table on goal average.

A coachload of Wycombe supporters and others in cars travelled to Southbury Road on Thursday 15th May 1975 to see Enfield take on Dagenham. It was Enfield's last game of the season, while with three games remaining, The Daggers could also sneak the Championship. The travelling contingent from Wycombe were hoping for a draw but those hopes were quickly dashed following a 4-1 victory for Enfield.

The result left Wycombe needing to beat Dagenham at Loakes Park on Saturday 17th May 1975 to claim their fourth Championship in five seasons, although it wasn’t as straightforward as that. A 1-0 or 2-1 victory for Wycombe would bring the title home on goal average but 3-2 would not be enough. Those on the cutting edge of technology took their Sinclair calculators to the game to help out with the figures.

Isthmian League table - top three - up to and including Thu 15th May 1975
          Pl   W   D  L   F   A  Pts  GA
Enfield   42  29   8  5  78  26   95  3.000
Wycombe   41  27  11  3  92  30   92  3.067
Dagenham  40  28   5  7  91  39   89  2.333
Another expectant crowd of close to 4,000 gathered at Loakes Park to witness one of the most tense encounters ever seen at Wanderers spiritual home. Wycombe were without top scorer Tony Horseman due to injury and for 85 minutes the game remained goalless and the title looked to be slipping away. Then after the Dagenham centre-half had put the ball out of play on the top side as Wycombe attacked the Gasworks End, it was Steve Perrin who took a quick throw-in to find Keith Searle in space on the corner of the penalty area. Searle let the ball bounce once and then volleyed a shot that flew past Ian Huttley in the Dagenham goal before nestling in the back of the net. Searle wheeled away in triumph and the crowd went crazy. A tense five minutes followed where Paul Birdseye was forced to head off his own goal line but moments later the final whistle went and the celebrations could begin.

Isthmian League table - top three - up to and including Sat 17th May 1975
          Pl   W   D  L   F   A  Pts  GA
Wycombe   42  28  11  3  93  30   95  3.100
Enfield   42  29   8  5  78  26   95  3.000
Dagenham  41  28   5  8  91  40   89  2.275
Wanderers team after the 1-0 victory over Dagenham as published in the Bucks Free PressThe borderline success for the Wanderers was particularly satisfying as it pipped an Enfield side to whom there was no love lost. Wanderers completed the season having picked up only one booking in League games. It compared to Enfield who received 15 bookings and two sending-offs, which by the standards of the time was considered fairly shocking. Dagenham had accumulated five bookings and it was a point that Wycombe Manager Brian Lee reflected on when describing his players in his programme notes for the final game of the season when he commented "I will remember an honest group of players who played the game in a sporting manner, who respected their opponents and were honest in assesssing their own performance. I repeat again what has been said many times, football is meant to be a skilful sporting contest and that I believe is what both teams playing today have tried to achieve this season".

Wanderers parade the Championship flag at Loakes Park before a representative game at Loakes Park - colour picture exclusive from chairboys.co.uk - taken by Ann LewisThe close of the 1974-75 season officially brought to an end the 'Amateur' period at the Club. Amateur status had been abolished at the start of the season but Wanderers players were all non-contract at the time and no wages were officially paid until the 1975-76 season. Manager Brian Lee commenting at the Club's AGM in July 1975 said "We don't know what will happen next season. How higher can we go? We must prepare for a moderate season and something we must have is character. This must also be shown on the terraces. Don't expect us to win all the time. If we don't, it won't be through lack of effort, that is something that I will not tolerate. But if we do have an average season it is important for members to pacify the terraces". Wanderers 'moderate' 1975/76 season saw a finishing place of 2nd - behind Enfield who would go to win three consecutive titles. It would not be until the 1982-83 season that the Isthmian title would return to Loakes Park.

See part one - 1974-75 season
See part two - 1974-75 season

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