Wycombe Wanderers Sports & Education Trust was thrilled to host the annual Adams Park Cup over two separate weekends this year due to the small matter of the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley. 62 teams from the local area competed for the silverware in four separate age groups: U8s, U9’s, U10’s, U11’s.
It was great to see smiling faces on the pitch and within the stands, after last year’s event was heavily restricted due to Covid-19 protocol.
The event kicked off early, at 7:30 am on Sunday 22nd May as team members from WWSET split the Adams Park playing surface into four smaller pitches. erected the samba goals, and started the playlist over the tannoy ready for action. An hour later teams started to filter in for warm-ups ready for the big kick off at 9am.
The first day of action saw WWSET team members Andy, Charlie, Ashley & Jason on refereeing duty, and saw some very competitive football throughout. The sun was shining and everyone was on great form. Burnham Juniors were victorious within the U10’s after a battling performance in the final group stage, and Ruislip Rangers took the medals in the U11’s Festival.
· U10’s Champions: Burnham Juniors
· U11’s Champions: Ruislip Rangers
A week later on Saturday 28th May it would be the turn of the U8s & U9s to face battle, also allowing a full week for some much needed rest and recovery for our officials. The U8’s tournament would see some great skills, flicks and tricks on show, with Ickenham Youth coming out on top. The football was hard-fought, and as the afternoon went on, the weather closed in, making for some slippery surfaces and spicy challenges within the U9s competition. Huge congratulations to 4 Future Pro who would come out as eventual winners of the U9s tournament.
· Under-8’s Champions: Ickenham Youth
· Under 9’s Champions: 4 Future Pro
The event also saw the return of ‘POWER PLAY’! At a pre-selected, but random, point in the play, a track would start around the stadium, indicating the start of power play – where goals count double! Every goal scored was worth two goals. Power play changed the narrative of many games, with some thrilled with the outcome, and with some disappointed by the results. The spectators seemed to enjoy the Power Play more than the players with high tempo music such as ‘Freed from desire’ had the parents dancing in the stands!
WWSET would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who helped put on the Adams Park Cup 2022, including the outstanding referees who were on top form, & DJ Bloom playing his bangers from inside the booth. We would also like to thank Wycombe Wanderers Football Club for their support in allowing us access to Adams Park to run this event. The biggest thank you of all must go to all of the players, coaches, parents involved. The event would not have been the same without you and we look forward to welcoming you back to Adams Park in 2023!
