Gareth Ainsworth Made His 500th Appearance

[Macmoish]

Buckinghamshire Advertiser

Waddock salutes Ainsworth ahead of apperance milestone
Aug 19 2010 By Greg Burns


GARY Waddock has paid tribute to Gareth Ainsworth as the midfielder prepares for his 500th career appearance.

The Blues skipper will reach the landmark if he starts in the home derby with Oxford United tomorrow.

At 37, the combative midfielder has become a firm fans favourite at Adams Park with his all-action and passion for the game.

Waddock said: "It would be a fantsastic achievement for Gaz. He is the model professional, he wants to win every game and looks after himself.

"He is a great example to all of our players."

Ainsworth started his career at Blackburn before successful spells at Wimbledon and QPR.

If he scored against the U's then he would also notch his 100th career goal.

www.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co.uk/2010/08/19/waddock-salutes-ainsworth-ahead-of-apperance-milestone-82398-27096314/

[Macmoish]

Meanwhile our ex-goalie Nikki Bull...

Wycombe Official Site

BULL: "I'M FITTER THAN EVER"

Posted on: Wed 18 Aug 2010
In Nikki Bull Wycombe Wanderers don't just have a goalkeeper at the top of his form, but also a humble player who's grateful for every moment.

The 29-year-old became the club's first summer signing back in June after an injury-disrupted year at League One side Brentford, where he was limited to just seven first team appearances following a serious shoulder injury.

This was a frustrating time for Bull who had previously amassed over 300 starts in an untroubled seven year stay at Aldershot, however the stopper believes that his spell on the sidelines at Griffin Park has helped make him the player he is today.

"After my serious injury I appreciate everything I've got in life as a footballer," he said. "Seven months being out was hard after playing for Aldershot week in, week out for seven years and I think you take for granted what you have as a footballer.

"It was a wake-up call for me and I've put in more hours on the training ground than I've ever done before, I'm fitter than I've ever been before and I really hope I can show that in the games."

During his time out of the side Bull wasn't just content with sticking to his rehabilitation schedule and also went to watch a lot of football, determined to come back an even better player for it.

"When I was injured I went to watch a lot of games of football and went to watch some goalkeepers that have really achieved in the game to see how they keep focus, and I want to make sure I put some of that into practice."

It certainly looks like time well spent for the 'keeper who has kept successive clean sheets in the league this season following some fine performances against Morecambe and Stockport County, and Bull is solely focused on playing his part in the side and keeping his impressive record intact.

"Gary Waddock is a forward thinking manager and it's the right way to play football. Him and Kuhly (Martin Kuhl) have a belief in how they want to play football and inevitably there's times at the back where we're going to be stretched. That's where I've got to come in and it's so far so good."

See if Nikki can make it a third league clean sheet in a row as the Blues entertain local rivals Oxford United on Saturday. Call 01494 441118 or click here to buy tickets online.



www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2126409,00.html

[Lonegunmen]

Congratulations Gareth and thanks for the years of entertainment, skill, enthusiasm and passion you gave us.

[klr]

He was a real grafter that had a good attitude to life, a bon viveur that took his training seriously & had the right attitude & mentality.

Not sure if its fair to say he was all elbows looking back on it, I'm not sure where I would place him as a player, he clearly had the wrong build for a winger / fullback, but he can hold his head high with regards to the contribution he made at QPR.

[Lonegunmen]

The ethos to football displayed by both Ainsworth and Furlong were inspiring to other players and fans alike.

[Macmoish]

Wycombe Official Site

GAZ: 'I JUST WANT THE POINTS'
Posted on: Mon 23 Aug 2010

Gareth Ainsworth made his 500th professional appearance in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Oxford United and admitted after the game that winning the game was a bigger priority than reaching his milestone.

The club captain started the game on the bench but was introduced to the action after 57 minutes in a bid to claim all three points, and said that he and his team-mates didn't reach the required standards against their local rivals:

"Getting to 500 games is done and dusted and it's nice to be there but now we're concentrating on the reasons why we didn't win," he said. "It's a good day for me personally but I wanted Wycombe to win.

"When I woke up this morning I thought it might be the day when I get to 500 but when the gaffer was telling me to warm up, I wasn't thinking about that. I just wanted to get out on the pitch and give everything to make an impact.

Gareth Ainsworth
Click above to watch the full interview on Chairboys Player

"The gaffer said to me on Friday I was going to be on the bench and I was fine with that. Anyone could have missed out after the Stockport game and he wanted to try something different. I told him I'm ready whenever he needs me and whether I'm on the pitch, on the bench or in the stands, I just want to win," he added.

Wanderers have shown plenty of signs of the talent that has made them one of the favourites for promotion this season, but have found it tough to play with freedom on a consistent basis due to the tactics of the opposition, as the 37-year-old acknowledges:

"Teams are getting wise and they come to stop us playing," he said. "We've got great talent in there and we just need to get it out. We know we can pass better than we have done and hopefully this is our bad patch - every team goes through one and hopefully we'll start getting more chances and picking up more points.

"Oxford are no mugs and they're a big side who played the long ball system, so they didn't give us a moment's piece. Fair play to them, and they're the happier dressing room right now. We know we can play better, the fans know it and the manager definitely knows it."

The final word was saved for goalkeeper Nikki Bull, who produced another stunning display to ensure a third consecutive clean sheet in the league and preserve the club's unbeaten record:

"He was outstanding," Ainsworth declared. "He's really come into the prime of his career and the save in the second half was awesome, as well as the one he tipped onto the bar. He earned that point for us and if anyone deserves the plaudits, it's Nikki Bull. We don't like picking out individuals but he was something special."

'Gaz' is sponsored at home by Mayor Broking, away by A&M Refurbishment and his third kit is sponsored by Leslie Croxford - click here to find out how you can pledge your support to a Wanderers star.

www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2130375,00.html