Wycombe Wanderers started life in humble surroundings and were formed by a group of furniture-makers in 1887 and, owing to their "artisan" roots, they were nicknamed the Chairboys.

The Chairboys played in the Southern League from 1896 to 1908, then spent time in the Great Western Suburban and Spartan Leagues, before starting a 61-year unbroken run in the Isthmian League, which they eventually won eight times.

Wycombe were settled in what was then the GM Vauxhall Conference when Martin O'Neill arrived in early 1990 to embark on the club's most successful period.

That season also saw the end of Wycombe's long stay at Loakes Park, the move to a purpose-built stadium at Adams Park proving a necessity for progress into the Football League.

Wycombe won the FA Trophy in O'Neill's first full season and the decision to move proved crucial as, having been pipped on goal difference the season before by Colchester United, Wycombe won the Conference title in 1993 and earned Football League status for the first time – as well as picking up the FA Trophy at Wembley again.

Back-to-back promotion, via the play-off final at Wembley, was earned after a 4-2 victory over Preston North End in 1994 and the following year Wycombe were sixth in Division Two – the club's highest finishing position.

O'Neill's departure sparked years of relative stagnation and a succession of high-profile managers, including Alan Smith, John Gregory, Lawrie Sanchez, Tony Adams and John Gorman, came and went. These years saw highlights in the two major domestic cups, with Wycombe reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 2001, only to go out 2-1 to Liverpool.

They matched that with a semi-final against Chelsea in the League Cup, which Wycombe lost 5-1 on aggregate after holding the Blues to a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

The low point came when Wycombe suffered their only relegation in the Football League, dropping into League Two in 2003.