Richard Dobson’s voice quivers with emotion. The Wycombe Wanderers assistant manager is recounting a conversation with two female supporters, which left an indelible mark on the 45-year-old.
“One of them said to me, ‘I’ve fallen in love with this club’”, he recalls.
“She said she was in a difficult relationship at the time and was contemplating not going on anymore. But then she turned up at this football club and saw this group of players giving absolutely everything. She said it gave her hope in life.
“The other lady who was with her said, ‘It was exactly the same for me. I was ready to give in. I contemplated suicide. But then I came to the club and just fell in love with the attitude and togetherness of the players. I come here every week because these guys give me hope.’”
The story is a powerful reminder of football’s impact on people’s lives. It’s also a testament to the culture that Dobson and Gareth Ainsworth, Wycombe’s manager, have established at the 134-year-old club.