Wycombe Wanderers to rename stadium this weekend as a tribute to 17-year-old fan
There will also be a minute's applause for Adam Ankers, ahead of kick-off at the Oxford fixture
Wycombe Wanderers are renaming their stadium this weekend, as a tribute to 17-year-old fan Adam Ankers.
Adam, a player for the Wycombe Wanderers Foundation Under-19s, passed away earlier this month after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing in a patch for the Foundation team at Henley College.
Last weekend, Adam's fad, brother and sister, who are all season ticket holders, were at the 5-2 victory to The Chairboys', where fans applauded Adam in the 17th minute, as a mark of respect.
The Club have now announced that season ticket holder Adam will be remembered once again this weekend, at Wycombe's game against Oxford United on Saturday 17th February, with Adams Park renamed with an apostrophe, to Adam's Park, in memory of their avid supporter.
Adam's family are supporting the decision, as well as the family of Frank Adams, who the stadium was named after when it opened in 1990.
Players will also be wearing t-shirts bearing Adam's name and squad number during their warm up, as well as a minute's applause being held ahead of the match.
Black armbands will also be worn by players during the match itself.
Adam's family, who will be at the match, have released a statement, in which they say Adam's "loss to the family is both shocking and devastating".
Adam suffered a cardiac arrest, with his injuries described by the family as "not survivable".
The family go on to say: "We also add our thanks for the support provided to the family by Henley College, the Wycombe Wanderers Foundation and Wycombe Wanderers Football Club.
"Adam was a hugely talented sportsman who was in the early stages of establishing a career as a professional footballer. Having attended Princes Risborough School and achieving excellent GCSEs he moved to Henley College to pursue the path to his dreams of playing football professionally; he was in the process of securing a sporting scholarship to university in the United States."
Fans have been asked to support the celebration of Adam's life this weekend, and Oxford United have been thanked for their support too.
In a release, posted to Wycombe Wanderer's website, they say "It is planned that the warm-up t-shirts and other items will be made available for fundraising purposes, through Wycombe Wanderers Foundation, to raise money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance and Harefield Hospital, who provided specialist medical care to Adam after he fell ill."