ADAM HINSHELWOOD’s time at Wycombe Wanderers was ‘bittersweet’, as the York City manager prepares for a return to Adams Park on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

York will look to stage an Emirates FA Cup upset against a Wycombe side currently occupying second position in Sky Bet League One, having not fallen to defeat in their last 10 league matches.

It will also provide Hinshelwood an opportunity to return the club where his playing career came to an end, having represented the Chairboys in 2010 and making 13 appearances.

Hinshelwood was elected as club captain during his short spell with Wycombe, but a knee injury hampered his progress, with the Wanderers suffering relegation to the fourth tier.

The City boss looked back upon his time with Wycombe and admitted that he underwent one of his darkest days whilst injured, as well as speaking on his relationship with manager Matt Bloomfield, who was also a player for the Chairboys alongside Hinshelwood.

“I finished my career there, it was probably a bittersweet part of my career,” Hinshelwood explained.

“I was made club captain in January and we got relegated, I didn’t really contribute as much as I wanted to.

“One of the darkest days, other than Altrincham, of my football career was seeing the team get relegated at Leyton Orient. I was just sat in the stands and couldn’t really contribute, it was tough.

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“Obviously I had a great time there, they were lovely people and couldn’t do enough for you as a player, so I’m looking forward to going back and seeing Blooms [Bloomfield] and some familiar faces.

“It’s just a shame that I didn’t really get to contribute as much as I wanted to as a player.”

Wycombe provided support to Hinshelwood throughout the knee injury that would eventually force the York manager into retirement as a player, with the boss grateful to Wanderers for their aid to him and his family.

He also admitted that he is hoping to adopt a similar level of support to his City players as he received with Wycombe, with the Minstermen’s injury list gradually growing as the season goes on.

“I just remember as a player that they couldn’t do enough for us, they made me and my family all feel so welcome there.

“It’s a club that wherever I go, I try to adopt a similar thing and I want the players that play for York to feel like the club can’t do enough for them.

“I’ll always be grateful for my time there, I learned a lot, it’s just a shame that I couldn’t contribute more to helping them stay in League One at the time.”

Hinshelwood will reacquaint with Bloomfield having played together in 2010, with the former going on to make over 400 appearances with Wycombe before becoming manager in 2023.

“I played with Blooms, he’s one of footballs great characters.

“I’m so delighted to see him doing so well, he’s put an unbelievable squad together and has picked up well from the job that Gareth Ainsworth had done.

“He’s brought in his own players and has put his own mark on how he wants it to look at Wycombe.

“He’s done a phenomenal job so far, and it will be great to speak to him.

“He’s one of football’s good guys and I’m looking forward to it.”