Kieran Sadlier didn’t get to experience Wembley with Wanderers, and now the wideman is desperate to get there with Wycombe.
Sadlier scored three goals in the group stage last season and also featured in the knockout rounds against Manchester United Under-21s and Portsmouth.
However, he had headed out on loan to Leyton Orient by the time the Whites beat Plymouth in the final in front of nearly 80,000 supporters.
“I have been a bit unfortunate that I have played all the way up until the semi-finals in the last two years, then decided to either leave the club or go on loan to another club and never actually played in the final,” he told the EFL website.
“I went both times to watch the lads play at Rotherham and Bolton, but never played. This year, now we have got this far, my aim is 100 per cent to play in the final at Wembley because I have never played there before.
“Just seeing the atmosphere in the finals on the day itself was a great experience. I still see photos and videos and people talking about Bolton winning that trophy now.
“The atmosphere that day for Bolton was unbelievable. There were over 75,000 there that day against Plymouth.
“I was jealous sitting there watching with all the players’ families thinking, ‘I wish I was playing’. But it is what it is.”
The 29-year-old has made 26 appearances in all competitions since joining Wycombe on a free transfer in the summer.
The Chairboys could book their place in the last four on Wednesday night when they welcome Brighton Under-21s to Adams Park.
“It was a bit different because I was going on loan to Leyton Orient and they were at the top of League Two,” he continued.
“I fancied Bolton to get to the final – they had Accrington in the semi-final and they beat them.
"I was weighing up, do I want to stay and maybe come on in the league and get to Wembley, or do I go to Leyton Orient and be a regular and be part of a team that win the league? In the end, I decided to go to Leyton Orient and it worked out well.
“I got my medal for the EFL Trophy, and I went to the game and supported the boys. But I also won League Two, so I got two medals in the end. What started off as a slow season turned into a successful season for me personally.”
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