Cousins crowning glory after reprimand

Cousins (right) was one of Wycombe's heroes

Wycombe defender Jason Cousins savoured his side's remarkable FA Cup quarter-final win against Leicester - then admitted he was almost thrown out of the club seven years ago.

Cousins was one of the Second Division side's heroes in a game won in thrilling style when Roy Essandoh scored their injury time winner against the Premiership side.

But the 30-year-old revealed his part in arguably the most dramatic and greatest victory in Wycombe's 27-year professional history may never have been.

Cousins' career was on the rocks during the 1993-94 season before a severe reprimand from former Wycombe boss Martin O'Neill - Peter Taylor's predecessor at Leicester.

We've given pretty good service to this club but, in truth, no one else wants us.

  Jason Cousins

The particular incident occured during the Chairboys' first season after promotion from the Conference.

Cousins' punishment included being stripped of the club captaincy, banned from the ground for a week and fined seven days' wages.

Cousins recalled: "I have always had an excellent relationship with Martin, but my one regret was that horror challenge in our first season in the Football League.

"What didn't help was that I had been sent off for hand-ball the previous week.

"Just before half-time I was showering away, and he came steaming in.

"I was obviously stark naked. He threw me out of the shower and out of the changing rooms.

Player of the Year

"I was left out in the corridor with nothing on, soap in my eyes, and he ended up banning me from the club for a week.

"Some sections of the supporters wanted me thrown out of the club altogether - it was quite a nasty tackle and something that I deeply regret."

But, the crunching clash with Dave Moss probably did more good than bad for Cousins' career.

His four-game absence left him to reflect on his misdemeanours and he has twice been voted player of the year since.

Cousins, Dave Carroll and Keith Ryan joined from Brentford, Ruislip Manor and Berkhamstead respectively.

The trio are the clubs longest serving players but freely admit they have only stayed because no other club will have them.

"We've given pretty good service to this club but, in truth, no one else wants us," joked Cousins. "That's why we keep signing."