For many seasons, Sheffield Wednesday supporters have witnessed their team decline, gone of the days of Chris Waddle thunder bolting a free kick in at Wembley stadium against Sheffield United in the famous FA Cup semi final that fine afternoon. Fast forward around 20 years. Sheffield Wednesday lay in the third tier of English football after dropping from the Premier Division in 2000. Since the relegation the club has endured a turbulent time on and off the pitch with little money available for club for over a decade, and having to buy second rate players on frees, loans or for nominal fees. This period of darkness for Sheffield Wednesday fans has also seen their team slip into the third tier of English football twice.
Since the drop from The Premier Division, the best finish Sheffield Wednesday have managed was a solid 9th placed finish in the 2006/2007 season. This for many fans of the club seemed like the club was moving in the direction once more, but the following season saw them finish 16th, normal service resumes at Hillsborough. The following season saw them rise to 12th. The 2009/2010 season was to be The Owls' last in the Championship as they was relegated on the final day of the season at Hillsborough in a thrilling 2-2 draw, a cracking game for the neutral, but a heart breaking one for Sheffield Wednesday fans, when the referee blew his whistle and confirmed the relegation of The Owls for the second time in a decade, Hillsborough dipped into silence, the only noise being heard was from the West Stand where Crystal Palace fans celebrated their survival. A pin could have been heard drop on The Kop. To some Sheffield Wednesday fans, the general feeling is, that is the end. The administrators would be brought in and the club would be put out of its misery after years of fighting off field issues. Tears all around Hillsborough were understandable, the electric atmosphere at the start of the match all the way through until that whistle went, I have never seen Hillsborough so alive, but then drop into such silence. I myself, had to try hold back a tear or two.
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Tears around Hillsborough after the 2nd relegation
but, has this relegation been good for the club long term? |
After the heartbreak of the previous season, The Owls' begin their next stint in League 1, with a home tie against Dagenham and Redbridge. This season had high expectations of all Sheffield Wednesday fans, after players such as Gary Teale and Clinton Morrison were signed up by then manager Alan Irvine. These players struggled to perform for the side, and what looked to be a promising start to the season suddenly fell into chaos. The club was on the brink of ending, the HMRC wanted their money, and the club was running on borderline insolvency. An 11th hour deal gave Sheffield Wednesday a lifeline, and the judge allowed more time for the deal to be pushed through, the sharks were circling around the troubled club. The club managed to starve off administration and Milan Mandaric was named new chairman of the club. He wasted no time in wiring funds to Irvine to sign players, quite possibly the best signing of the bunch was Gary Madine.
Results didn't improve and Mandaric put Irvine out of his misery after a 5-3 defeat to Peterborough at London Road. Gary Megson was drafted in, and things stagnated for the rest of the season, slight improvements were seen on the pitch, but in light of events over the season it could have been so much worse, the docking of the 10 points could have potentially had catastrophic events on the club, quite possibly consigning them to League 2. Thankfully this was not the case and the club bowed out in a very disappointing 15th place.
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| O'Grady cost Sheff Wed around 350k from Rochdale |
Over the summer Megson has drafted in players such as Chris O'Grady, Chris Lines, Jose Semedo, Ryan Lowe who have all added quality to the side, which was much needed. The loan signing of Ben Marshall was a revelation at the club, and he will always be remembered by the faithful at S6. The skillful winger has a bright future ahead of him, but his future at the moment looks unclear. This current season has a great vibe about it, the squad want to play for the club, the fans are going to games with a smile on their face again. Megson has created a fantastic unity at the club, and managed to turn Hillsborough into a fortress to an extent with the club only losing once this season. Away, The Owls' can look shaky, but still can turn out solid results, a 2-0 win away to Preston and a more recent 3-1 win to Scunthorpe shows how far this club has come in the past 12 months alone.
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| Wednesday have a fantastic fan base, especially away |
This is the big chance the club has of making its mark again in English football, a new era has been born at S6, the first challenge is to get the club fighting back in the Championship, somewhere, where it at the very least belongs, but its true home is The Premier League. Sheffield Wednesday is still acknowledged by many fans as a 'big club'. The fan base is fantastic, and a promotion from this division would be a great gift to the fans who have had to endure seasons of pain and tears and uncertainty of their club. The players have a fantastic bond with each other and are willing to fight to the end. This is a fantastic foundation to work on, and I hope this continues to happen at Hillsborough, as one day this fantastic club, brimming with history and passion returns to where it actually belongs.
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