Sheffield Wednesday Football Clubis a professionalassociation footballclub based inSheffield,South Yorkshire,England. They compete in theEFL Championship,the second level of theEnglish football league system.
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| Full name | Sheffield Wednesday Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Owls | |||
| Short name | SWFC | |||
| Founded | 4 September 1867as The Wednesday | |||
| Ground | Hillsborough Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 39,732 | |||
| Owner | Dejphon Chansiri | |||
| Manager | Danny Röhl | |||
| League | EFL Championship | |||
| 2023–24 | EFL Championship,20th of 24 | |||
| Website | swfc.co.uk | |||
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Formed in 1867 as an offshoot ofThe Wednesday Cricket Club(itself formed in 1820), they were known asThe Wednesday Football Clubuntil 1929. Wednesday is one of theoldest surviving football clubsin the world of any code, and the second-oldest professional association football club in England.[a]In 1868 its team won theCromwell Cup,only the second tournament of its kind. They were founding members and inaugural champions of theFootball Alliancein 1889, before joiningThe Football Leaguethree years later. In 1992, they became founder members of thePremier League.The team has spent most of its league history in English football's top two flights, though they have not played in the top tier since being relegated in 2000.
The Owls, as they are nicknamed, are one of the most successful teams in English football by major honours, having won fourleague titles,threeFA Cups,oneLeague Cupand oneFA Community Shield.Wednesday have also competed inUEFAcup competitions on four occasions, reaching the quarter-finals of theInter-Cities Fairs Cupin 1963. In 1991, they defeated Manchester United 1–0 in theFootball League Cup finalas a second-tier team. As of 2022,[update]they remain the last team to win one of English football's major trophies while outside the top flight.
In the 19th century, they played their matches at several stadiums around central Sheffield, includingOlive GroveandBramall Lane.Since 1899, the club has played all its home matches atHillsborough stadium,a near-40,000 capacity stadium in the north-west Sheffield suburb ofOwlerton.Wednesday's biggest rivals areSheffield United,with whom they contest theSteel City derby.
History
Early years (1867–1889)
Although no contemporary evidence has been found to support the claim, it is commonly believed that "The Wednesday Cricket Club" was formed in 1820.[1]Nevertheless, an 1842 article inBell's Lifemagazine states the club was founded as far back as 1816.[1]
The club was so named because it was on Wednesdays that the founding members had a half-day off work. They were initially based at theNew GroundinDarnall,and often went by the name ofDarnall Wednesday,but also played atHyde Park.In 1855 they were one of six clubs that helped buildBramall Lane,and held a wicket there for many years.[1]
Famous players to have represented the cricket club include Harry Sampson, who scored 162 on ice in 1841,Tom Marsden,who scored 227 for Sheffield & Leicester vs Nottingham in 1826, andGeorge Ulyett,who represented the club in thefirst ever international test matchbefore becoming one of only a select band of players who played for both sections of The Wednesday Club.
On the evening of Wednesday 4 September 1867, a meeting was held at theAdelphi Hotelto establish whether there was interest among the club's members to form a football club to keep the team together and fit during the winter months. The proposal proved very popular, with over 60 members signing up for the new team on the first night. They played their first match against The Mechanics on 19 October the same year, winning by three goals and four 'rouges' to nil.[2]
It soon became apparent that football would come to eclipse the cricketing side of the club in terms of popularity—the two sections went their separate ways in 1882 after a dispute over finances and the cricket club ceased to exist in 1925. On 1 February 1868, Wednesday played their first competitive football match as they entered theCromwell Cup,a one-off four-team competition for newly formed clubs. A week after their semi-final, they went on to win the cup, beating the Garrick club in the final after extra time, the only goal being scored in diminishing light atBramall Lane.This was one of the first recorded instances of a match being settled by a "golden goal"although the term was not in use at the time.[3]
A key figure during the formative years of the football club wasCharles Clegg,who joined the Wednesday in 1867. His relationship with the club lasted for the rest of his life and eventually led to his becoming the club's chairman. He also became president and chairman of theFootball Association,and was known as the "Napoleon of Football".[4]Clegg played forEnglandin thefirst-ever international match,againstScotlandin November 1872. This completed a unique double for the club, who could lay claim to having a player in the first international games of both cricket and football.
In 1876 Wednesday acquired ScotJames Lang.Although he was not employed by the club, he was given a job by a member of the Sheffield Wednesday board that had no formal duties. He is now acknowledged as the first professional football player in England.[5]With Lang in their team the football club became one of the strongest in the region, a reputation that was cemented when they won the inauguralSheffield FA Challenge Cupin 1877.
In 1880 the club entered theFA Cupfor the first time, and they soon became one of the most respected sides in the country. But although they had had Lang on their books a decade earlier, the club officially remained staunchly amateur, and this stance almost cost the club its very existence.[1]By the middle of the decade, Wednesday's best players were leaving in their droves to join clubs who would pay them, and in January 1887 they lost 0–16 against Halliwell with just 10 players in their team. An emergency meeting was held, and the board members finally agreed to pay its players.[6]
Professional football, English Champions and FA Cup winners (1889–1939)
The move to professionalism took the club from Bramall Lane, which had taken a share of the ticket revenue, to the newOlive Grove.[7]In 1889 the club became founder members of theFootball Alliance,of which they were the first champions in a season where they also reached the1890 FA Cup final,losing 6–1 toBlackburn RoversatKennington Oval,London. Despite finishing the following season bottom of the Alliance, they were eventually elected to the expandedFootball Leaguein 1892. They won theFA Cupfor the first time in1896,beatingWolverhampton Wanderers2–1 atCrystal Palace.
Owing to an expansion of the local railway lines, the club was told that they would have to find a new ground for the1899–1900 season.[6]After a difficult search the club finally bought some land in the village ofOwlerton,which at the time was several miles outside the Sheffield city boundaries. Construction of a new stadium (now known asHillsborough Stadium) was completed within months and the club was secured for the next century. In a strong decade, Wednesday won the League in the1902–03and1903–04seasons and the FA Cup again in1907,beatingEverton2–1, again at Crystal Palace. When competitive football was suspended in 1915 because of the outbreak ofWorld War I,the club participated in several regionalised war leagues, until 1919, when competitive football resumed.
They were relegated from the top flight for the first time in 1920, and did not return until 1926, and in the1927–28season they looked like going down again before securing a haul of 17 points from their last 10 matches to secure safety. Wednesday went on to win the League title the following season (1928–29), which started a run that saw the team finishing lower than third only once until 1936.[7]The period was topped off with the team winning the FA Cup for the third time in the club's history in1935.WhenWorld War IIbegan, the club entered non-competitive war leagues, returning to competitive football in 1946.
The yo-yo years (1945–1959)
The 1950s saw Wednesday unable to consistently hold on to a position in the top flight and this period became known as theyo-yo years.[8]After being promoted in 1950 they were relegated three times, although each time they returned to the top flight by winning theSecond Divisionthe following season. The decade ended on a high note with the team finishing in the top half of the First Division for the first time since World War II.
Back in the top flight and title contenders (1959–1970)
In 1961, the club ran toe-to-toe withTottenham Hotspurat the top of the table for the majority of the season – Wednesday became the first team to beat Spurs all season – before finally finishing in second place, which still (as of 2023) remains the club's highest post-war league finish. In 1966 the club reached its fifth FA Cup final, but they were beaten 3–2 by Everton, having led 2–0.
Off the field the club was embroiled in theBritish betting scandal of 1964in which three of its players,Peter Swan,David LayneandTony Kay,were accused ofmatch fixingandbettingagainst their own team in an away game atIpswich Town.The three were subsequently convicted and, on release from prison, banned from football for life.[9]The three were reprieved in the early 1970s, with Swan and Layne returning to Hillsborough, and, though their careers were virtually over, Swan at least played some league games for The Owls.
Darkest days and the fight back to the top (1970–1984)
Wednesday were relegated at the end of the1969–70 season;this began the darkest period in the club's history, eventually culminating in the club dropping to theThird Divisionfor the first time in its history, and in 1976 it almost fell into theFourth Division.It was not until the appointment ofJack Charltonas manager in 1977 that the club started to climb back up the league pyramid. Charlton led the Owls back to the Second Division in 1980 before handing the reins toHoward Wilkinson,who took the club back into the top flight in 1984, after an absence of 14 years.
Life at the top of the Premier League and European Football (1984–2000)
Wednesday enjoyed success in its return to the top flight, finishing 8th in their first season back and then 5th the season later, qualifying for European football only to be disqualified due to England's ban in Europe due to theHeysel Stadium disaster.
On 15 April 1989 the club's stadium was the scene ofone of the worst sporting tragedies ever,at the FA Cup semi-final betweenLiverpoolandNottingham Forest,at which 97 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium.[10]The tragedy resulted in many changes at Hillsborough and all other leading stadiums in England; it was required that terracing would be replaced with seats in stands,[11]and that perimeter fencing should be removed.[12]
In Ron Atkinson's first full season as manager, 1989–90, Sheffield Wednesday finished 18th in the First Division and were relegated ongoal difference,despite the acquisition of the talentedJohn Sheridanand the fact they had pulled towards mid-table at one stage of the season. They regained promotion at the first attempt but the real highlight of the season was a League Cup final victory over Atkinson's old club Manchester United. Midfielder Sheridan scored the only goal of the game, which delivered the club's first major trophy since their FA Cup success in 1935. As of 2022 they remain the last team to win one of English football's major trophies while outside the top flight.[13]Atkinson moved toAston Villashortly after promotion was achieved, and handed over the reins to 37-year-old strikerTrevor Francis.
Wednesday finished third in the First Division at the end of the 1991–92 season, booking their place in the following season's UEFA Cup and becoming a founding member of the newFA Premier League.
1992–93 was one of the most eventful seasons in the history of Sheffield Wednesday football club. They finished seventh in the Premier League and reached the finals of both the FA Cup and the League Cup, but were on the losing side toArsenalin both games, the FA Cup final going to a replay and only settled in the last minute of extra time. This prevented the Owls from making another appearance in European competition. Still, the 1992–93 season established Sheffield Wednesday as a top club. MidfielderChris Waddlewas votedFootball Writers' Association Footballer of the Year,and the strike partnership ofDavid HirstandMark Brightwas one of the most feared in the country. Francis was unable to achieve any more success at the club, and two seasons later he was sacked. His successor was formerLuton,LeicesterandTottenhammanagerDavid Pleat.
David Pleat's first season as Sheffield Wednesday manager was frustrating, as they finished 15th in the Premiership despite an expensively-assembled line-up which included the likes ofMarc Degryse,Dejan StefanovicandDarko Kovacevic– who all had disappointing and short-lived tenures at the club. An excellent start to the 1996–97 season saw the Owls top the Premiership after winning their first four games, and David Pleat was creditedManager of the Monthfor August 1996. But the club failed to mount a serious title challenge and they faded away to finish seventh in the final table. Pleat was sacked the following November with the club struggling at the wrong end of the Premiership, and Ron Atkinson briefly returned to steer the Owls clear of relegation.
At the end of the 1997–98 season, Ron Atkinson's short-term contract was not renewed and Sheffield Wednesday turned to theBarnsleybossDanny Wilsonas their new manager, after being rejected by bothGerard HoullierandWalter Smithwho joinedLiverpoolandEvertonrespectively.[citation needed]Wilson's first season at the helm brought a slight improvement as they finished 12th in the Premiership.[citation needed]
Modern highs and lows (2000–2014)
An expensively assembled squad includingPaolo Di Canio,Benito CarboneandWim Jonkfailed to live up to the massive wage bill the club was paying and things eventually came to a head when Italian firebrand Di Canio was sent off in a match against Arsenal and proceeded to push the referee on his way off.[14]Danny Wilson was sacked the following March with relegation looking a certainty for the Hillsborough club,[15]following a disastrous1999–2000 seasonwhere they had been hammered 8–0 byNewcastle Unitedas early as September.[16]His assistantPeter Shreevestook temporary charge but was unable to stave off relegation, with a 3–3 draw at Arsenal in May 2000 being enough to see the Owls tumble into the First Division.[17]
Having spent large sums building squads that were ultimately ineffective, the club's finances took a turn for the worse, and in 2003 they were relegated for a second time in four years, to the Second Division.[18]
The club spent two years in the third tier before returning the Championship,Paul Sturrock's side won the2005 play-off finalby defeatingHartlepool United4–2 after extra time at theMillennium Stadium.[19]Ultimately however, the club's perilous financial position ensured another drop to League One was not too far away – five years after the play-off win of 2005, the Owls were again relegated to League One.[20]
Between July and November 2010, Sheffield Wednesday faced a series ofwinding uporders for unpaid tax andVATbills, with the club's existence under severe threat.[21][22][23]It was not until 29 November 2010, when businessmanMilan Mandarićagreed to buy out the old owners, that the club could move forward.
Mandarić appointed former Wednesday playerGary Megsonas manager partway through the 2010–11 season, and while Megson only stayed in the job for a year, what was mostly his side won promotion back to the Championship in May 2012, under the stewardship of new managerDave Jones.[24]
The Chansiri era (2014–present)
In 2014 the club was again taken over by a new owner, Thai businessmanDejphon Chansiri,purchasing the club from Milan Mandarić for £37.5m.[25]Chansiri stated his intention to win Premier League promotion for the 2017–18 season – the football club's 150th anniversary – and came close to achieving that goal a year head of schedule, with new coachCarlos Carvalhalleading the club into the end of season play-offs at the end of the2015–16season.[26]Wednesday were beaten in thefinalbyHull CityatWembley.[27]They made the play-offs again the following season, but lost on penalties to the eventually promotedHuddersfield Townin the semi-final.[28]
The club were favourites to be promoted in the 2017–18 season, but injuries and poor results saw them drop to the lower half of the table. Carvalhal left by mutual consent in December 2017, and was replaced by Dutch managerJos Luhukaya month later.[29][30]The team finished in an uneventful 15th place at the end of the season. Luhukay was sacked in December 2018 after a run of only one win in 10, which left the team 18th in the table.[31]He was replaced by formerAston VillabossSteve Brucewho saw an upturn in form to finish 12th.[32][33]However, Bruce controversially resigned in July 2019 to manageNewcastle United.[34]
On 6 September 2019, the club appointed former Birmingham City managerGarry Monkas the new manager, who achieved a 16th-place finish in a season that was interrupted from March to June by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[35][36][37]On 31 July 2020, Sheffield Wednesday were found guilty of breaking EFL spending rules and began the 2020–21 season on -12 points, though the deficit was later reduced to -6 upon appeal.[38][39]On 9 November 2020, Monk was sacked after a poor start to the season and was replaced byTony Pulis.[40]However, Pulis was also dismissed after only 45 days in charge on 28 December 2020.[41]After a few months withNeil Thompsonas caretaker manager,Darren Moorewas appointed as the club's third permanent manager of the season in March 2021.[42]Despite taking the fight to the final day, Moore could not prevent relegation to League One come the end of the season, bringing Wednesday's nine-year spell in the Championship to an end.[43]
After failing to win promotion in their first season back in League One, Wednesday finished third in the2022–23season. In the play-off semi-finals, Wednesday lost 4–0 in the first leg againstPeterborough Unitedbut won thesecond leg5–1 before prevailing on penalties.[44]Wednesday then won promotion back to the Championship by defeatingBarnsleyin the2023 play-off final.[45]Moore departed from the club on 19 June by mutual consent.[46]
Moore was replaced byXisco Muñoz,[47]however, he was sacked after 12 games with the club winless during his tenure.[48]Early in the season, following fan protests, owner Chansiri said he would put no more money into the club, unhappy with fans' treatment towards him and his family.[49]On 31 October 2023, Chansiri, citing cashflow problems, asked Wednesday fans to raise £2m by 10 November 2023 to help the club pay an outstandingHMRCdebt and cover wages.[50]Danny Röhlwas announced as Munoz's successor and oversaw a revival on form, eventually confirming safety from relegation on the final day of the season.[51][52]
Nickname, kits, crest and traditions
Nickname
In their early years, the club was nicknamed The Blades, a term used for any sporting team from the city of Sheffield, famous the world over for its cutlery and knives. That nickname has been retained by Wednesday's crosstown rivals,Sheffield United.
Although it is widely assumed that the club's nickname changed to The Owls in 1899 after the club's move to Owlerton, it was not until 1912, when Wednesday playerGeorge Robertsonpresented the club with anowlmascot, that the name took hold. A monkey mascot introduced some years earlier had not brought much luck.[53]
Kits
Since its founding the club has played their home games in blue and white shirts, traditionally in vertical stripes. However, this has not always been the case and there have been variations upon the theme. A monochrome photograph from 1874 to 1875 shows the Wednesday team in plain dark shirts,[54]while the 1871 "Rules of the Sheffield Football Association" listed the Wednesday club colours as blue and white hoops.[7]A quartered blue and white design was used in 1887 and a blue shirt with white sleeves between 1965 and 1973.[55]Wednesday's socks have been predominantly black, blue or white throughout their history.
The club's away strip has changed regularly over the years. Traditionally, white was the second choice for many teams, including Wednesday, although the club has used a multitude of colours for its change strip over the years, including yellow, black, silver, green and orange.
Crest
Since 1912, the owl has become a theme that has run throughout the club. The original club crest was introduced in 1956[56]and consisted of a shield showing a traditionally drawn owl perched on a branch. TheWhite Rose of York[57]was depicted below the branch alluding to the home county ofYorkshireand thesheavesof Sheffield(Sheaf field)were shown at either side of the owl's head. The club'sLatinmotto,Consilio et Animis,was displayed beneath the shield.[56]This translates into English as "By Wisdom and Courage".[58]
The crest was changed in 1970 to a minimalist version designed by a local art student, and this logo was used by the club, with variations, until 1995, when it was replaced by a similar design to the original crest. It again featured a traditionally drawn owl perched on a branch although the design of both had changed. The sheaves were replaced by a stylisedSWFClogo that had been in use on club merchandise for several years prior to the introduction of the new crest. TheYorkshire Rosewas moved to above the owl's head to make way for the wordsSheffield Wednesday.The wordHillsboroughwas also curved around the top of the design. The club motto was absent on the new design. The crest was encased in a new shape of shield. This crest remained in use for only a few years, during which several versions were used with different colours, including a white crest with blue stripes down either side and the colouring of the detail inverted.[59]
In 1999, the minimalist version was brought back, albeit inside a crest, and with the addition of acopyright symbolin 2002.[56]In 2016, new owner Dejphon Chansiri again changed the club crest, opting for a similar design to the 1956 badge.[citation needed]
-
1956–1973 -
1973–1995 -
1995–1999 -
1999–2016 -
2016–present
Mascots
Over the years Sheffield Wednesday have had severalOwl-themed matchdaymascots.Originally it was Ozzie the Owl and later two further Owls, Baz & Ollie, were added.[citation needed]All three were replaced in 2006 by Barney Owl, a similar looking owl but with more defined eyes to make it look cuter. Ozzie Owl was reintroduced as Wednesday's main mascot during the home game with Charlton Athletic on 17 January 2009.[citation needed]The current mascots are Ozzie and Barney Owl. In 2012, Ollie Owl also made his return to the scene, as the club announced him Mascot for the Owls work with children in the local community.[citation needed]
Stadium
Past stadiums
Originally, Wednesday played matches atHighfield,but moved several times before adopting a permanent ground. Other locations includedMyrtle Road,HeeleyandHunter's Bar.Major matches were played atSheaf HouseorBramall Lane,beforeSheffield Unitedmade it their home ground.[6]Sheffield Wednesday's first permanent home ground was atOlive Grove,a site near Queen's Road originally leased from theDuke of Norfolk.The first game at Olive Grove was a 4–4 draw withBlackburn Roverson 12 September 1887.[citation needed]Extensions to the adjacent railway forced the club to move to their current ground in 1899.[citation needed]
Hillsborough Stadium
Since 1899 Wednesday have played their home games atHillsborough Stadiumin theOwlertondistrict of Sheffield.[60]The stadium was originally named Owlerton Stadium but in 1914 Owlerton became part of the parliamentary constituency ofHillsboroughand the ground took on its current name.[61]With 39,732 seats,[62]Hillsborough has the12th highestcapacity in England. The club had intended to increase Hillsborough's capacity to 44,825 by 2012 and 50,000 by 2016 and make several other improvements in the process, but due to England's failed World Cup bid, this is now not the case.[63]
The stadium has hostedWorld Cupfootball in1966,the1996 European Championshipsand 27FA Cupsemi-finals. The Kop at Hillsborough was re-opened in 1986 byQueen Elizabeth IIand was once the largest covered stand of any football stadium in Europe.[64]
On 15 April 1989, at an FA Cup semi-final betweenLiverpoolandNottingham Forest,94 Liverpool fans (later increasing to 97) were crushed to death after the terraces at the Leppings Lane end of the ground became overcrowded, in what became known as theHillsborough disaster.The following report concluded that the root cause of the disaster was the failure of local police to adequately manage the crowds.[65][66]A memorial to the victims of the disaster stands outside Hillsborough's South Stand, near the main entrance on Parkside Road. After many years of dispute about the facts, in June 2017 six men responsible for safety were charged with criminal offences including manslaughter and misconduct in public office.[67]
Supporters
The club's move toOwlertonin 1899 was a risky one, as it moved the club several miles away from the city centre, but its loyal followers continued to make the journey to the new ground, and the club has been one of the best supported in England ever since.[citation needed]However, official attendances were not taken at Football League games until the 1920s.
The club's highest average attendance over the course of a season was 42,530 in 1952–53, when gates across the country were at their highest.[citation needed]The lowest average attendance in the Owls' history came in 1978–79, when an average of just 10,643 fans turned out to watch their side.[citation needed]
In 1992, Wednesday were the fourth best supported team in the country, but although that ranking has come down since relegation from the Premier League in 2000, the club still has still enjoyed crowds of well over 20,000 since then, and was the best supported club outside the top flight in 2006.[68][69][70]
At the2005 play-off final,Wednesday took over 39,000 fans to theMillennium Stadium.[71]In 2016, Sheffield Wednesday took over 38,000 fans to Wembley for a play-off final defeat by Hull City.[citation needed]The Owls have managed to average 30,000 at home in the last 60 years.[citation needed]The FA Cup final seasons in 1965–66 30000 and 1966–67 31,000 plus 32,000 when coming League Championship runners-up in 1960–61.[citation needed]
Sheffield Wednesday have had a large variety offanzinesover the years; examples includeJust Another Wednesday,Out of the Blue,Spitting Feathers,Boddle,A View From The East Bank,Cheat!andWar of the Monster Trucks,which acquired its name from the programme thatYorkshire Televisionelected to show instead of the celebrations after the1991 League Cupvictory over Manchester United.[72]
There are several online message boards dedicated to discussions on the club, includingOwlstalk,OwlsOnlineandOwlsMad.[citation needed]
Rivalry
Sheffield Wednesday's main rivals are city neighboursSheffield United.[73]Matches between these two clubs are nicknamedSteel City derbies,so called because of the steel industry for which the city ofSheffieldis famous.[citation needed]
United were formed in 1889 by the committee atBramall Lane,who had lost their biggest source of income – Wednesday – two years earlier over a dispute concerning pitch rent.[citation needed]As well as playing at Wednesday's former ground, United also took Wednesday's former nickname, the Blades, as their own.[citation needed]The first derby game took place on 15 December 1890, with Wednesday winning 2–1 atOlive Grove.[74]
The 1993FA Cupsemi-final match which took place atWembleyon 3 April 1993. Initially, it was announced that the match was scheduled to take place atElland Roadbut this was met with dismay by both sets of fans.[citation needed]After a re-think,the Football Associationdecided to switch venue to Wembley.[citation needed]A crowd of 75,365 supporters made the trip to London to watch Wednesday beat United 2–1 after extra time.[citation needed]
A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that, as well asSheffield United,Wednesday fans consider fellow-YorkshiresidesLeeds United,Barnsley,Rotherham UnitedandDoncaster Roversas rivals.[75]
European record
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961–62 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (UEFA Europa League) |
Last 32 |  Lyon
|
5–2 | 2–4 | 7–6 |
| Last 16 |  Roma
|
4–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | ||
| Quarter-final |  Barcelona
|
3–2 | 0–2 | 3–4 | ||
| 1963–64 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (UEFA Europa League) |
First round |  DOS
|
4–1 | 4–1 | 8–2 |
| Second round |  Köln
|
1–2 | 2–3 | 3–5 | ||
| 1986–87 | UEFA Cup (UEFA Europa League) |
As 5th place inFirst Division/Premier League.English clubs banned from competition (SeeHeysel Stadium disaster) | ||||
| 1991–92 | UEFA Cup (UEFA Europa League) |
League CupWinners. English clubs banned from competition (SeeHeysel Stadium disaster) | ||||
| 1992–93 | UEFA Cup (UEFA Europa League) |
First round |  Spora Luxembourg
|
8–1 | 2–1 | 10–2 |
| Second round | Kaiserslautern
|
2–2 | 1–3 | 3–5 | ||
| 1995–96 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group stage |  FC Basel
|
— | 0–1 | — |
 Górnik Zabrze
|
3–2 | — | — | |||
| Karlsruher SC
|
— | 1–1 | — | |||
 AGF Aarhus
|
3–1 | — | — | |||
Former players and managers
Former players
A list of former players can be found atList of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players.
Notable managers
Only managers with over 200 games in charge are included. For the complete list seeList of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. managers.
| Name | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | Win% | ||||
| Arthur Dickinson | 
|
1 August 1891 | 31 May 1920 | 919 | 393 | 338 | 188 | 42.27% |
| Robert Brown |
|
1 June 1920 | 1 December 1933 | 600 | 266 | 199 | 135 | 44.33% |
| Eric Taylor |
|
1 April 1942 | 31 July 1958 | 539 | 196 | 215 | 128 | 36.36% |
| Jack Charlton |
|
8 October 1977 | 27 May 1983 | 269 | 105 | 77 | 87 | 39.03% |
| Howard Wilkinson |
|
24 June 1983 | 10 October 1988 | 255 | 114 | 73 | 68 | 44.70% |
| Trevor Francis |
|
7 June 1991 | 20 May 1995 | 214 | 88 | 58 | 68 | 41.12% |
Dickinson, who was in charge for 29 years, is Wednesday's longest-serving manager, and helped establish the club during the first two decades of the 20th century.[citation needed]
Brown succeeded Dickinson and remained in charge for 13 years; in 1930 he secured their most recent top division league title to date.[citation needed]
Taylor took over during the Second World War and remained in charge until 1958, but failed to win a major trophy, even though Wednesday were in the top flight for most of his reign.[citation needed]
Charlton took Wednesday out of the Third Division in 1980 and in his final season (1982–83) he took them to the semi-finals of theFA Cup.[citation needed]
Wilkinson succeeded Charlton in the summer of 1983 and was in charge for more than five years before he moved toLeeds United.His first season saw Wednesday gain promotion to the First Division after a 14-year exile.[citation needed]He guided them to a fifth-place finish in 1986, but Wednesday were unable to compete in the 1986–87UEFA Cupdue to the ban on English teams in European competitions due to theHeysel Disasterof 1985.[citation needed]
UnderRon Atkinson,Wednesday won the League Cup and promotion to the First Division before departing forAston Villain July 1991.[76]Trevor Franciswas appointed as player-manager and guided them to third place in the league in 1992, and earned them aUEFA Cupplace.[77][78][79]They finished seventh in theinauguralPremier Leagueseason and were runners-up of theFA Cupand League Cup that year.[78]He was sacked in 1995 after Wednesday finished 13th – their lowest standing in four years since winning promotion.[78]
Players
First team squad
- As of 5 September 2024[80]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Academy
First team staff
- As of 22 October 2024[81]
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Danny Röhl
|
| Performance manager | Sascha Lense
|
| Assistant head coach | Henrik Pedersen
|
| Assistant coach | Chris Powell
|
| Goalkeeper coach | Sal Bibbo
|
| Coach | Neil Thompson
|
| Set piece analyst | Ben King
|
| Coach | Andy Parslow
|
| Head physio |  Antonio Quintela
|
| Club doctor | Taaha Nadeem
|
| Physiopherapist | Dean Taylor
|
| Masseur | Ben Parker
|
| Head of sports science | Rob Lee
|
| Sports scientist | Chris Brealey
|
| Strength and conditioning coach | Ryan McMahon
|
| Physiotherapist | Paul Teather
|
| Soft tissue therapist | Dominic Millward
|
| Performance analyst | Richard Stirrup
|
| Head kitman | Ash Holland
|
Chairman and directors
- As of 16 October 2023[citation needed]
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman |  Dejphon Chansiri
|
| Finance director | John Redgate
|
Records and statistics
Wednesday's biggest recorded win was a 12–0 home victory overHalliwellin the first round of theFA Cupon 18 January 1891.[82]The biggest league win was a 9–1 victory at home toBirminghamin theFirst Divisionon 13 December 1930.[83]Wednesday's heaviest defeat was a 10–0 defeat atAston Villain a First Division match on 5 October 1912.[83]
The most goals scored by the club in a season was the 106 scored in the1958–59 season.[83]The club accumulated their highest league points total in the2022–23season when they racked up 96 points.[83][84]The highest home attendance was in theFA Cupfifth round on 17 February 1934. A total of 72,841 turned up to see a 2–2 draw withManchester City.[85]The most-cappedEnglishman to play for the club was goalkeeperRon Springett,who won 33 caps while at Sheffield Wednesday.[citation needed]Springett also held the overall record for most-capped Sheffield Wednesday player untilNigel Worthingtonbroke the record, eventually gaining a total of 50 caps forNorthern Irelandwhilst at the club.[86]
The fastest sending off in British league football is held by Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeperKevin Pressman– who was sent off after just 13 seconds for handling a shot from Wolverhampton Wanderers'sTemuri Ketsbaiaoutside the area during the opening weekend of 2000.[87]The fastest shot ever recorded in thePremier Leaguewas hit by David Hirst against Arsenal at Highbury in September 1996 – Hirst hit the bar with a shot clocked at 114 mph (183 km/h; 51 m/s).[88]
Honours
League
- First Division(level 1)
- Second Division(level 2)
- Third Division/League One(level 3)
- Football Alliance
- Champions:1889–90
Cup
Notes
- ^Excluding clubs with informal or disputed foundation dates
References
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- ^"Sheffield Wednesday: Dejphon Chansiri targets Premier League".BBC Sport.2 March 2015.
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- ^Miller, Alex (27 July 2020)."Anatomy of a fall: Assessing the turning points in Sheffield Wednesday's disastrous 2019/20 campaign".The Star.Retrieved23 July2021.
- ^"Coronavirus: Premier League and EFL suspended in England - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland halt games".BBC Sport.13 March 2020.Retrieved23 July2021.
- ^"Sheffield Wednesday given 12-point deduction for breaching EFL rules".Sky Sports.1 August 2020.Retrieved23 July2021.
- ^Thomas, Lyall (4 November 2020)."Sheffield Wednesday's points deduction halved".Sky Sports.Retrieved23 July2021.
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Further reading
- Allen, Paul; Naylor, Douglas (2005).Flying with the Owls Crime Squad.London: John Blake.ISBN1-84454-093-6.
- Brodie, Eric; Troilett, Allan.Jackie Robinson Story, The.Pickard Communication.ISBN0-9547264-2-1.
- Dickinson, Jason (1999).One Hundred Years at Hillsborough, 2nd September 1899–1999.Sheffield: Hallamshire Press in association with Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.ISBN1-874718-29-6.
- Dooley, Derek; Farnsworth, Keith (2000).Dooley!: The Autobiography of a Soccer Legend.Sheffield: Hallamshire.ISBN1-874718-59-8.
- Farnsworth, Keith (1987).Sheffield Wednesday Football Club: A Complete Record, 1867–1987.Derby: Breedon.ISBN0-907969-25-9.
- Farnsworth, Keith (1998).Wednesday: Every Day of the Week – An Oral History of the Owls.Derby: Breedon Books.ISBN1-85983-131-1.
- Firth, John (2009).I Hate Football – A Sheffield Wednesday Fan's Memoir.Derbyshire: Peakpublish.ISBN978-1-907219-02-3.
- Gordon, Daniel (2002).Blue-and-white-wizards: The Sheffield Wednesday Dream Team.Edinburgh: Mainstream.ISBN1-84018-680-1.
- Hayes, Dean (1997).Hillsborough Encyclopaedia, The: A–Z of Sheffield Wednesday.Edinburgh: Mainstream Pub.ISBN1-85158-960-0.
- Johnson, Nick (December 2003).Sheffield Wednesday 1867–1967.History Press Limited.ISBN0-7524-2720-2.
- Liversidge, Michael; Mackender, Gary.Sheffield Wednesday, Illustrating the Greats.Pickard Communication.ISBN0-9547264-5-6.
- Waring, Peter (2004).Sheffield Wednesday Head to Head.Derby: Breedon.ISBN1-85983-417-5.
External links
- Official website
- Owlstalk -Sheffield Wednesday News
- Sheffield Wednesday F.C. onBBC Sport:Club news–Recent results and fixtures
- Sheffield Wednesday play-off record
Media related toSheffield Wednesday F.C.at Wikimedia Commons
