Sheffield Wednesday
Formed in 1867, Sheffield Wednesday are the second oldest professional football club in England.
They joined the Football League in 1892 and were founder members of the Premier League in 1992, though they have not played in the top flight since being relegated in 2000.
Although their history shows that they have won four league titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup and a Community Shield, here they are; a third tier club with a great past looking to return to football’s top table.
The first FA Cup victory was as long ago as 1892 and the competition was won again in 1907 and 1935, while League titles were won in 1902/03, 1903/04, 1928/29 and 1929/30.
(photo courtesy of Neil Brookman)
During the 1950’s they were relegated to the Second Division on three occasions, but on each occasion they won the Second Division title the following season.
The club’s first taste of Third Division football came in 1975/76 and it wasn’t until 1980 that they regained their Second Division status and a return to the First Division four years later.
They won the League Cup as a Second Division side in 1991 and secured a return to the top flight that same year and in 1993 were runners up in both the FA Cup and League Cup, losing to Arsenal in both finals.
Financial problems have been the backdrop to the club’s problems in recent years, culminating in relegation to League One in 2021 and they will be looking to make a return to the Championship this coming season.
(photo courtesy of Keith Brookman)
There have been just 12 league meetings between Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday, with the Owls having won six, Rovers two while four matches have ended all square.
The only FA Cup tie between the clubs took place in 1905/06 when Wednesday ran out 1-0 winners.
The first league meetings didn’t take place until 1955/56 and the same scoreline of 4-2 was recorded in both games that season. Wednesday won at Hillsborough in September 1956 while Rovers were winners in the return fixture on New Year’s Eve that year.
The last season we met was in 2010/11, a season which ended in relegation for Rovers and the game at Hillsborough was particularly painful, as we lost 6-2. It turned out to be Paul Trollope’s last league game in charge of the club.
The return fixture at The Mem, on 30th April 2011, ended in a 1-1 draw when Stuart Campbell and Craig Hinton were in temporary charge of team affairs.
Goalkeeper Ron Nicholls made his Rovers league debut in the meeting at Eastville in December 1955, Tony Gough’s only league appearance for Rovers was against Wednesday in made his only appearance for Rovers in April 1959, while Geraint Williams made his Rovers league debut in the October 1980 meeting between the clubs.
(photo courtesy of Neil Brookman)
Players to have turned out for both clubs include Junior Agogo, Wayne Andrews, Craig Armstrong, Graham Barrett, Jon Beswetherick, Leon Clarke, Guy Branston, Michele Di Piedi, Colin Dobson, Paul Heffernan, Graham Hyde, Daniel Jones, Chris Lines, Mark McKeever, Don Megson, James Quinn, Richie Partridge, Wilf Smith, Alan Warboys and Glenn Whelan.
As well as playing for both clubs, Megson also managed Rovers. Three other former Wednesday players have also managed Rovers, namely Brough Fletcher, Graham Coughlan and Garry Thompson.
Former Rovers player Tony Pulis spent 45 days as Wednesday manager in 2020, while Megson’s son Gary, a former Rovers youth team player was Wednesday boss for a year, commencing midway through the 2010/11 season.
Hillsborough has been home to Sheffield Wednesday since 1899 and is located in the Owlerton district of Sheffield, though that’s not why the club’s nickname is the Owls. Apparently, that came about in 1912 when the club was presented with an owl mascot by one of their players, George Robertson.
Rovers travel to Hillsborough on 25th October and entertain Wednesday on 18th April 2023.
If you’re travelling to Hillsborough for next season’s game, then a round trip from The Mem is 356 miles.
Sheffield Wednesday FC
Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 1SW
Keith Brookman