Sheffield Wednesday: This Week's Last Minute Programme Notes
Welcome to the inaugural post for Field Notes for Modern Life’s dedicated Sheffield Wednesday page, updated weekly.
I’m a Wednesdayite, albeit exiled in the southeast of England these days. It has been a while since Wednesday had a last minute winner. Having said that, it has been a while since Sheffield Wednesday have had any kind of win, on or off the pitch.
The 21st century has been a tough pill to swallow for those in blue and white. Recent times have been unbearable.
This year I was lucky enough to attend the FA Cup Final. Standing outside Wembley, waiting to go in, my mind wandered back to 92/93, when Chris Waddle and co had us believing. Another cup final now feels like an impossible dream. For the moment, it is about regrouping. The club has entered the first stage of a rebuilding process, one that in my opinion is long overdue.
David Hirst’s recent interview on the All Wednesday podcast got me thinking. Hirsty spoke about Wednesday’s decline in the late 90s, a well documented period in the club’s rich and turbulent history. The phrase “papering over the cracks” feels synonymous with Sheffield Wednesday’s boardroom habits.
I often think about why leaders fail to learn from the past. Football is no different. Yet for the best part of 30 years, decision makers at Sheffield 6 have repeatedly failed to get it right.
Poor signings, out-of-depth managers, and a lack of investment in the stadium have all contributed to the situation the club finds itself in. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but there is also a gentle reminder for the new owner or owners. This club does not need another cycle of short term fixes. You can read the post here.
The task of rebuilding Wednesday on and off the pitch is daunting, but it is not mysterious. There are quick wins that matter: decent merchandise, and a matchday experience that feels like it respects the people who turn up. Those elements have both short and long term benefits, and they were topics I covered during my Master’s dissertation for the club.
Rebuilding the first team has no fixed price tag. The stadium is different.
I work for a Tier One construction company, and I have estimated around £280m to redevelop Hillsborough. Demolition is not cheap, and at least two stands are past their sell by date, with the Kop also looking tired.
Under a previous owner, the club did explore options to relocate from its historical home. I’m not sure how I would feel about travelling to a game that was not being held at Hillsborough. For many of us, Hillsborough is not just a venue. It is part of the identity, stitched into the routine and the memory of supporting this club.
There is so much work to do. Let’s hope the new owners have the vision, competence, and patience that the club and its loyal fans deserve.
Up the Owls. 🦉