Sheffield Wednesday F.C.: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Association football club in England}}
{{redirect|SWFC|the building|Shanghai World Financial Center}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Football club infobox
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
| clubname = Sheffield Wednesday
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
| image = [[Image:SheffieldWednesdayEmblem.PNG|Badge of Sheffield Wednesday]]
{{About|the fullnamemen's =team|the women's team|Sheffield Wednesday<br />Football ClubL.F.C.}}
{{Infobox football club
| nickname = The Owls
| mottoclubname = ''ConsilioSheffield et Animis''Wednesday
| current = 2025–26 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season
| language = [[Latin]]
| image = Sheffield Wednesday badge.svg
| translation=Intelligence and Courage
| upright = 0.55
| founded = [[September 4]], [[1867 in sports|1867]]
| groundalt = [[HillsboroughBadge Stadium]]<brof />[[Sheffield]] Wednesday
| fullname = Sheffield Wednesday Football Club
| capacity = 39,814<ref>[http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HillsboroughDetail/0,,10304~92607,00.html www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk]</ref>
| nickname = The Owls
| chairman = {{flagicon|England}} [[Dave Allen (football chairman)|Dave Allen]]
| short name = SWFC
| manager = {{flagicon|England}} [[Brian Laws]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1867|9|4}} as The Wednesday
| league = [[Football League Championship|The Championship]]
| seasonground = [[2006-07 in EnglishHillsborough football|2006–07Stadium]]
| capacity = 39,732
| position = The Championship, 9th
| shirtsupplierowner = [[DiadoraDejphon Chansiri]]
| chairman = Dejphon Chansiri
| shirtsponsors= [[plusnet]]
| mgrtitle = Manager
| pattern_la1=_whiteborder|pattern_b1=_3whitestripes|pattern_ra1=_whiteborder
| manager = [[Henrik Pedersen (football manager)|Henrik Pedersen]]
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| website = {{URL|https://swfc.co.uk}}
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'''Sheffield Wednesday Football Club''' is a professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Sheffield]], [[South Yorkshire]], England. The club compete in the [[EFL Championship|Championship]], the second tier of [[English football league system|English football]].
 
Formed in 1867 as an offshoot of [[The Wednesday Cricket Club]] (itself formed in 1820), they were known as '''The Wednesday Football Club''' until 1929. Wednesday is one of the [[oldest football clubs|oldest surviving football clubs]] in the world of any code, and the second-oldest professional association football club in England.{{efn|Excluding clubs with informal or disputed foundation dates}} In 1868 its team won the [[Cromwell Cup]], only the second tournament of its kind. They were founding members and inaugural champions of the [[Football Alliance]] in 1889, before joining [[The Football League]] three years later. In 1992, they became founder members of the [[Premier 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.
'''Sheffield Wednesday Football Club''' (abbreviated as '''SWFC''', nicknamed '''The Owls''') is one of the oldest [[football (soccer)|football]] clubs in [[England]] and play in [[The Football League]]. Based in [[Sheffield]], [[South Yorkshire]], Wednesday's chief rivals are [[Sheffield United F.C.]], with whom they play in the [[Steel City Derby]].
 
The Owls, haveas they are nicknamed, are one of the most successful teams in English football by major honours, having won four [[English football champions|league titles]], three [[FA Cup]]s and, one [[Football LeagueEFL Cup|League Cup]], butand theirone League[[FA CupCommunity Shield]]. Wednesday have also triumphcompeted in [[1991UEFA]] incup footballcompetitions (soccer)|1991]]on isfour theiroccasions, onlyreaching majorthe trophyquarter-finals sinceof the [[WorldInter-Cities WarFairs IICup]] in 1963. TheyIn did1991, reachthey bothdefeated domesticManchester cupUnited finals1–0 in the [[19931991 inFootball footballLeague Cup (soccer)final|1993Football League Cup final]], butas losta 2second-1tier team. {{asof|2025|post=,}} they remain the last team to [[Arsenalwin F.C.|Arsenal]]one of English football's major trophies while outside the eachtop timeflight.
 
In the 19th century, they played their matches at several stadiums around central Sheffield, including [[Olive Grove]] and [[Bramall Lane]]. Since 1899, the club has played all its home matches at [[Hillsborough Stadium]], a near-40,000 capacity stadium in the north-west Sheffield suburb of [[Owlerton]]. Wednesday's biggest rivals are [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]], with whom they contest the [[Steel City derby]].
Sheffield Wednesday are in the [[Football League Championship]]. Home games are played at [[Hillsborough Stadium]], which had staged numerous FA Cup semi-finals prior to the 1989 [[Hillsborough disaster]], which killed 96 [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] fans.
 
==History==
{{mainMain article|History of Sheffield Wednesday F.C.}}{{See also|List of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. seasons}}
{{seealso|Sheffield Wednesday F.C. seasons}}
<!-- This section is meant to be just a summary. Please do not add too much detail - the [[History of Sheffield Wednesday F.C.]] article is intended for detailed additions. -->
 
===Early years (1867–1889)===
[[File:Darnall cricket ground.jpg|thumb|right|A cricket match at Darnall in the 1820s, a ground laid out for [[The Wednesday Cricket Club]].]]
[[Image:Leaflet_advert_for_blackburn_rovers_match-1887.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Leaflet advertising the opening match at Olive Grove between The Wednesday and [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[12 September]] [[1887]]]]
 
Although no contemporary evidence has been found to support the claim, it is commonly believed that "The Wednesday Cricket Club" was formed in 1820.<ref name="Origins">{{cite book|first=Jason|last=Dickinson|title=The Origins of Sheffield Wednesday|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2015}}</ref> Nevertheless, an 1842 article in ''[[Bell's Life in London|Bell's Life]]'' magazine states the club was founded as far back as 1816.<ref name="Origins"/>
The club was a [[cricket]] team when it formed in [[1820s in sports|1820]] as ''The Wednesday Cricket Club''. A meeting on the evening of Wednesday [[4 September]] [[1867]] at the [[Adelphi Hotel]] established a footballing side to keep the team together and fit during the winter months. They played their first match against the Mechanics on [[19 October]] the same year.<ref name="Sheffield Football">{{cite book|first=Keith|last=Farnsworth|title=Sheffield Football A History:Volume 1 1857-1861|publisher=Hallamshire Press|date=1995|id=ISBN 1-874718-13-X}}</ref>
 
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 the [[Darnall New Ground|New Ground]] in [[Darnall]], and often went by the name of ''Darnall Wednesday'', but also played at [[Hyde Park, Sheffield|Hyde Park]]. In 1855 they were one of six clubs that helped build [[Bramall Lane]], and held a wicket there for many years.<ref name="Origins"/>
It soon became apparent that football would come to eclipse the cricketing side of the club. On [[1 February]] [[1868]], Wednesday played their first competitive football match as they entered the [[Cromwell Cup]], a four-team competition for newly formed clubs. They went on to win the cup, beating the Garrick Club 1-0 after extra time in the final at [[Bramall Lane]].<ref name="Cromwell Cup">{{cite web|title=The Cromwell Cup|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~a.drake/sheff/cup/cromwell.htm|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref>
 
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, and [[George Ulyett]], who represented the club in the [[English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1876–77|first ever international test match]] before becoming one of only a select band of players who played for both sections of The Wednesday Club.
[[Charles Clegg (footballer)|Charles Clegg]] joined Wednesday in the 1870s, starting a relationship that would last the rest of his life and eventually lead to his becoming the club's chairman. He also became president and chairman of the [[The Football Association|Football Association]] and known as the "Napoleon of Football".<ref name="Statto">{{cite web|title=Players, Managers and Administrators|publisher=FL Interactive Limited |url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StattoDetail/0,,10304~390120,00.html|accessdate=2006-08-17}}</ref> In [[1876 in football (soccer)|1876]] they acquired Scot [[James 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.<ref name="In the Beginning">{{cite web|title=In the Beginning|publisher=FL Interactive Limited|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoryDetail/0,,10304~65717,00.html|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref>
 
On the evening of Wednesday 4 September 1867, a meeting was held at the [[Adelphi Hotel (Sheffield)|Adelphi Hotel]] to 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 '[[Sheffield Rules#The rouge|rouges]]' to nil.<ref name="Sheffield Football">{{cite book|first=Keith|last=Farnsworth|title=Sheffield Football A History: Volume 1 1857–1861|publisher=Hallamshire Press|year=1995|isbn=1-874718-13-X}}</ref>
The 1880s saw two major events that radically changed the face of the club. In [[1882 in football (soccer)|1882]] the cricket and football clubs parted ways;<ref name="Wednesday!">{{cite book|last=Farnsworth|first=Keith| title=Wednesday!|publisher=Sheffield City Libraries|date=1982}}</ref> the cricket club would later go out of existence in 1925. The football club turned professional in [[1887 in football (soccer)|1887]] after pressure from players threatening to defect to other clubs. Sheffield Wednesday won their first game as a professional club against the Mechanics by 3 goals to nil.
 
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 the [[Cromwell 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 at [[Bramall 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.<ref name="Cromwell Cup">{{cite web | title=The Cromwell Cup | url=http://www.btinternet.com/~a.drake/sheff/cup/cromwell.htm | url-status=dead | access-date=15 August 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728081730/http://www.btinternet.com/~a.drake/sheff/cup/cromwell.htm | archive-date=28 July 2012}}</ref>
===Professional football===
The move to professionalism took the team from [[Bramall Lane]], which had taken a share of the ticket revenue, to the new [[Olive Grove]]. In [[1889 in football (soccer)|1889]] the club became founder members of the [[Football Alliance]], of which they were the first champions in a season where they also reached the [[1890 in football (soccer)|1890]] [[FA Cup]] Final, losing 6-1 to [[Blackburn Rovers]] at the [[Kennington Oval]]. Despite finishing the following season bottom of the Alliance, they were eventually elected to the expanded [[Football League]] in [[1892 in football (soccer)|1892]]. They won the FA Cup for the first time in [[1896 in football (soccer)|1896]], beating [[Wolverhampton Wanderers]] 2-1 at [[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre|Crystal Palace]].
 
A key figure during the formative years of the football club was [[Charles Clegg (footballer)|Charles 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 the [[The Football Association|Football Association]], and was known as the "Napoleon of Football".<ref name="Statto">
Due to an expansion of the local railway lines, the club were told that they would have to find a new ground for the [[1899-1900 in English football|1899-1900 season]]. After a difficult search the club finally bought some land in the village of Owlerton, which at the time was several miles outside the city boundaries. Construction of a new stadium (now known as [[Hillsborough Stadium]]) was completed within months and the club was secured for the next century. In a strong decade Wednesday won the league twice in the [[1902-03 in English football|1902-03]] and [[1903-04 in English football|1903-04]] seasons and the FA Cup again in [[1907 in football (soccer)|1907]], beating [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], again at Crystal Palace by 2 goals to 1. After this the club went through a relatively fallow period for another two decades.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoricalStatistics/0,,10304~390120,00.html
|title=Players, Managers and Administrators
|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday official website
|access-date=6 October 2008
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502135221/http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoricalStatistics/0%2C%2C10304~390120%2C00.html
|archive-date=2 May 2008
}}
</ref> Clegg played for [[England men's national football team|England]] in the [[1872 Scotland v England football match|first-ever international match]], against [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] in 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.
 
[[File:TheWednesday1878.jpg|thumb|left|The Wednesday team in 1878]] In 1876 Wednesday acquired Scot [[James Lang (footballer)|James 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.<ref name="In the Beginning">{{cite web|title=In the Beginning |publisher=FL Interactive Limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808160327/http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoryDetail/0%2C%2C10304~65717%2C00.html |archive-date=8 August 2007 |url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoryDetail/0,,10304~65717,00.html |access-date=8 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 inaugural [[Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup|Sheffield FA Challenge Cup]] in 1877.
The team were almost relegated in the [[1928-29 in English football|1928-29]] season, but with 17 points in the last 10 matches they pulled off a great escape, rising from bottom to 14th. Wednesday went on to win the league title the following season ([[1929-30 in English football|1929-30]]), which started a run that would see the team finishing lower than third only once until 1936. The period was topped off with the team winning the FA Cup for the third time in the club's history in [[1935 in football (soccer)|1935]].
 
In 1880 the club entered the [[FA Cup]] for 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.<ref name="Origins"/> 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.<ref name="Wednesday!">{{cite book|last=Farnsworth|first=Keith| title=Wednesday!|publisher=Sheffield City Libraries|year=1982}}</ref>
===Post-war turmoil===
The 1950s saw Wednesday unable to consistently hold on to a position in the top flight. After being promoted back up in 1950, they were relegated three times, although each time they bounced back up by winning the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] the following season. The decade ended on a high note with the team finally finishing in the top half of the First Division for the first time since [[World War II]].
 
=== Professional football, English Champions and FA Cup winners (1889–1939) ===
This led to a decade of successfully remaining in the First Division, which included a run to the FA Cup Final in [[1966 in football (soccer)|1966]] – notable in that Wednesday played all their ties away from home. Off the field the club was embroiled in the [[British betting scandal of 1964]] where three of their players, [[Peter Swan]], [[David Layne]] and [[Tony Kay]], were accused of [[match fixing]] and [[sports betting|betting]] against their own team in an away game at Ipswich Town. The three were subsequently convicted and, on release from prison, banned from football for life.<ref name="Betting Scandal">{{cite web|title = The 1960s - The Kay, Swan and Layne affair| url=http://www.nobok.co.uk/page/TimeMachineDetail/0,,10301~791880,00.html|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref> 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.
[[File:Sheffield wednesday 1896.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Sheffield Wednesday players posing with the FA Cup won in 1896]]
The move to professionalism took the club from Bramall Lane, which had taken a share of the ticket revenue, to the new [[Olive Grove]].<ref name="Football in Sheffield">{{cite book|last=Young|first=Percy M.|year=1962|title=Football in Sheffield|publisher=S. Paul}}</ref> In 1889 the club became founder members of the [[Football Alliance]], of which they were the first champions in a season where they also reached the [[1890 FA Cup final]], losing 6–1 to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] at [[Kennington Oval]], London. Despite finishing the following season bottom of the Alliance, they were eventually elected to the expanded [[Football League]] in 1892. They won the [[FA Cup]] for the first time in [[1896 FA Cup final|1896]], beating [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] 2–1 at [[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre|Crystal Palace]].
 
Owing to an expansion of the local railway lines, the club was told that they would have to find a new ground for the [[1899–1900 in English football|1899–1900 season]].<ref name="Wednesday!" /> After a difficult search the club finally bought some land in the village of [[Owlerton]], which at the time was several miles outside the Sheffield city boundaries. Construction of a new stadium (now known as [[Hillsborough Stadium]]) was completed within months and the club was secured for the next century. In a strong decade, Wednesday won the League in the [[1902–03 in English football|1902–03]] and [[1903–04 in English football|1903–04]] seasons and the FA Cup again in [[1907 FA Cup final|1907]], beating [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] 2–1, again at Crystal Palace. When competitive football was suspended in 1915 because of the outbreak of [[World War I]], the club participated in several regionalised war leagues, until 1919, when competitive football resumed.
Wednesday were relegated at the end of the [[1969-70 in English football|1969-70 season]], starting the darkest period in the club's history. After going into free-fall they dropped to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] for the first time in their history and were marooned there for five seasons. The club were almost relegated to the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in 1976, but a revival under the management of [[Jack Charlton]], and the aid of Coach [[Tony Toms]] saw them return to the First Division in 1984.
 
They were relegated from the top flight for the first time in 1920, and did not return until 1926, and in the [[1927–28 in English football|1927–28]] season 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 in English football|1928–29]]), which started a run that saw the team finishing lower than third only once until 1936.<ref name="Football in Sheffield" /> The period was topped off with the team winning the FA Cup for the third time in the club's history in [[1935 FA Cup final|1935]]. When [[World War II]] began, the club entered non-competitive war leagues, returning to competitive football in 1946.
===Modern highs and lows===
Sheffield Wednesday spent the majority of the 1980s and 1990s in the top tier of English football. [[1990-91 in English football|1990-91]] was the only season out of sixteen in a row that Wednesday spent in a lower division, but the season is best remembered by fans for Wednesday's swift return to the top flight under the management of Ron Atkinson and their [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] victory over [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] to win their first major trophy for over 50 years. The [[1992-93 in English football|1992-93]] season established Sheffield Wednesday as a top club as they visited [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley]] four times during the season - a League Cup final and an FA Cup semi-final, final and replay. In the FA Cup Semi-Finals they recorded a historic win over the city rivals Sheffield United, 2-1. However Wednesday failed to win any silverware, losing to Arsenal in both League and FA Cup finals, the latter after [[Andy Linighan]]'s late extra-time winner in the replay to give Arsenal the victory.
 
===The yo-yo years (1945–1959)===
[[Image:Playoffs 021.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Wednesday lift the 2005 League One Playoff Trophy]]
[[File:SheffieldWednesdayFC League Performance.svg|thumb|Chart of Sheffield Wednesday's Performances]]
The 1950s saw Wednesday unable to consistently hold on to a position in the top flight and this period became known as the [[Yo-yo club|yo-yo years]].<ref name="bullock">[http://adrianbullock.com/swfc/stats/swfcarch.htm Adrian Bullock's Sheffield Wednesday Archive] 1950s > yo-yo years.</ref> After being promoted in 1950 they were relegated three times, although each time they returned to the top flight by winning the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] the 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)===
Wednesday's fortunes took a turn for the worse when a succession of managers failed to maintain this form, first [[David Pleat]] and later [[Danny Wilson (footballer)|Danny Wilson]] spent small fortunes building squads that were ultimately ineffective, and the club's debts got out of control as a result.<ref name="guardian fanzine">{{cite web|title=Sheffield Wednesday |publisher=Guardian Unlimited fanzines|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/fanzines/story/0,,602504,00.html|date=[[20 November]] [[2001]]|accessdate=2006-09-13}}</ref> Danny Wilson was sacked in March 2000 and his assistant [[Peter Shreeves]] took temporary charge but was unable to stave off relegation. The club's flirtation with relegation continued in Division One and after yet more managerial changes [[Chris Turner]] was hired as boss and made a strong effort to rejuvenate the side. However, a failure to beat [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.]] in the penultimate game of the [[2002-03 in English football|2002-03]] season condemned them to another relegation.
In 1961, the club ran toe-to-toe with [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] at 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 the [[British betting scandal of 1964]] in which three of its players, [[Peter Swan (footballer born 1936)|Peter Swan]], [[David Layne]] and [[Tony Kay]], were accused of [[match fixing]] and [[sports betting|betting]] against their own team in an away game at [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]. The three were subsequently convicted and, on release from prison, banned from football for life.<ref name="Betting Scandal">{{cite news|title = Swan still reduced to tears by the fix that came unstuck| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article690987.ece| archive-url=https://archive.today/20070310210209/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article690987.ece| url-status=dead| archive-date=10 March 2007|access-date=8 April 2009| work = The Times | ___location=London | date=22 July 2006 | first=Rick | last=Broadbent}}</ref> 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.
After narrowly avoiding yet another relegation in [[2003-04 in English football|2003-04]] and a poor start to the [[2004-05 in English football|2004-05]] [[Coca-Cola League One]] campaign, Turner was replaced by former [[Southampton F.C.]] manager [[Paul Sturrock]]. Sturrock revitalised Sheffield Wednesday's fortunes and they finished fifth in League One at the end of the 2004-05 season, qualifying for the promotion playoffs. Over 40,000 SWFC fans travelled to [[Cardiff]] to watch the Owls beat [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] 4-2 after extra time in the playoff final, and return to the Championship.<ref name="promotion">{{cite news|title=Brighton 0-2 Sheff Wed|publisher=BBC| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4906626.stm|date=[[17 April]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> Sturrock guided Sheffield Wednesday to Championship survival in [[2005-06 in English football|2005-06]] but was sacked after a poor start to the [[2006-07 in English football|2006-07]] season and replaced by [[Brian Laws]]. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/6120136.stm</ref>
[[File:1970 Anglo-Italian Cup - Juventus v Sheffield Weds - Coin toss.jpg|thumb|left|The coin toss before the away game in [[Turin]] versus [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] for the [[1970 Anglo-Italian Cup]]]]
 
===Darkest days and the fight back to the top (1970–1984)===
==Name and nicknames==
Wednesday were relegated at the end of the [[1969–70 in English football|1969–70 season]]; this began the darkest period in the club's history, eventually culminating in the club dropping to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] for the first time in its history, and in 1976 it almost fell into the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]. It was not until the appointment of [[Jack Charlton]] as 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 to [[Howard Wilkinson]], who took the club back into the top flight in 1984, after an absence of 14 years.
Sheffield Wednesday are the only English League club with a day of the week in their name. The club derive their name from "The Wednesday Cricket Club", whose meetings were held on Wednesday afternoons. Wednesday was traditionally the day that the local [[steel mill|steel]] workers who formed the club took their half-day off to play sports. The only other football club in the [[United Kingdom]] with a day of the week in the name is [[Abergavenny Thursdays F.C.|Abergavenny Thursdays]], a minor Welsh club.
 
===Life at the top of the Premier League and European Football (1984–2000)===
The club were formerly known as "The Wednesday Football Club" until [[1929 in football (soccer)|1929]], when the club was officially renamed "Sheffield Wednesday Football Club" under the stewardship of manager [[Bob Brown (footballer)|Bob Brown]].<ref name="Complete History 1920-35">{{cite web|title=Brown's Golden Era|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoryDetail/0,,10304~65721,00.html|publisher=FL Interactive Limited|accessdate=2006-08-12}}</ref> However the name Sheffield Wednesday dates back as far as 1883: the former ground at Olive Grove had the name Sheffield Wednesday painted on the stand roof.
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 the [[Heysel Stadium disaster]].
 
On 15 April 1989 the club's stadium was the scene of [[Hillsborough disaster|one of the worst sporting tragedies ever]], at the FA Cup semi-final between [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], at which 97 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/15/newsid_2491000/2491195.stm |title=BBC ON THIS DAY &#124; 1989: Football fans crushed at Hillsborough |publisher=BBC News |date=15 April 1945 |access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15968408 |title=Hillsborough Thatcher files to be released by June 2012 |publisher=BBC |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref> and that perimeter fencing should be removed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bolton |first=Andy |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/features/nce-40-years/no10-hillsborough-disaster/8629876.article |title=No.10 Hillsborough disaster &#124; New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref>
Wednesday's original nickname was "The Blades", a common name for Sheffield clubs during the 19th century due to the city's links to the cutlery industry and now the nickname of their long-term rivals [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]. At the start of the 20th century, when a player presented them with an [[owl]] mascot to honour their stadium at Owlerton, adjacent to [[Hillsborough, South Yorkshire|Hillsborough]], the club became known as "The Owls".
 
In Ron Atkinson's first full season as manager, 1989–90, Sheffield Wednesday finished 18th in the First Division and were relegated on [[goal difference]], despite the acquisition of the talented [[John Sheridan (football)|John Sheridan]] and 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 2025 they remain the last team to win one of English football's major trophies while outside the top flight.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://talksport.com/football/fa-cup/128830/man-united-and-arsenals-shock-defeats-when-teams-outside-top-flight-reach-cup-finals/ |title = Man United and Arsenal's SHOCK defeats: When teams outside the top flight reach cup finals|date = 24 January 2012}}</ref> Atkinson moved to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] shortly after promotion was achieved, and handed over the reins to 37-year-old striker [[Trevor Francis]].
==Colours==
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 1874-75 shows the Wednesday team in plain dark shirts.<ref name="Romance of the Wednesday">{{cite book|last=Spalding|first=Richard A.|date=1926|title=Romance of the Wednesday|publisher=Desert Island Books|id=ISBN 1-874287-17-1}}</ref>, while the 1871 "Rules of the Sheffield Football Association" listed the Wednesday club colours as blue and white hoops.<ref name="Football in Sheffield">{{cite book|last=Young|first=Percy M.|date=1962|title=Football in Sheffield|publisher=S. Paul}}</ref> A quartered blue and white design was used in 1887 and a blue shirt with white sleeves between 1965 and 1973.<ref name="Club Colours">{{cite book|last=Bickerton|first=Bob|date=1998|title=Club Colours|publisher=Hamlyn|id=ISBN 0-600-59542-0}}</ref> This design would have received greater notoriety had Wednesday not worn their [[kit (football)|away kit]] for all of their games in the 1966 FA Cup run, when all of their ties were drawn away. Given the option in the final of wearing their first strip, they chose the away strip for luck; but Everton managed to claw back a 2-0 deficit after 54 minutes and eventually won the game 3-2.
 
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 new [[FA Premier League]].
There is a superstition among many older Wednesday fans that the team tends to have a poor season when they abandon the traditional evenly spaced blue and white stripe designs in favour of some broad stripe or narrow stripe design. However in an age of marketing-driven decisions, the team only reverts to the familiar style every so often.
 
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 to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in 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. Midfielder [[Chris Waddle]] was voted [[Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year]], and the strike partnership of [[David Hirst (footballer)|David Hirst]] and [[Mark Bright]] was 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 former [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton]], [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester]] and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] manager [[David Pleat]].
Wednesday have often favoured black shorts or, more recently, blue. There have been times where Wednesday have opted to play in white shorts, sometimes to minimise colour clashes with the opposing team. The socks were invariably blue and white hoops but these too have gone through changes including blue with a white roll over top, all blue and all white.
 
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 of [[Marc Degryse]], [[Dejan Stefanovic]] and [[Darko 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 credited [[FA Premier League Manager of the Month|Manager of the Month]] for 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.
The away strip has changed regularly over the years although an all yellow strip has been used for many of the recent seasons in the club's history. Traditionally white was the second choice for many teams, including Wednesday. Other colours used for away kits in previous years include black, silver, green and orange. Wednesday have always avoided red as an alternative colour but for years had the players' numbers in red on the first-choice shirt backs, which was not easy to discern against blue and white stripes.
 
At the end of the 1997–98 season, Ron Atkinson's short-term contract was not renewed and Sheffield Wednesday turned to the [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] boss [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]] as their new manager, after being rejected by both [[Gerard Houllier]] and [[Walter Smith]] who joined [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] respectively.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Wilson's first season at the helm brought a slight improvement as they finished 12th in the Premiership.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
The current home strip consists of blue and white vertical stripes with black shorts and black socks. The change strip (used for away or cup fixtures where there is a clash of colours) is all yellow with blue trim. The [[goalkeeper]]'s home strip is all gold with black trim; the change strip is dark grey with yellow trim.
 
===Modern highs and lows (2000–2014)===
The 2007/08 kit is manufactured by [[Lotto_Sport_Italia|Lotto]] with the home colours the traditional shirt of blue and white stripes, with blue sleeves, coupled with black shorts and socks (with the top of the socks blue).<ref name="Sheffield Wednesday 2007/08 Kit">{{cite web|title=Pictures of Sheffield Wedneday Kit|url=http://www.football-shirts.co.uk/fans/29|publisher=Football Shirts UK|accessdate=2006-03-21}}</ref> The club's supporters were given the chance to have input on the away kit selection and went for an orange shirt, shorts and socks with some blue piping.
An expensively assembled squad including [[Paolo Di Canio]], [[Benito Carbone]] and [[Wim Jonk]] failed 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Di Canio's future in the balance |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/180874.stm |date=1998-09-28 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=BBC News}}</ref> Danny Wilson was sacked the following March with relegation looking a certainty for the Hillsborough club,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wednesday sack Wilson |url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/mar/21/newsstory.sport5 |date=2000-03-21 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> following a disastrous [[1999–2000 FA Premier League|1999–2000 season]] where they had been hammered 8–0 by [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] as early as September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Newcastle 8–0 Sheffield Wednesday {{!}} Shearer's five star day |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/451554.stm |date=1999-09-19 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=BBC News}}</ref> His assistant [[Peter Shreeves]] took 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arsenal 3–3 Sheffield Wednesday {{!}} Wednesday relegated |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/742563.stm |date=2000-05-09 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=BBC News}}</ref>
 
[[File:Arsenal SheffieldWednesday2000a.jpg|thumb|right|The Owls playing in their final away match of the [[1999–2000 Premier League]] season, at Arsenal in May 2000]]
==Grounds==
[[Image:Hillsborough panorama.jpg|left|thumb|783px|Panoramic view of [[Hillsborough Stadium]] taken from the South stand showing (left to right) West Stand, North Stand and the Kop]]
<br clear="all"/>
 
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.<ref name="guardian fanzine">{{cite news|title=Sheffield Wednesday |publisher=Guardian Unlimited fanzines|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/nov/20/footballfanzines.sport|date=20 November 2001|access-date=6 October 2008 | ___location=London}}</ref>
Originally, Wednesday played matches at High Field, where [[Highfield Library]] is now located but moved several times before adopting a permanent ground. Other locations included [[Heeley]] and [[Hunter's Bar]]. Major matches would be played Sheaf House or [[Bramall Lane]], before [[Sheffield United]] made it their home ground.<ref name="Wednesday!" />
 
The club spent two years in the third tier before returning the Championship, [[Paul Sturrock]]'s side won the [[2005 Football League One play-off final|2005 play-off final]] by defeating [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] 4–2 after extra time at the [[Millennium Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4580603.stm |title=Hartlepool United 2–4 Sheffield Wednesday |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2005 |access-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8646785.stm|title=Sheff Wed 2–2 Crystal Palace|first=Paul|last=Fletcher|publisher=BBC|date=2010-05-02|access-date=2011-02-03}}</ref>
Sheffield Wednesday's first permanent home ground was at [[Olive Grove]], a site on Queen's Road originally leased from the [[Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk|Duke of Norfolk]]. The first game at Olive Grove was a 4-4 draw with [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] on [[12 September]] [[1887]]. Extensions to the adjacent railway forced the club to move in 1899, when work began on [[Hillsborough Stadium]] at Owlerton, to the northwest of the city. The first game at Hillsborough was played on [[2 September]] [[1899]] and ended in a 5-1 win for Wednesday over [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]. The stadium was originally named Owlerton Stadium but in 1914 Owlerton became part of the parliamentary constituency of [[Sheffield Hillsborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Hillsborough]] and the ground took on its current name.<ref name="About Hillsborough">{{cite web|title=About Hillsborough|publisher=FL Interactive Limited|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HillsboroughDetail/0,,10304~92607,00.html|accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref>
 
Between July and November 2010, Sheffield Wednesday faced a series of [[liquidation|winding up]] orders for unpaid tax and [[VAT]] bills, with the club's existence under severe threat.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/8847626.stm|title=Sheffield Wednesday served winding up order by HMRC|publisher=BBC Sport|date=23 July 2010|access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/8976096.stm|title=Sheffield Wednesday broker deal to avoid administration|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 September 2010|access-date=16 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/9172914.stm|title=Sheffield Wednesday served with second winding-up order|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 November 2010|access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref> It was not until 29 November 2010, when businessman [[Milan Mandarić]] agreed to buy out the old owners, that the club could move forward.
===Hillsborough disaster===
{{main|Hillsborough disaster}}
 
[[File:Sheffield wednesday Pitch invation 5th May 2012.jpg|left|thumb|Wednesday supporters celebrating on the pitch, following promotion to [[EFL Championship|The Championship]], on 5 May 2012]]
[[Image:Hillsborough Memorial.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Hillsborough disaster memorial]]
 
Mandarić appointed former Wednesday player [[Gary Megson]] as 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 manager [[Dave Jones (footballer, born 1956)|Dave Jones]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wycombewandererstrust.com/05/05/2012/spirited-end-at-wednesdays-party/|title=Spirited End at Wednesday's Party|date=5 May 2012|publisher=Wycombe Wanderers Trust|access-date=11 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
On [[15 April]] [[1989]] Hillsborough became the site of Britain's worst ever stadium disaster. The venue was hosting a [[FA Cup]] semi-final between [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death after the terraces at the Leppings Lane end of the ground became overcrowded.
 
===The Chansiri era (2014–present)===
In the [[Taylor Report]], the result of the official inquiry into the disaster, Sheffield Wednesday were criticised for the low number of turnstiles at the Leppings Lane end and the poor quality of the crush barriers on the terraces there. However, the report concluded that the root cause of the disaster was the failure of local police to adequately manage the crowds. The police failed to direct fans away from already-full central pens; these pens had an official capacity of 2,000, which should have been reduced to 1,600 as the crush barriers did not conform to the [[Health & Safety Executive]]'s ''Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds 1986''. Over 3,000 people had probably gathered in these pens shortly after kick off at 3.00pm, causing the fatal crush.<ref name="Hillsborough justice">{{cite web|title=The Hillsborough Football Disaster|publisher=Hillsborough Justice Campaign|url=http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough/history/index.shtm|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref><ref name="Hillsborough HSE">{{cite web|title=Information relating to the Hillsborough Stadium incident [[15 April]] [[1989]]|publisher=Health & Safety Executive|url=http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/releases/hillsborough.htm|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref>
In 2014, the club was, once again, taken over by a new owner, Thai businessman [[Dejphon Chansiri]], purchasing the club from Milan Mandarić for £37.5m.<ref name=dej>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31693775|title=Sheffield Wednesday: Dejphon Chansiri targets Premier League|date=2 March 2015|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> 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 coach [[Carlos Carvalhal]] leading the club into the end of season play-offs at the end of the [[2015–16 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2015–16]] season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/31693775 |title=Sheffield Wednesday: Dejphon Chansiri targets Premier League |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 March 2015 |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref> Wednesday were beaten in the [[2016 Football League Championship play-off final|final]] by [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] at [[Wembley]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36348885 |title=Hull City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday |author=Adam Williams |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2016 |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref> They made the play-offs again the following season, but lost on penalties to the eventually promoted [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] in the semi-final.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39866499 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Huddersfield Town |work=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2017 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref>
 
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 manager [[Jos Luhukay]] a month later.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42472402 | title=Sheffield Wednesday part company with boss Carlos Carvalhal| work=BBC Sport| date=24 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42586860 | title=Jos Luhukay: Sheffield Wednesday name new manager| work=BBC Sport| date=5 January 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2018/december/club-statement/ | title=Club statement |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday |date=21 December 2018 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref> He was replaced by former [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] boss [[Steve Bruce]] who saw an upturn in form to finish 12th.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46660813 |title=Steve Bruce: Sheffield Wednesday appoint new manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 January 2019 |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/championship-table/2018 |title=Championship Table & Standings |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref> However, Bruce controversially resigned in July 2019 to manage [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/17/newcastle-appoint-steve-bruce-manager-rafael-benitez |title = Sheffield Wednesday take legal advice after Newcastle appoint Steve Bruce|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 17 July 2019|last1 = Jackson|first1 = Jamie}}</ref>
The Taylor Report gave 76 recommendations designed to improve safety at football matches in Britain. The most noticeable of these was the gradual replacement of terraces with seated areas in all grounds by the end of the 20th century.<ref name="Fire safety">{{cite web|title=Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sports|publisher=Fire Safety Advice Centre|url=http://www.firesafe.org.uk/html/premises/fs&spos.htm|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref> A memorial to the victims of the disaster stands outside Hillsborough's South Stand, near the main entrance on Parkside Road.
 
On 6 September 2019, the club appointed former Birmingham City manager [[Garry Monk]] as the new manager, who achieved a 16th-place finish in a season that was interrupted from March to June by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49610317 | title=Garry Monk: Sheffield Wednesday appoint ex-Birmingham City boss as manager| work=BBC Sport| date=6 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/anatomy-fall-assessing-turning-points-sheffield-wednesdays-disastrous-201920-campaign-2924491 |title=Anatomy of a fall: Assessing the turning points in Sheffield Wednesday's disastrous 2019/20 campaign |last=Miller |first=Alex |work=The Star |date=27 July 2020 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51867989 |title=Coronavirus: Premier League and EFL suspended in England - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland halt games |work=BBC Sport |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/12040150/sheffield-wednesday-given-12-point-deduction-for-breaching-efl-rules |title=Sheffield Wednesday given 12-point deduction for breaching EFL rules |work=Sky Sports |date=1 August 2020 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/12123776/sheffield-wednesdays-points-deduction-halved |last=Thomas |first=Lyall |title=Sheffield Wednesday's points deduction halved |work=Sky Sports |date=4 November 2020 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref> On 9 November 2020, Monk was sacked after a poor start to the season and was replaced by [[Tony Pulis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/sheffield-wednesday-garry-monk-sack-b1720209.html |title=Sheffield Wednesday sack manager Garry Monk with club in Championship relegation zone |website=The Independent |date=10 November 2020 |publisher=The Independent Newspaper |access-date=10 November 2020}}</ref> However, Pulis was also dismissed after only 45 days in charge on 28 December 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tony Pulis sacked by Sheffield Wednesday after just 10 games in charge |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/sheffield-wednesday-tony-pulis-sacked-b1779758.html |website=The Independent |date=28 December 2020 |publisher=The Independent Newspaper |access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref> After a few months with [[Neil Thompson]] as caretaker manager, [[Darren Moore]] was appointed as the club's third permanent manager of the season in March 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/12232488/darren-moore-named-sheffield-wednesday-first-team-manager-andy-butler-takes-over-at-doncaster |title=Darren Moore named Sheffield Wednesday first-team manager; Andy Butler takes over at Doncaster |work=Sky Sports |date=1 March 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56953366 |title=Derby County 3–3 Sheffield Wednesday |work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 }}</ref>
==Support==
Wednesday have enjoyed good support despite their recent decline in fortunes. They had the highest average attendance during both seasons in Division Two/League One <ref name="2004-2005 Division 2 Attendances"> {{cite news|title=2004-2005 League One average attendances|publisher=Soccer Stats|url=http://www.soccer-stats.com/divisions/attendances.asp?divno=3&orderby=4&asid=04|date=[[16 May]] [[2005]]|accessdate=2006-09-10}}</ref> and continued the trend when returning to the Championship with the highest attendances in that division.<ref name="2005-2006 Attendances"> {{cite news|title=Best Supporters|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday official website|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/News/0,,10304~832378,00.html|date=[[23 May]] [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref> At the 2005 playoff final Wednesday took over 41,000 fans to the [[Millennium Stadium]].<ref name="Sturrock salutes fans">{{cite news|title=Sturrock salutes fans|publisher=BBC|date=[[29 May]] [[2005]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/4589659.stm|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref>
 
After failing to win promotion in their first season back in League One, Wednesday finished third in the [[2022–23 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2022–23]] season. In the play-off semi-finals, Wednesday lost 4–0 in the first leg against [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] but won the [[Miracle of Hillsborough|second leg]] 5–1 before prevailing on penalties.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 5–1 Peterborough United (5–5 agg): Owls win 5–3 on penalties to reach play-off final |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65553765 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Wednesday then won promotion back to the Championship by defeating [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] in the [[2023 EFL League One play-off final|2023 play-off final]].<ref name="2023pof">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65667707 |title=Barnsley 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday |author=Ian Woodcock |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2023 |access-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> Moore departed from the club on 19 June by mutual consent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darren Moore leaves Sheffield Wednesday 'by mutual consent' despite promotion to Championship |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12905606/darren-moore-leaves-sheffield-wednesday-by-mutual-consent-despite-promotion-to-championship |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref>
Their most famous fan is Paul Gregory. Known to many as "Tango" or "Tango Man" due to his similarity to a character appearing in [[advertisement]]s for the [[Tango (drink)|eponymous soft drink]] in the 1990s, he takes his shirt off for every match.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|title=Hit or misfit? Kits that have divided the fans|publisher=Guardian Newspapers Limited|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1545014,00.html|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref> He achieved national fame during the '90s appearing on ''[[The Big Breakfast]]'' and ''[[The Sunday Show]]''. Another famous Wednesday institution was the Wednesday Band, a [[brass band]] that played during matches. Although unpopular amongst many rival fans (and some home fans),<ref name="ground guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.yfh45.dial.pipex.com/wednes.htm|title=Sheffield Wednesday|work=Internet Football Ground Guide|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref> they have released several records and have been invited to regularly attend [[England national football team|England]] matches.<ref name="Unofficial history">{{cite web|title=Sheffield Wednesday history|publisher=Sheffield on the Internet|url=http://www.sheffieldontheinternet.co.uk/wed.html|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref> They were often banned from away grounds and have now suffered the same fate at home.
 
Moore was replaced by [[Xisco Muñoz]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Owls appoint Xisco Muñoz as first team manager |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/owls-appoint-xisco-munoz-as-first-team-manager/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=www.swfc.co.uk}}</ref> however, he was sacked after 12 games with the club winless during his tenure.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 2023 |title=Xisco Munoz: Sheffield Wednesday sack boss after winless start in Championship |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66852888 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BBC-29Sep2023">{{cite news |title=Dejphon Chansiri: Sheffield Wednesday owner says he will stop funding club after 'insults' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66958019 |access-date=29 September 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=29 September 2023}}</ref> On 31 October 2023, Chansiri, citing cashflow problems, asked Wednesday fans to raise £2m by 10 November 2023 to help the club pay an outstanding [[HM Revenue and Customs|HMRC]] debt and cover wages.<ref name="BBC-31Oct2023">{{cite news |title=Dejphon Chansiri: Sheffield Wednesday owner asks fans for £2m to cover debts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67268518 |access-date=31 October 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 October 2023}}</ref> [[Danny Röhl]] was announced as Munoz's successor and oversaw a revival on form, eventually confirming safety from relegation on the final day of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Danny Rohl: Sheffield Wednesday appoint German coach, 34, who becomes youngest manager in EFL |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/12983657/danny-rohl-sheffield-wednesday-appoint-german-coach-34-who-becomes-youngest-manager-in-efl |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunderland vs Sheffield Wednesday: English Football League - Championship |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cn0rz2jvv3wt |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Supporters groups include [[Wednesdayite]], an independent football supporters organisation which owns over 10% of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and The London Owls, an active supporters club for Wednesday fans living in London and South East England. Famous fans include [[Michael Vaughan]], comedian [[Michael Palin]], [[David Blunkett]], [[Roy Hattersley]] and the [[Arctic Monkeys]].
 
The following season, the club were again placed under a registration embargo for failure to pay HMRC for the second year in a row.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-01 |title=Wednesday placed under registration embargo |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg413zjjrro |access-date=2024-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Important Sheffield Wednesday embargo update amid fan concern|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/important-sheffield-wednesday-embargo-update-amid-fan-concern-4866479|access-date=14 November 2024 |publisher=Sheffield Star |date=14 November 2024}}</ref> In March 2025, Chansiri issued a statement that the players hadn't been paid for the month of March due to cashflow problems.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed players not paid due to Chansiri cashflow issues|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c24q31yl0lvo|access-date=1 April 2025 |publisher=BBC |date=31 March 2025}}</ref> May,<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed wage payments delayed again |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgvn58y075o |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2025}}</ref> June<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed players not being paid 'shocking' - PFA |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3r94p7wny0o |access-date=2 July 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2025}}</ref> and July 2025 payments<ref>{{cite news |title=Wednesday wage payments delayed again |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn84gp0ejlmo |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=30 July 2025}}</ref> to players were similarly delayed, and Wednesday were placed under an EFL registration embargo,<ref>{{cite news |title=Wednesday placed under registration embargo |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9wgenxn8j4o |access-date=7 June 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=5 June 2025}}</ref> and the club and Chansiri faced EFL charges relating to payment obligations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed payment delays 'unacceptable' - PFA |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn8zd59ydn3o |access-date=12 June 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 June 2025}}</ref> The club was also barred from carrying out any transfers or loans involving a fee in the summer 2025 window and the two 2026 transfer windows.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed hit with transfer restrictions over wages |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c70xzzy9dpko |access-date=19 June 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 June 2025}}</ref> On 29 July 2025, Röhl left the club<ref>{{cite news |title=Boss Rohl leaves beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cyvqv7yg326o |access-date=29 July 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=29 July 2025}}</ref> (his assistant [[Henrik Pedersen (football manager)|Henrik Pedersen]] succeeded him),<ref>{{cite news |title=Troubled Sheff Wed appoint Pedersen as manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cnv73qqrm0po |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 July 2025}}</ref> and the North Stand at Hillsborough was temporarily closed by the city council due to "extensive corrosion" in the roof.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hillsborough's North Stand closed by Sheffield council |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwy544e09qpo |access-date=29 July 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=29 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council lift prohibition notice on Wednesday stand |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd9jy9y5nwyo |access-date=15 August 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2025}}</ref> On 1 August 2025, the EFL was reported to be increasingly concerned about the club's future and its ability to fulfil their Championship fixtures;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Daniel |title=EFL concerned about future of Sheffield Wednesday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce3j27y92p8o |access-date=1 August 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2025}}</ref> defender [[Max Lowe]] decided to leave the club, while other senior players were said to be considering doing the same.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lowe hands in notice as Wednesday turmoil continues |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy8j9zen4pwo |access-date=4 August 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2025}}</ref> A pre-season training game against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] on 2 August was cancelled, and players considered going on strike as the uncertainty continued.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Giddings |first1=Andy |title=Sheff Wed players want answers 'to avoid strike action' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckg4zl3g07do |access-date=4 August 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=4 August 2025}}</ref> On 10 August 2025, the side's opening Championship fixture at [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], which Wednesday lost 2–1, saw further protests against Chansiri's ownership of the club.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mashiter |first1=Nick |title='Sell up, you plonker' - how Sheff Wed fans united against owner |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7761064lveo |access-date=11 August 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2025}}</ref> Club debts had been settled on 8 August, using a solidarity payment from the Premier League, allowing Pedersen to start making additions to a squad with only 12 senior players ahead of the season's first league fixture at Hillsborough against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Gideon |title=Pedersen hopes Sheff Wed can add to squad this week |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpqvvw51w42o |access-date=11 August 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 August 2025}}</ref>
Sheffield Wednesday have had a large variety of fanzines over the years; examples include ''Just Another Wednesday'', ''Out of the Blue'', ''Spitting Feathers'', ''Boddle'', ''A View From The East Bank'', ''Cheat!'' and ''[[War of the Monster Trucks]]'', which acquired its name from the programme that [[Yorkshire Television]] elected to show instead of the celebrations after the 1991 [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] victory over Manchester United.<ref name="About WOTMT">{{cite news|title=About War of the Monster Trucks|publisher=Guardian|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/fanzines/story/0,,602719,00.html|date=[[20 November]] [[2001]]|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref>
 
==Nickname, kits, crest and traditions==
==Rivalry==
Wednesday's main rivals are city neighbours [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]. Other rivals include [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and to a lesser extent [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]], [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] and [[Hull City F.C.|Hull City]]. In a recent poll of English football fans, Wednesday were named the fifth most rivalled club in England.<ref name="Urban Dictionary">{{cite web|title=Sheffield Wednesday|publisher=Urban Dictionary|url=http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sheffield+Wednesday|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref> Matches between Wednesday and United are nicknamed [[Steel City derby|Steel City derbies]] (as opposed to Sheffield derbies, which can be between any two Sheffield teams) and are usually the highlight of the season for both sets of fans. Famous matches include ''The Boxing Day Massacre'', a [[Football League Third Division]] match which took place at [[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]] on [[26 December]] [[1979]]. A record Third Division crowd of 49,309 fans watched Wednesday beat United 4-0 and the game has become part of Sheffield Wednesday folklore, even inspiring a song.<ref name="ground guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.yfh45.dial.pipex.com/wednes.htm|title=Sheffield Wednesday|work=Internet Football Ground Guide|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref>
 
===Nickname===
The two teams also met at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley]] for an [[FA Cup]] semi-final match on [[3 April]] [[1993]]. The match was scheduled to take place at [[Elland Road]] but due to pressure from fans and the sheer number of supporters wishing to see the game [[the Football Association]] decided to switch the game to Wembley and 75,365 fans made the trip down to [[London]] to watch the match. Wednesday took the lead through a spectacular [[Chris Waddle]] free kick before United forced extra time courtesy of a goal from veteran striker [[Alan Cork]], despite Wednesday completely dominating the game. [[Mark Bright]] eventually scored the goal that secured victory for Wednesday and earned the Owls bragging rights until the next meeting.<ref name="Derby">{{cite web|title=Steel City Derby|publisher=BBC|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2005/11/02/fa_cup_semi_final_1993_feature.shtml|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref>
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 player [[George Robertson (footballer, born 1885)|George Robertson]] presented the club with an [[owl]] mascot, that the name took hold. A monkey mascot introduced some years earlier had not brought much luck.<ref>{{cite book
==Crest and mascots==
| title = One Hundred Years at Hillsborough
[[Image:SWFC_pre-1970.jpg|right|thumb|125px|The original crest]]
| last = Dickenson
[[Image:SWFC_early-90s.jpg|right|thumb|125px|Mid-1990s crest]]
| first = Jason
}}</ref>
 
===Kits===
Since their move to Owlerton, the owl has become a theme that has run throughout the club. The original club crest was introduced in 1956<ref name="badge">{{cite web|title=The Club Crest|publisher=A. Drake|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~a.drake/owls/misc/badge.htm|accessdate=2006-09-11 }}</ref>and consisted of a shield showing a traditionally drawn owl perched on a branch. The [[White Rose of York]] was depicted below the branch alluding to the home county of [[Yorkshire]] and the [[sheaf|sheaves]] of Sheffield ''(Sheaf field)'' were shown at either side of the owl's head. The club's [[Latin]] motto, ''Consilio et Animis'', was displayed beneath the shield.<ref name="crest">{{cite web|title=footballcrests.com|url=http://www.footballcrests.com/sheffieldwednesdayfc.htm|date=[[27 November]] [[2003]]|accessdate=2006-08-19 }}</ref> This translates into English as "By Wisdom and Courage".<ref name="motto">{{cite web|title=Facts and Figures|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday official website|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StattoDetail/0,,10304~390134,00.html|accessdate=2006-09-11 }}</ref>
{{Commons|Sheffield Wednesday F.C. kits}}
{{Football kit box
| align = right
| pattern_la = _thinnavyhoops
| pattern_b = _thinnavyhoops
| pattern_ra = _thinnavyhoops
| leftarm = FFFFFF
| body = FFFFFF
| rightarm = FFFFFF
| socks = FFFFFF
| shorts = FFFFFF
| title = The Wednesday's home shirt of 1871. It is assumed that these were the original colours used by the team.
}}
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,<ref name="Romance of the Wednesday">{{cite book|last=Spalding|first=Richard A.|year=1997|title=Romance of the Wednesday|publisher=Desert Island Books|isbn=1-874287-17-1}}</ref> while the 1871 "Rules of the Sheffield Football Association" listed the Wednesday club colours as blue and white hoops.<ref name="Football in Sheffield" /> A quartered blue and white design was used in 1887 and a blue shirt with white sleeves between 1965 and 1973.<ref name="Club Colours">{{cite book|last=Bickerton|first=Bob|year=1998|title=Club Colours|publisher=Hamlyn|isbn=0-600-59542-0}}</ref> 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.
[[Image:SWFC_1970s.jpg|left|thumb|125px|The minimalist crest]]
 
===Crest===
The crest was changed in 1970 to a minimalist version that shows a stylised owl with a large round head and eyes perched on the letters ''S.W.F.C.'' Various different colours were used on this badge, regularly changing with the kit design. The predominant colours however were black and yellow. This version remained in use throughout the 1970s and 1980s before being replaced in 1995.<ref name="badge">{{cite web|title=The Club Crest|publisher=A. Drake|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~a.drake/owls/misc/badge.htm|accessdate=2006-09-11 }}</ref>
Since 1912, the owl has become a theme that has run throughout the club. The original club crest was introduced in 1956<ref name = "crest"/> and consisted of a shield showing a traditionally drawn owl perched on a branch. The [[White Rose of York]]<ref name="olderbadge">{{cite web|title=1962 – Football Clubs and Badges card Sheffield Wednesday |publisher=Mike Duggan |url=http://mikeduggan.tripod.com/otheritems/trade/country/ocgreatbritain.html |access-date=17 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227170515/http://mikeduggan.tripod.com/otheritems/trade/country/ocgreatbritain.html |archive-date=27 December 2007 }}</ref> was depicted below the branch alluding to the home county of [[Yorkshire]] and the [[wikt:sheaf|sheaves]] of Sheffield ''(Sheaf field)'' were shown at either side of the owl's head. The club's [[Latin]] motto, ''Consilio et Animis'', was displayed beneath the shield.<ref name = "crest"/> This translates into English as "''By Wisdom and Courage''".<ref name="motto">{{cite web|title=Facts and Figures |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday official website |url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoricalStatistics/0,,10304~390134,00.html |access-date=6 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417084026/http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoricalStatistics/0%2C%2C10304~390134%2C00.html |archive-date=17 April 2008 }}</ref>
 
The new crest revertedwas 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 stylised ''SWFC'' logo that had been in use on club merchandise for several years prior to the introduction of the new crest. The [[Yorkshire Rose]] was moved to above the owl's head to make way for the words ''Sheffield Wednesday''. The word ''Hillsborough'' was 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 colourationcolours, including a white crest with blue stripes down either side and the colouring of the detail inverted. Most recently the shield shape has remained but the detailed owl logo has been replaced, yet again, by the minimalist version, echoing the badge's course of history in the 70s. The most recent change was the addition of a copyright symbol in 2002.<ref name="crestbadge">{{cite web|title=footballcrestsThe Club Crest|publisher=A.com Drake|url=http://www.footballcrestsbtinternet.com/sheffieldwednesdayfc~a.drake/owls/misc/badge.htm | url-status=dead |access-date=[[2711 November]]September 2006 [[2003]]|accessdatearchive-url=2006https://web.archive.org/web/20121018045258/http://www.btinternet.com/~a.drake/owls/misc/badge.htm | archive-08-19date=18 October 2012}}</ref>
 
In 1999, the minimalist version was brought back, albeit inside a crest, and with the addition of a [[copyright symbol]] in 2002.<ref name="crest">{{cite web|url=http://www.footballcrests.com/clubs/sheffield-wednesday-fc |title=Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Crest & Club History |publisher=Footballcrests.com |date=27 November 2003 |access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref> In 2016, new owner Dejphon Chansiri again changed the club crest, opting for a similar design to the 1956 badge.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
==Honours==
 
{| class="wikitable"
<gallery>
! Honour !! Year(s)
File:SWFC pre-1970.png|{{center|1956–1973}}
File:SWFC1972logo.png|{{center|1973–1995}}
File:SWFC early-90s.png|{{center|1995–1999}}
File:Sheffield Wednesday.svg|{{center|1999–2016}}
File:SheffieldWednesday2016logo.png|{{center|2016–present}}
</gallery>
 
===Mascots===
[[File:Ozzieowl.jpg|thumb|right|Ozzie Owl, the primary club mascot]]
Over the years Sheffield Wednesday have had several [[Owl]]-themed matchday [[mascot]]s. Originally it was Ozzie the Owl and later two further Owls, Baz & Ollie, were added.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} All three were replaced in 2006 by Barney Owl. Ozzie Owl was reintroduced as Wednesday's main mascot during the home game with Charlton Athletic on 17 January 2009.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} 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|date=July 2022}}
 
==Stadium==
 
===Past stadiums===
Originally, Wednesday played matches at [[Highfield (stadium)|Highfield]], but moved several times before adopting a permanent ground. Other locations included [[Myrtle Road]], [[Heeley]] and [[Hunter's Bar]]. Major matches were played at [[Sheaf House]] or [[Bramall Lane]], before [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] made it their home ground.<ref name="Wednesday!" /> Sheffield Wednesday's first permanent home ground was at [[Olive Grove]], a site near Queen's Road originally leased from the [[Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk|Duke of Norfolk]]. The first game at Olive Grove was a 4–4 draw with [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] on 12 September 1887.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Extensions to the adjacent railway forced the club to move to their current ground in 1899.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
 
===Hillsborough Stadium===
Since 1899 Wednesday have played their home games at [[Hillsborough Stadium]] in the [[Owlerton]] district of Sheffield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/Hillsborough/0,,10304~1024984,00.html |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday F.C. |title= Hillsborough |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306231829/http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/Hillsborough/0%2C%2C10304~1024984%2C00.html |archive-date=6 March 2009 }}</ref> The stadium was originally named Owlerton Stadium but in 1914 Owlerton became part of the parliamentary constituency of [[Sheffield Hillsborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Hillsborough]] and the ground took on its current name.<ref name="About_Hillsborough">{{cite web|title=Hillsborough Stadium – About Hillsborough |url=http://www.swfc.co.uk/club/hillsborough_stadium/|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday Football Club|date=26 June 2012|access-date=9 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319052922/http://www.swfc.co.uk/club/hillsborough_stadium/|archive-date=19 March 2015}}</ref> With 39,732 seats,<ref>{{cite web |title=Hillsborough Stadium |url=https://www.stadiumguide.com/hillsborough/ |website=The Stadium Guide |publisher=Stadiumguide |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref> Hillsborough has the [[List of stadiums in England|12th highest]] capacity 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.<ref name="swfc">[http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1759975,00.html Hillsborough – a vision of the future] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720130632/http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10304~1759975%2C00.html |date=20 July 2011 }}</ref>
 
The stadium has hosted [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] football in [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], the [[UEFA Euro 1996|1996 European Championships]] and 27 [[FA Cup]] semi-finals. The Kop at Hillsborough was re-opened in 1986 by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and was once the largest covered stand of any football stadium in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=The ASD Lighting Kop |url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Hillsborough/0,,10304~1032653,00.html |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday Football Club |access-date=18 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808114603/http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Hillsborough/0%2C%2C10304~1032653%2C00.html |archive-date=8 August 2008 }}</ref>
 
On 15 April 1989, at an FA Cup semi-final between [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham 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 the [[Hillsborough disaster]]. The following report concluded that the root cause of the disaster was the failure of local police to adequately manage the crowds.<ref name="Hillsborough justice">{{cite web|title=The Hillsborough Football Disaster|publisher=Hillsborough Justice Campaign|url=http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough/history/index.shtm|access-date=11 September 2006}}</ref><ref name="Hillsborough HSE">{{cite web|title=Information relating to the Hillsborough Stadium incident 15 April 1989|publisher=Health & Safety Executive|url=http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/releases/hillsborough.htm|access-date=11 September 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/28/hillsborough-six-people-including-two-senior-police-officers-charged |title=Hillsborough disaster: six people, including David Duckenfield, charged |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 June 2017 |first=David|last= Conn |access-date= 28 June 2017}}</ref>
 
{{wide image|Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield - geograph.org.uk - 2024092.jpg|900px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Hillsborough Stadium in 2009}}
 
==Supporters==
[[File:SheffieldWednesdayFans.jpg|thumb|Wednesday fans at Hillsborough in 2015]]
The club's move to [[Owlerton]] in 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|date=July 2022}} 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|date=July 2022}} 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|date=July 2022}}
 
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.<ref name="2005–2006 Attendances">{{cite news|title=Best Supporters|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday official website|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~832378,00.html|date=23 May 2006|access-date=6 October 2008}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="2003-2004 Division 2 Attendances">{{cite web|title=2003–2004 Division Two average attendances|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday Football Club|url=http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10304~200325,00.html|access-date=8 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="2004-2005 League 1 Attendances">{{cite web|title=2004–2005 League 1 average attendances|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday Football Club|url=http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10304~200425,00.html|access-date=8 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
At the [[2005 Football League One play-off final|2005 play-off final]], Wednesday took over 39,000 fans to the [[Millennium Stadium]].<ref name="Sturrock salutes fans">{{cite news|title=Sturrock salutes fans|work=BBC News|date=29 May 2005|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/4589659.stm|access-date=18 August 2006}}</ref> In 2016, Sheffield Wednesday took over 38,000 fans to Wembley for a play-off final defeat by Hull City.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The Owls have managed to average 30,000 at home in the last 60 years.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} 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|date=July 2022}}
 
Sheffield Wednesday have had a large variety of [[fanzine]]s over the years; examples include ''Just Another Wednesday'', ''Out of the Blue'', ''Spitting Feathers'', ''Boddle'', ''A View From The East Bank'', ''Cheat!'' and ''[[War of the Monster Trucks]]'', which acquired its name from the programme that [[Yorkshire Television]] elected to show instead of the celebrations after the [[1991 Football League Cup final|1991 League Cup]] victory over Manchester United.<ref name="About WOTMT">{{cite news|title=About War of the Monster Trucks|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/nov/20/footballfanzines.sport4|date=20 November 2001|access-date=6 October 2008 | ___location=London}}</ref>
 
There are several online message boards dedicated to discussions on the club, including ''Owlstalk'', ''OwlsOnline'' and ''OwlsMad''.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
 
==Rivalry==
[[File:WednesdayUnited2012.jpg|thumb|Wednesday vs United just before the 2012 league fixture at Hillsborough. Wednesday won 1–0 and went on to pip their rivals to promotion]]
Sheffield Wednesday's main rivals are city neighbours [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2288869/football-rivals-the-census |title=FOOTBALL RIVALS: THE CENSUS |author=Patrick Goss |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref> Matches between these two clubs are nicknamed [[Steel City derby|Steel City derbies]], so called because of the steel industry for which the city is famous.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.co.uk/shows/forged-in-fire/articles/a-history-of-the-steel-city|title=Sheffield: A history of the 'Steel City'|publisher=Sky History|access-date=7 December 2024}}</ref>
 
United were formed in 1889 by the committee at [[Bramall Lane]], who had lost their biggest source of income – Wednesday – two years earlier over a dispute concerning pitch rent.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} As well as playing at Wednesday's former ground, United also took Wednesday's former nickname, the Blades, as their own.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The first derby game took place on 15 December 1890, with Wednesday winning 2–1 at [[Olive Grove]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/day-sheffield-wednesday-victorious-first-22465569 |title=On this day: Sheffield Wednesday victorious in the first ever Steel City derby |author=Joshua Hobbs |publisher=Examiner Live |date=15 December 2021 |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref>
 
The 1993 [[FA Cup]] semi-final match which took place at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] on 3 April 1993. Initially, it was announced that the match was scheduled to take place at [[Elland Road]] but this was met with dismay by both sets of fans.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} After a re-think, [[the Football Association]] decided to switch venue to Wembley.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} A crowd of 75,365 supporters made the trip to London to watch Wednesday beat United 2–1 after extra time.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
 
A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that, as well as [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]], Wednesday fans consider fellow-[[Yorkshire]] sides [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] and [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] as rivals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.givemesport.com/1500300-the-top-five-rivals-of-english-footballs-top-92-clubs-revealed |title=The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs revealed |last=Swan |first=Rob |publisher=GiveMeSport |date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
 
==European record==
{{Main article|Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in European football}}
 
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Season
| [[Cromwell Cup]] Winners || [[1860s in football (soccer)|1868]]
! Competition
! Round
! Opponent
! Home
! Away
! Aggregate
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[1961–62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1961–62]]
| [[Football Alliance]] Champions || [[1890 in football (soccer)|1890]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]''<br> <small>(UEFA Europa League) </small>''
|Last 32
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
|5–2
|2–4
|7–6
|-
|Last 16
| [[FA Cup]] Winners || [[1896 in football (soccer)|1896]], [[1907 in football (soccer)|1907]], [[1935 in football (soccer)|1935]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]
|4–0
|0–1
|4–1
|-
|Quarter-final
| [[Football League Second Division]] Champions || [[1900 in football (soccer)|1900]], [[1926 in football (soccer)|1926]], [[1952 in football (soccer)|1952]], [[1956 in football (soccer)|1956]], [[1959 in football (soccer)|1959]]
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|3–2
|0–2
|3–4
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1963–64]]
| [[Football League First Division]] Champions || [[1903 in football (soccer)|1903]], [[1904 in football (soccer)|1904]], [[1929 in football (soccer)|1929]], [[1930 in football (soccer)|1930]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]<br> ''<small>(UEFA Europa League) </small>''
|First round
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[VV DOS|DOS]]
|4–1
|4–1
|8–2
|-
|Second round
| [[Sheriff of London Charity Shield]] || [[1905 in football (soccer)|1905]]
|{{flagicon|GER}} [[FC Köln|Köln]]
|1–2
|2–3
|3–5
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[1986–87 UEFA Cup|1986–87]]
| [[FA Charity Shield]] || [[1935 in football (soccer)|1935]]
|rowspan="1"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]''<br> <small>(UEFA Europa League) </small>''
|colspan="5"|As 5th place in [[Football League First Division|First Division]]/[[Premier League]]. English clubs banned from competition <br> <small>''(See [[Heysel Stadium disaster]])''</small>
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[1991–92 UEFA Cup|1991–92]]
| [[Football League Cup]] Winners || [[1991 in football (soccer)|1991]]
|rowspan="1"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]''<br> <small>(UEFA Europa League) </small>''
|colspan="5"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]] Winners. English clubs banned from competition <br> <small>''(See [[Heysel Stadium disaster]])''</small>
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[1992–93 UEFA Cup|1992–93]]
| [[Football League One]] Play-off Winners || [[2005 in football (soccer)|2005]]
|rowspan="2"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]''<br> <small>(UEFA Europa League) </small>''
|First round
|{{flagicon|LUX}} [[CA Spora Luxembourg|Spora Luxembourg]]
|8–1
|2–1
|10–2
|-
|Second round
|{{flagicon|GER}} [[FC Kaiserslautern|Kaiserslautern]]
|2–2
|1–3
|3–5
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup|1995–96]]
|rowspan="4"|[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]
|rowspan="4"|Group stage
|{{flagicon|SWI}} [[FC Basel]]
|{{n/a}}
|0–1
|{{n/a}}
|-
|{{flagicon|POL}} [[Górnik Zabrze]]
|3–2
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Karlsruher SC]]
|{{n/a}}
|1–1
|{{n/a}}
|-
|{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Aarhus Gymnastikforening|AGF Aarhus]]
|3–1
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|}
 
==ManagersFormer players and playersmanagers==
{{See also|Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Player of the Year}}
 
===Former players===
A list of former players can be found at ''[[List of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players]]''.
 
===Notable managers===
''As of [[15 August]] [[2006]].<ref>{{cite web|title=SoccerBase|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/manager_history.sd?teamid=2330}}</ref></small> Only managers with over 200 games in charge are included. For the complete list see [[List of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. staffmanagers]].''
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Line 172 ⟶ 359:
|-
| [[Arthur Dickinson]]
| {{flagiconFlagicon|England}}
| [[1 August]] [[1891]]
| [[31 May]] [[1920]]
| 919
| 393
Line 180 ⟶ 367:
| 188
| 42.27%
|-
| [[BobRobert Brown (footballerfootball manager)|BobRobert Brown]]
| {{flagiconFlagicon|England}}
| [[1 June]] [[1920]]
| [[1 December]] [[1933]]
| 600
| 266
Line 190 ⟶ 377:
| 135
| 44.33%
|-
| [[Eric Taylor (football manager)|Eric Taylor]]
| {{flagiconFlagicon|England}}
| [[1 April]] [[1942]]
| [[31 July]] [[1958]]
| 539
| 196
| 215
| 128
Line 202 ⟶ 389:
|-
| [[Jack Charlton]]
| {{flagiconFlagicon|England}}
| [[8 October]] [[1977]]
| [[27 May]] [[1983]]
| 269
| 105
| 77
| 87
| 39.03%
|-
| [[Howard Wilkinson]]
| {{flagiconFlagicon|England}}
| [[24 June]] [[1983]]
| [[10 October]] [[1988]]
| 255
| 114
| 73
| 68
| 44.70%
|-
| [[Trevor Francis]]
| {{flagiconFlagicon|England}}
| [[7 June]] [[1991]]
| [[20 May]] [[1995]]
| 214
| 88
| 58
Line 232 ⟶ 419:
|}
 
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|date=July 2022}}
===Current first-team squad===
 
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|date=July 2022}}
 
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|date=July 2022}}
 
Charlton took Wednesday out of the Third Division in 1980 and in his final season ([[1982–83 in English football|1982–83]]) he took them to the semi-finals of the [[FA Cup]].{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
 
Wilkinson succeeded Charlton in the summer of 1983 and was in charge for more than five years before he moved to [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]]. His first season saw Wednesday gain promotion to the First Division after a 14-year exile.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} He guided them to a fifth-place finish in 1986, but Wednesday were unable to compete in the 1986–87 [[UEFA Cup]] due to the ban on English teams in European competitions due to the [[Heysel Disaster]] of 1985.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
 
Under [[Ron Atkinson]], Wednesday won the League Cup and promotion to the First Division before departing for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in July 1991.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/95703.stm |title=Owls show Big Ron the door |publisher=BBC News |date=17 May 1998 |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> [[Trevor Francis]] was appointed as player-manager and guided them to third place in the league in 1992, and earned them a [[UEFA Cup]] place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/trevor-francis-first-million-pound-footballer-b2380929.html |title=Trevor Francis: The 'Super Boy' who became Britain's first £1m player |author=Andy Hampson |work=The Independent |date=25 July 2023 |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="TFrancis">{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-never-recovered-since-1995-sacking-of-trevor-francis-2857365 |title=Sheffield Wednesday never recovered since 1995 sacking of Trevor Francis |author=Leon Wobschall |publisher=Yorkshire Post |date=19 May 2020 |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-furore-follows-hirst-s-red-card-derek-hodgson-hears-sheffield-wednesday-s-list-of-grievances-after-a-defeat-in-the-uefa-cup-in-germany-1558822.html |title=Football: Furore follows Hirst's red card: Derek Hodgson hears Sheffield Wednesday's list of grievances after a defeat in the Uefa Cup in Germany |author=Derek Hodgson |work=The Independent |date=21 October 1992 |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> They finished seventh in the [[1992–93 FA Premier League|inaugural]] [[Premier League]] season and were runners-up of the [[FA Cup]] and League Cup that year.<ref name="TFrancis"/> He was sacked in 1995 after Wednesday finished 13th – their lowest standing in four years since winning promotion.<ref name="TFrancis"/>
 
==Players==
===First team squad===
{{updated|1 September 2025}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/teams |title=First team profiles |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday FC |access-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>
 
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=1|nat=NIR|pos=GK|name=[[Pierce Charles]]}}
<!-- For help using the below template, please see [[Template talk:Football squad player]] -->
{{fs player| no=2 | nat=Scotland SCO| pos=DF | name=[[LeeLiam Bullen]] | other=[[captain (football)|captainPalmer]]}} {{fs player| no=3 | nat=Wales | pos=DF | name=[[Peter Gilbert]]}}
{{fs player| no=4 3| nat=England ENG| pos=MF DF| name=[[KennyMax LuntLowe]] }}
{{fs player| no=5 4| nat=Ireland ZIM| pos=DF MF| name=[[GrahamSean CoughlanFusire]] }}
{{fs player| no=6 5| nat=Ireland JAM| pos=MF DF| name=[[GlennDi'Shon WhelanBernard]] }}
{{fs player| no=7 6| nat=England ENG| pos=FW DF| name=[[MarcusDominic TudgayIorfa (footballer, born 1995)|Dominic Iorfa]] }}
{{fs player| no= 8 7| nat=South Africa TUN| pos=MF DF| name=[[BurtonYan O'BrienValery]] }}
{{fs player| no= 9 8| nat=Scotland SWE| pos=FW MF| name=[[Svante Steven MacLeanIngelsson]] }}
{{fs player| no=10 9| nat=Jamaica JAM| pos=FW MF| name=[[DeonJamal BurtonLowe]] }}
{{fs player| no=11 10| nat=Northern Ireland SCO| pos=MF | name=[[ChrisBarry BruntBannan]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{fs player| no=15 11| nat=England CAN| pos=MF FW| name=[[WadeIké SmallUgbo]] }}
{{fs player| no=16 14| nat=England ENG| pos=DF MF| name=[[RichardNathaniel Wood (footballer)|Richard WoodChalobah]] }}
{{fs player| no=18 17| nat=England ENG| pos=FW | name=[[LeonCharlie ClarkeMcNeill (footballer)|LeonCharlie ClarkeMcNeill]]}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Bailey Cadamarteri]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player| no=20 19| nat=United States POL| pos=DF FW| name=[[FrankOlaf SimekKobacki]] }}
{{fs player| no=23 20| nat=Jamaica ENG| pos=MF | name= [[JermaineRio JohnsonShipston]]}}
{{fs player| no=24 22| nat=England IRL| pos=DF | name=[[MarkGabriel BeeversOtegbayo]] }}
{{fs player| no=25 23| nat=Norway BRA| pos=MF DF| name=[[RockyGuilherme LekajSiqueira (footballer, born 2004)|Gui Siqueira]] }}
{{fs player| no=27 24| nat=England USA| pos=MF GK| name=[[LukeEthan BodenHorvath]]|other=on loan from [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]}}
{{fs player| no=28 25| nat=Northern Ireland WAL| pos=MF GK| name=[[Dave McClements]]Logan Stretch}}
{{fs player| no=29 27| nat=England ENG| pos=GK DF| name=[[RichardReece O'DonnellJohnson]] }}
{{fs player| no=30 | nat=Scotland ENG| pos=FW DF| name=[[DavidErnie Graham (footballer)|David GrahamWeaver]] }}
{{fs player| no=31 32| nat=France ENG| pos=MF DF| name=[[YoannJoe FollyEmery]] }}
{{fs player| no=32 34| nat=England IRL| pos=DF GK| name=[[TommyKillian SpurrBarrett]] }}
{{fs player| no=33 35| nat=England ENG| pos=MF GK| name=[[Sean McAllister]]Jack Phillips}}
{{fs player| no=34 36| nat=England POR| pos=MF | name=[[MatthewBruno BowmanFernandes (footballer, born 2006)|Bruno Fernandes]] }}
{{fs player| no=35 37| nat=Northern Ireland ENG| pos=MF | name=[[Liam McMenamin]]Jarvis Thornton}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Harry Amass]]|other=on loan from [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]}}
{{fs end}}
<!--====Out on loan====
{{fs start}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs end}}-->
 
==Records=Academy===
{{mainMain article|Sheffield Wednesday F.C. recordsAcademy}}
 
==First team staff==
[[Image:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. league position.png|300px|thumb|Historical league position (the four bars represent the four tiers of the Football League)]]
{{updated|7 August 2025}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/teams |title=First team profiles |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday FC |access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref>
{|class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Role
! style="background:silver;"|Name
|-
|Manager
|{{Flagicon|DEN}} [[Henrik Pedersen (football manager)|Henrik Pedersen]]
|-
|First Team Set Piece Analyst
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Ben King
|-
|First Team Coach
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Andy Parslow
|-
|Head Physio
|{{Flagicon|POR}} Antonio Quintela
|-
|Club Doctor
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Taaha Nadeem
|-
|First Team Physiotherapists
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Dean Taylor<br/>{{Flagicon|ENG}} Paul Teather
|-
|First Team Masseur
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Ben Parker
|-
|Head of Sports Science
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Rob Lee
|-
|First Team Sports Scientist
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Chris Brealey
|-
|Strength and Conditioning Coach
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Ryan McMahon
|-
|Soft Tissue Therapist
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Dominic Millward
|-
|First Team Performance Analyst
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Richard Stirrup
|-
|Head Kitman
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Ash Holland
|}
 
==Chairman and directors==
Wednesday's biggest recorded win was a 12-0 victory over [[Halliwell F.C.|Halliwell]] in the first round of the [[FA Cup]] on [[17 January]] [[1891]]. The biggest league biggest win was against [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] in [[Football League First Division|Division 1]] on [[13 December]] [[1930]]; Wednesday won 9-1. Both of these wins occurred at home.
{{updated|16 October 2023}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/club/club-contacts |title=Key Club Staff |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday FC |access-date=8 July 2025}}</ref>
{|class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Role
! style="background:silver;"|Name
|-
|Chairman||[[Dejphon Chansiri]]
|-
|Finance director||John Redgate
|}
 
==Records and statistics==
The heaviest defeat was away from home against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in a Division 1 match on [[5 October]] [[1912]] which Wednesday lost 10-0.
{{Main article|Sheffield Wednesday F.C. records}}
[[File:SheffieldWednesdayFC League Performance.svg|thumb|Historical league position since 1892–93]]
 
Wednesday's biggest recorded win was a 12–0 home victory over [[Halliwell F.C.|Halliwell]] in the first round of the [[FA Cup]] on 18 January 1891.<ref>{{cite book|first=Percy A.|last=Young|title=Football in Sheffield|publisher=Stanley Paul|year=1962|pages=193–207}}</ref> The biggest league win was a 9–1 victory at home to [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham]] in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] on 13 December 1930.<ref name="Historical Statistics">{{cite web|title=Historical Statistics|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2012/march/club-records/|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday|accessdate=21 May 2018}}</ref> Wednesday's heaviest defeat was a 10–0 defeat at [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in a First Division match on 5 October 1912.<ref name="Historical Statistics" />
The most goals scored by the club in a season was the 106 scored in the [[1958-59 in English football|1958-59 season]]. The club also accumulated their highest league points total in the same season when they racked up 88 points.
 
The most goals scored by the club in a season was the 106 scored in the [[1958–59 in English football|1958–59 season]].<ref name="Historical Statistics" /> The club accumulated their highest league points total in the [[2022–23 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2022–23]] season when they racked up 96 points.<ref name="Historical Statistics" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/may/12/peterborough-sheffield-wednesday-league-one-playoff-semi-final-first-leg-report |title=Peterborough on verge of playoff final after thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday |work=The Guardian |date=12 May 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref> The highest home attendance was in the [[1933–34 FA Cup|FA Cup]] fifth round on 17 February 1934. A total of 72,841 turned up to see a 2–2 draw with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Keith|last=Farnsworth|title=Wednesday!|publisher=Sheffield City Libraries|year=1983|page=124}}</ref> The most-[[cap (sport)|capped]] Englishman to play for the club was goalkeeper [[Ron Springett]], who won 33 caps while at Sheffield Wednesday.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Springett also held the overall record for most-capped Sheffield Wednesday player until [[Nigel Worthington]] broke the record, eventually gaining a total of 50 caps for [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] whilst at the club.<ref>{{cite web|title=SWFC Legends T-Z|publisher=swfc.co.uk|url=http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StattoDetail/0,,10304~390120,00.html|accessdate=17 September 2006 }}</ref>
The highest home attendance was in the FA Cup fifth round on [[17 February]] [[1934]]. A total of 72,841 turned up to see a 2-2 draw with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Unfortunately for Wednesday, they went on to lose the replay 2-0.
 
The fastest sending off in British league football is held by Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper [[Kevin Pressman]] – who was sent off after just 13 seconds for handling a shot from Wolverhampton Wanderers's [[Temuri Ketsbaia]] outside the area during the opening weekend of 2000.<ref name="fastest send-lff">{{cite news|title=Pressman sent for earliest ever bath |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/878745.stm |date=13 August 2000|access-date=27 October 2008}}</ref> The fastest shot ever recorded in the [[Premier League]] was hit by David Hirst against Arsenal at Highbury in September 1996 – Hirst hit the bar with a shot clocked at {{cvt|114|mph|km/h m/s}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/14/theknowledge.sport |title=The hardest recorded shot in football - ever |work=The Guardian |date=14 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref>
The most capped Englishman to play for the club was [[Ron Springett]] who won 33 caps while at Sheffield Wednesday. Springett also held the overall record for most capped Sheffield Wednesday player until [[Nigel Worthington]] broke the record, eventually gaining a total of 50 caps for [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] whilst at the club.
 
==Honours==
Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2012/march/league-and-cup-record/ |title=League and cup record |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday |date=29 March 2012 |access-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="2023pof"/>
 
'''League'''
*[[Football League First Division|First Division]] (level 1)
**Champions: [[1902–03 Football League|1902–03]], [[1903–04 Football League|1903–04]], [[1928–29 Football League|1928–29]], [[1929–30 Football League|1929–30]]
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] (level 2)
**Champions: [[1899–1900 Football League|1899–1900]], [[1925–26 Football League|1925–26]], [[1951–52 Football League|1951–52]], [[1955–56 Football League|1955–56]], [[1958–59 Football League|1958–59]]
**Runners-up: [[1949–50 Football League|1949–50]], [[1983–84 Football League|1983–84]]
**Promoted: [[1990–91 Football League|1990–91]]
*[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[EFL League One|League One]] (level 3)
**Runners-up: [[2011–12 Football League One|2011–12]]
**Promoted: [[1979–80 Football League|1979–80]]
**Play-off winners: [[2005 Football League One play-off final|2005]], [[2023 EFL League One play-off final|2023]]
*[[Football Alliance]]
**Champions: [[1889–90 Football Alliance|1889–90]]
 
'''Cup'''
*[[FA Cup]]
**Winners: [[1895–96 FA Cup|1895–96]], [[1906–07 FA Cup|1906–07]], [[1934–35 FA Cup|1934–35]]
**Runners-up: [[1889–90 FA Cup|1889–90]], [[1965–66 FA Cup|1965–66]], [[1992–93 FA Cup|1992–93]]
*[[Football League Cup]]
**Winners: [[1990–91 Football League Cup|1990–91]]
**Runners-up: [[1992–93 Football League Cup|1992–93]]
*[[FA Charity Shield]]
**Winners: [[1935 FA Charity Shield|1935]]
**Runners-up: [[1930 FA Charity Shield|1930]]
 
==Notes==
 
{{Notelist}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<div class="references-small" style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>
 
==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=Flying with the Owls Crime Squad|first1=Paul|last1=Allen|first2=Douglas |last2=Naylor|isbn=1-84454-093-6|year=2005|publisher=John Blake|___location=London}}
*{{cite book|title=Blue-and-white-wizards: The Sheffield Wednesday Dream Team|first=Daniel|last=Gordon|id=ISBN 1-84018-680-1}}
* {{cite book|title=Jackie Robinson Story, The|first1=Eric|last1=Brodie|first2=Allan |last2=Troilett|publisher=Pickard Communication |isbn=0-9547264-2-1}}
*{{cite book|title=Dooley!: The Autobiography of a Soccer Legend|first=Derek|last=Dooley|coauthors=Keith Farnsworth|id=ISBN 1-874718-59-8}}
* {{cite book|title=One Hundred Years at Hillsborough, 2nd September 1899–1999|first=Jason|last=Dickinson|isbn=1-874718-29-6|year=1999|publisher=Hallamshire Press in association with Sheffield Wednesday Football Club|___location=Sheffield}}
*{{cite book|title=Flying with the Owls Crime Squad|first=Paul|last=Allen|coauthors=Douglas Naylor|id=ISBN 1-84454-093-6}}
* {{cite book|title=Dooley!: The Autobiography of a Soccer Legend|first1=Derek|last1=Dooley|first2=Keith|last2= Farnsworth|isbn=1-874718-59-8|year=2000|publisher=Hallamshire|___location=Sheffield}}
*{{cite book|title=Hillsborough Encyclopaedia, The: A-Z of Sheffield Wednesday|first=Dean|last=Hayes|id=ISBN 1-85158-960-0}}
* {{cite book|title=JackieSheffield RobinsonWednesday StoryFootball Club: A Complete Record, The1867–1987|first=EricKeith|last=BrodieFarnsworth|coauthorsisbn=Allan Troilett|id=ISBN 0-9547264907969-225-19|year=1987|publisher=Breedon|___location=Derby}}
* {{cite book|title=OneWednesday: HundredEvery YearsDay atof Hillsborough,the 2ndWeek September 1899-1999An Oral History of the Owls|first=JasonKeith|last=DickinsonFarnsworth|idisbn=ISBN 1-87471885983-29131-61|year=1998|publisher=Breedon Books|___location=Derby}}
* {{cite book|title=I Hate Football – A Sheffield Wednesday 1867-1967Fan's Memoir|first=NickJohn|last=JohnsonFirth|idisbn=ISBN 0978-75241-2720907219-202-3|year=2009|publisher=Peakpublish|___location=Derbyshire}}
* {{cite book|title=Sheffield Wednesday Football ClubBlue-and-white-wizards: AThe CompleteSheffield Record,Wednesday 1867-1987Dream Team|first=KeithDaniel|last=FarnsworthGordon|idisbn=ISBN 01-90796984018-25680-91|year=2002|publisher=Mainstream|___location=Edinburgh}}
* {{cite book|title=SheffieldHillsborough WednesdayEncyclopaedia, HeadThe: toA–Z Headof Sheffield Wednesday|first=PeterDean|last=WaringHayes|idisbn=ISBN 1-8598385158-417960-50|year=1997|publisher=Mainstream Pub.|___location=Edinburgh}}
* {{cite book|title=Sheffield Wednesday, Illustrating the Greats1867–1967|first=MichaelNick|last=LiversidgeJohnson|coauthorsisbn=Gary Mackender|id=ISBN 0-95472647524-52720-62|date=December 2003|publisher=History Press Limited }}
* {{cite book|title=Sheffield Wednesday:, Every Day ofIllustrating the Week - An Oral History of theGreats|first1=Michael|last1=Liversidge|first2=Gary Owls|firstlast2=KeithMackender|lastpublisher=FarnsworthPickard Communication |idisbn=ISBN 10-859839547264-1315-16}}
* {{cite book|title=Sheffield Wednesday Head to Head|first=Peter|last=Waring|isbn=1-85983-417-5|year=2004|publisher=Breedon|___location=Derby}}
 
==External links==
{{Portal bar|English football|Yorkshire}}
*[http://www.swfc.co.uk Official site]
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Sheffield Wednesday FC.ogg|date=2007-07-08}}
*{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=s/sheff_wed}}
* {{official website|https://www.swfc.co.uk/}}
*[http://swfc.info SWFC.info (Latest Sheffield Wednesday news from around the web)]
* [http://www.owlstalk.co.uk Owlstalk] – Sheffield Wednesday news
* {{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=sheffield-wednesday}}
* [http://www.answers-to-questions.info/England-Football-Play-Offs.aspx?team=Sheffield-Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday play-off record]
* {{Commons category-inline|Sheffield Wednesday F.C.}}
 
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{{Sheffield Wednesday F.C.}}
{{Football League Championship}}
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{{EnglishPremier Division OneLeague}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA}}
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{{featured article}}
 
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