By Simon Wright – Follow
me on Twitter @Siwri88
October’s
edition of ‘My Club’ sees me drop out of the Premier League and into the lower
divisions for the first time. ‘My Club’ is a monthly feature where I ask a set
of questions to a supporter about why they support the team in the football
world that they do.
This month, I
chat to Laura Jones about the highs and lows of following Sheffield Wednesday.
Laura was a colleague alongside me during the days of Total Football Magazine’s
existence and is a keen blogger too. In this interview, she shares her views on
Dave Jones’s management of the club, the impact of Financial Fair Play and why
Andy Linighan isn’t fondly remembered by Owls supporters.
1. What are your first memories of
watching football?
My first real
memories of watching football were in the late 1980s and early 1990s when Ron
Atkinson took over at Hillsborough (pictured). 1989-1993 were pivotal years and have
shaped my fascination for football from winning the League Cup in 1991,
watching Italia 90 on TV and seeing the devastating effect of the Hillsborough
disaster. For me, the first few years of watching football were very emotional
and that’s what has stuck.
2. When did you realise that Sheffield
Wednesday was the club you were going to support?
Well it was
never really a question. My entire family on both sides are massive Sheffield
Wednesday fans. My parents married in the close season, had their reception at
Hillsborough with blue and white bridesmaids, flowers, cake and the day after I
was born, I was enrolled in the Junior Owls. So I never really stood a chance
of supporting anyone else!
3. In the time you’ve followed them, who
has been your favourite Owls player?
David Hirst.
He was the ultimate striker who could score from anywhere. Strong with
frightening acceleration, he was just a joy to watch.
4. What are your highest moments
following Sheffield Wednesday and also the lowest moment?
There a few
highs; winning the League Cup in 1991 against Manchester United is one of the
best moments, there was promotion to the Championship in the play-offs of 2005
at the Millennium Stadium and beating the local rivals Sheffield United in the
FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley in 1993.
Andy Linighan
is definitely in my lowest moment. It was his last minute extra time header in
the FA Cup final replay in 1993 that won the cup at the last for Arsenal. It
meant the Owls walked away from four visits to Wembley that season without
anything to show for it and that was hard to take.
The era where
David Pleat was in charge and Dave Richards was owner was also the start of our
financial decline. Richards was later honoured with a knighthood and elected
Chairman of the FA. At least someone did well out of the club’s utter misery!
5. How many games do you go and see on
average per season?
I’m a season
ticket holder so I’m at every home match and I try to get to at least two or
three away matches a season. It’s proving more difficult since I moved to
London recently but whilst there is breath in me, I will try.
6. Would you get value for money going to
Hillsborough?
Not on this
season’s performances! It depends on what you place value on I suppose. For me,
I see family at the ground, get to exercise my vocal chords and watch live
football. It’s worth the £35 a month for me.
7. Which football sides do you see
Sheffield Wednesday get the better of?
The
Championship is far too open to say any particular team. At the moment, I’d
just be happy for Wednesday to take advantage of anyone.
8. It has been a slow start to the
Championship season for the club, as they still haven’t registered a win. Is
Dave Jones still the man for the job?
I don’t think
he is if I’m being brutally honest but I’m not sure under Financial Fair Play
if we can afford to get rid of him. Jones needs a strong coaching set-up behind
him because he doesn’t get involved with the training by all accounts. He’s
brought in equal amounts of good loan players like Stephen McPhail and Leroy
Lita but also bought some really poor players. His tactics at times are
baffling and his interviews always sound smug and self-satisfactory.
The fans just
want to know how the faults are going to be rectified, not to hear clichés
about ‘square pegs in round holes’ and how long he’s been in management for.
The problem is could we get a better manager. I’m not so sure right now.
9. There was a time where the club was
doing well in the Premier League with regular top seven finishes and decent cup
runs too – do you believe the good times will return to the city of Sheffield
in general?
Both
Wednesday and United have been saying for a long that the good times will
return. We’re the fifth largest city in England but yet we’re both languishing
at the bottom of what are in effect the second and third divisions. Investment
is all well and good, both clubs have had investment over the past few years
but as FFP develops, there are now stringent budgets. All clubs are going to
have to deal with austerity football, not just the Sheffield ones.
10. What are the Owls realistic targets in
2013-14?
I may not
want to look at the interview at the end of the season but I don’t think we
will go down. When we’ve registered the first win then we should start to
collect some points. I think realistically, we’re looking at just above the
relegation places.
11. Which of the summer arrivals has
equipped themselves well so far and who needs to improve on their current
performances?
We didn’t
really sign a lot of players in the summer. I think Stephen McPhail on loan has
been the strongest addition to the team so far. It’s nice to see a player put
his foot on the ball and distribute it intelligently. I think if we can get
Matty Fryatt fully fit and keep him until the end of the season, we might start
to have some potency infront of goal. We also need to keep hold of Chris
Kirkland but I think that might be a losing battle come the January sales.
The biggest
disappointment for me so far this season has been Michail Antonio. His
performances have been lacklustre. He has been played out of position by the
manager which hasn’t helped but he’s struggled to make any significant impact
so far.
12. What is your opinion on Milan Mandaric
and his ownership of the club?
I think with
the current performances, the chairman is getting unwarranted abuse for not
‘sticking his hand in his pocket.’ I think some fans underestimate the fact
that there wouldn’t even be a Sheffield Wednesday if he hadn’t stepped in when
he had. I think his ownership has been a great thing but he hasn’t been the
same since his court case with Harry Redknapp over alleged tax evasion in
January 2012. I truly believe that he wants to get out of football altogether
which is why we’re under yet another takeover cloud.
13. Can you explain to my readers what the
reason was behind a random Jose Semedo day last season?
Well Simon,
every club has a mascot and Jose is ours. Once in a while, you find a player
who would run through walls for your club. He may not be the most technically
gifted but whatever he does, you know he’s going to give it everything. Players
like that deserve our recognition and love and that’s why he was given his own
day last season.
14. Last question, describe why Sheffield
Wednesday is ‘Your Club’ in no more than 5/10 words?
They are part
of the family.
To read more
about Laura’s writing, check out her blog at http://yicetor.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Twitter @YICETOR
If you would
like to read my previous interviews, click on Kevin Ashburn (Sunderland) and Robert Jones (Chelsea). And if you would like to volunteer
to become the next person to be interviewed for ‘My Club,’ then get in touch
through my e-mail address on the Contact Details page, or through my Twitter
account @Siwri88.
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