irritableowlsyndrome

Sheffield Wednesday fan and podcast producer Nick Thomson has just launched his new football podcast Around the World in 90 Minutes: Searching for the Meaning of Football. Fed up and disillusioned with the financial excesses of modern football's elite, Nick is on a search to discover the real meaning behind the game we all love. Leaving the luxury boxes behind and hitting the road, travelling to hidden corners of the football world to explore the rich history, quirky fan cultures, exciting locations and untold stories of teams you’ve probably never heard of. This isn’t your typical football podcast; it’s all about finding the real meaning behind the beautiful game, one mispronounced team at a time. And where better to start than where it all began, Sheffield FC the oldest football club in the world. The first two episodes launched last week, Episode 1 close to home at Sheffield FC and Episode 2, not quite so close at Rijeka in Croatia where local team HNK Rijeka are currently unbeaten and top of the Croatian First League ahead of rivals Hajduk Split. It was my pleasure to be involved in Episode 1 and also future Episode 6 which took us to Madrid to learn more about little known (outside of Spain) LaLIga team Rayo (Spanish for "thunderbolt"!) Vallecano. The podcast is available via the links below. Please give it a whirl. I'm sure you will enjoy it. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/around-the-world-in-90-minuets/id1772650811 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5HZALrt0Crw6bHfLE0hzVw

I live in Burnley, moved there from the South East in August 2000, just after we got relegated from the Prem. At the time, my nightmare scenario was that I would eventually see Wednesday play in the league at Stanley and tomorrow the nightmare comes true. To be fair, living so close I do get to a few games at Whambley and it is the most welcoming ground for away fans that I have ever been to. Stanley may be a little club but it is well run, a real community asset and a great model for other clubs to follow. We are in for a treat tomorrow.

Fellow Owlstalkers, I have a favour to ask. As part of her university degree, a friend's daughter is researching the impact - if any - of the absence of fans at football matches over the last 12 months. How might this have affected player/team performances? Might any such impact depend on (pre-Covid) average crowd numbers, i.e. are the clubs with bigger home crowds affected more than their smaller counterparts? Is the football crowd "atmosphere" more a factor in the spectator experience rather than player/team performance? How might the events of the last 12 months affect the football industry in the longer term, i.e. will the crowds return? Any views, thoughts and opinions welcome whether relating solely to our useless team or beyond. Cheers.

Dear Mr Chansiri Thank you for your statement yesterday following the club’s relegation to League 1. You are indeed the club owner and chairman, and most certainly the person who bears responsibility for this regrettable state of affairs. You are not, however, our “leader”. And therein lies the problem. I don’t doubt that you are a good man, with the club’s best interests at heart. But you come from a part of the world where the rich are revered and afforded almost god-like status. One might forgive such folk for believing in their own superiority but that’s not how things work here in the UK. You are not the messiah. You are - with the greatest of respect we inhabitants of the UK can muster - a very naughty boy. The truth is that there is no “leader” at this football club and that is the problem. It could in theory be your good self but you are simply not up to it. It doesn’t have to be you. It could be the first team manager, a director of football, a Chief Executive. Yet such people won’t work for you because you see yourself as the leader and refuse to acknowledge that you’re not very good at it. As for your adviser Amadeu Paixao, I’m not sure what he does but the current state of affairs at the club would suggest that, whatever it is he does, he’s not very good at it either. Ultimately, every successful business - be that a football club or otherwise - reflects the ethos, capabilities and personality of the man/woman at the top. The same can be said for each failing business too. Sadly, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is a failing business. It is failing both on and off the pitch. And that is down to you. If you intend to remain as club owner and chairman for the foreseeable future, then you need to acknowledge your own shortcomings and instigate changes. And you can start by removing the “Thank You Dejphon Chansiri” banner from the back of the Kop which is both embarrassing and sadly indicative of your own sense of greatness. Despite my criticisms above, I would love it if you could turn this great ocean-going tanker of a football club around and get us back into the Championship at the first time of asking. But I have seen it all before in over 50+ years of supporting this football club and I can tell you that it won’t happen unless you put a proper off-pitch structure in place and re-engage meaningfully with a currently disconnected fan base. Yours sincerely P.S. Where’s my 2019/20 season ticket refund?

.......to save his job? Can’t see us getting much out of the next three games. The Darren Moore dead cat bounce must carry personal consequence at some stage. So how many games has he got to save his job?

"Oh what scenes here. Five minutes to go. And John Lowey. Has hit in the. Sheffield Wednesday. Equaliser". It was the one game of the five I couldn't get to. Listened to the match on the radio and also taped it. Listened to that tape so many times I can here that particular bit of commentary as if it was five minutes ago. RIP John Lowey. You made a little bit of magic that night.

Wednesday, You got me wondering?

Thanks ryeg1708. Appreciated.

I know. Why leave it unti the last minute but the sky is blue, clouds are white etc etc. Just looking for one ticket for today. Will pay cash. Can meet in Blackpool. If you can help please ring me on 07949 633604. Graeme Cook. UTO!

What have I done to deserve that?

Blinkin' predictive text!!! It should of course be "wear the shirt"

Tried this on another thread and it killed the thread stone dead so second time lucky. To the tune of the verse of Kenny Rogers' Coward of the County; Promise me son Sheffield Wednesday are the one And where the shirt with pride for all to see From the North Stand to the Kop Wednesday fans will never stop Cheering on the boys to victory This is what my daddy said to me And repeat....

Sad I know but even at the ripe old age of 55 I still get the shivers down my spine when I hear the Wednesday fans in full voice. Yes, it would be good to have our own anthem so here's my effort. I'm old enough and ugly enough to take what i'm letting myself in for. To the tune that is the verse to Kenny Rogers' "Coward of the County" (I don't think I've heard this tune sung at footie grounds before). Promise me son Wednesday are the only one And wear the badge with pride for all to see From the North Stand to the Kop Wednesday fans will never stop Cheering on the boys to victory This is what my daddy said to me and repeat........

Maybe we should splash out £700k on an injury prone striker and pay him £9k a week for three years. I hear that Franny Jeffers is available.

Spot-on post Walkley. With Wednesdayite elections coming up, anybody who feels that they can play a part in making this happen ought seriously to consider getting involved. There will be Wednesdayite board vacancies to fill and at a time when the views and actions of the fans have probably never carried so much weight - it's up to the fans as LS keeps telling us - then now is the opportunity. But would-be candidates and their proposers must be full members of Wednesdayite as at close of business on 14th May in order to participate in these elections.