“I have absolute faith in him. He made an instant, impressive impact when joining on 1 February.”


The last time The Imps played Sky Bet Championship side Sheffield Wednesday was in a pre-season friendly before the start of last season. Fernando Forestieri scored in the second half to secure a 1-0 win for The Owls, in front of a crowd of 5,846 at Sincil Bank.

This was a match I really wanted to attend because my soon to be brother-in-law supports Sheffield Wednesday, but we were on a family holiday in Cornwall when the two sides met the last pre-season. Although it doesn’t really mean anything because it is only a pre-season friendly, it would be nice to beat them!

Heading into this friendly, both sides have a 100% win record in pre-season, with The Imps beating Lincoln United 4-1, Gainsborough Trinity 3-0 and Leicester City U23s 8-0. The Owls have played one pre-season match so far, beating Shrewsbury Town 2-0 in Portugal.

Anyway, time for the Q&As. Thank you to Peter, Jermaine and Tommy for answering our questions! The answers have been published on three pages, so to get to the next set of answers, simply click “click here for the next set of answers/next page” at the bottom right of the page, or click the names just above.

First up, the answers provided by Peter:

How long have you supported Sheffield Wednesday?

All 51 years of my life.

Where did you finish last season?

Midtable mediocrity. 12th.

What do you think of your Manager?

I have absolute faith in him. He made an instant, impressive impact when joining on 1 February. Everything he has spoken of has hit a chord with Wednesday fans. We’re just hoping there isn’t anything in these links with his boyhood club Newcastle. They wouldn’t want an ex-Sunderland boss, would they?!

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2019/20 season?

Still too early to say. Worst case is probably 12th, the best case is probably Playoffs.

One(s) to watch?

Can Adam Reach monopolise the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the month contest again?! Otherwise, if his talents can be properly and consistently harnessed, Fernando Forestieri is a real difference maker

Who do you think will finish in the top 6 of the Championship?

West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham, and…Barnsley (lol, just kidding!)

Who do you think will finish in the bottom 3 of the Championship?

Barnsley, Queens Park Rangers and Charlton Athletic.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Play in the wrong colour stripes lol. Their hospitality in the pre-season game last season has clearly brought us back this season. Enjoyed my visit last summer. Over the last few seasons their rise, or should I say “return”, has been very impressive – much more than their high profile FA Cup run. Done well to keep hold of their manager in that run, unlike Luton in that respect. How far can that rise go?

What do you think the score will be?

It’s a pre-season friendly – the importance of the score is the square root of zero. Minus one. But as you’re asking, Wednesday to win 2-0.

Random fact about your Club?

Holds a third-tier attendance record that I doubt will ever be beaten, when 49,309 watched Wednesday thrash our lill’ neighbours Sheffield United on Boxing Day 1979, subsequently described as the “Boxing Day Massacre”. No doubt you’ll hear the song about it on Saturday.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

Ellis Chapman is a good young prospect who’d develop nicely in our very successful academy and u23 team.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Sheffield Wednesday Supporter?

Proudest – beating Manchester United in the 1991 League Cup final – still the last team outside the top tier to win one of the two domestic cups (open to the whole league).

Embarrassing – I wouldn’t use the adjective “embarrassing” to describe the feelings, but obviously the Hillsborough disaster casts a long shadow.

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

Traditionally that has been Kieron Lee – the most under-rated midfielder in the Championship.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

The Supporters groups were heavily involved in representing the views of the supporters when challenging previous disastrous ownership. However, when the saviour Milan Mandaric rescued us from a fate I daren’t even consider, and then subsequently sold us on to an owner who really does seem to have the club in his heart, the need for such groups diminished. Our owner is refreshingly open and consults the supporters at regular fans forums, and is (as far as is possible in business) quite accountable.

Which was your favourite match involving Sheffield Wednesday?

Can I have five spread across 40 years, please?! The aforementioned Boxing Day massacre in 1979, the 1991 League Cup final win against Man Utd, beating our lill’ neighbours Sheffield United at Wembley in the 1993 FA Cup semi-final (Waddle from 30+ yards in the first minute!), the League 1 Playoff final win against Hartlepool in Cardiff in 2005 and more up-to-date the Playoff semi-final first leg win against Brighton on 13 May 2016 – can’t remember an atmosphere in Hillsborough like that night.

Which was your least favourite match involving Sheffield Wednesday?

Wednesday 2-2 Crystal Palace, 2 May 2010 – the relegation Playoff that saw us drop miserably (but deservedly) to the third tier.

Do you have a Former Players Association at Sheffield Wednesday?

Not knowingly. However, the club really does embrace its legacy and former players.

What’s the best thing about Sheffield?

One of the best-kept secrets. To most the country Sheffield is the “grim up north” industrial city but nothing can be further from the truth. It is one of the greenest cities in Europe. Over 2 million trees within the city – more per capita than any other city. One-third of the city is within the Peak District national park and 60% is green space. There are 250 parks, woodlands and gardens, the leafy suburb of Broomhill was labelled the most beautiful in England by the poet John Betjeman.

And finally – Henderson’s Relish. If you live outside the boundaries of Sheffield, you’ll have absolutely no idea what I’m referring to. If you live in Sheffield, you’ll have a bottle on the go in your kitchen cupboards!

Wednesday’s child is full of woe?

Yes, but on match day he “works hard for his living”. THAT’S Sheffield.

As Sheffield’s 3rd team (after The Blades and Sheffield FC) do you feel that you are perennial underachievers?

Lol. Do you need me to recite the successes of the clubs? How Sheffield United’s very own “Honours Board” is so bare they actually include Cup semi-final losses (including to us)?! Football is cyclical, our lill’ neighbours are having a good time of it (after the previous 7 years in our shadow). Fair play to them – they’ve earned it recently. But that doesn’t escape the historical position of 4 top division titles, 5-second tier titles, 3 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, compared to our neighbours’ 1 top division title, 1-second tier title, 4 FA Cup wins. Now you’ve gone and triggered me! Bigger, Older, Better!

And now for the answers provided by Jermaine:

How long have you supported Sheffield Wednesday?

I’ve supported Wednesday since I was around 4 years old, I went to my first game when I was 10, a 5-2 defeat to Derby at Hillsborough. Great start!!!

Where did you finish last season?

We finished 12th in the Championship last season, a last-minute push for the playoffs in a tight division proved a step too far for us despite an awful start under our previous manager Joe Luhukay.

What do you think of your Manager?

Steve Bruce is a breath of fresh air around the club, I speak for the vast majority of the fans here in saying that we love him! We were almost ruined last season by our previous manager, he was horrendous in both tactics and team selections so Steve Bruce is like a God at Hillsborough right now.

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2019/20 season?

Hopes for the coming season, I’d say we’re hoping for promotion/playoffs. However, being realistic I’d say expectations are probably slightly lower, Bruce will be building the foundations for the future next season so it’s important we support him during the “rebuilding process” but being the magician he is in this league, who’s to say we won’t be up there.

One(s) to watch?

Steven Fletcher – Wins everything in the air and can finish.

Fernando Forestieri – Typical little flair player, great feet and can also finish.

Barry Bannan – He will command the midfield all day long, he will cover every single blade of grass at 100mph and is a general nightmare for opposition players all over the pitch.

Kadeem Harris – A summer signing, not seen him but there’s lots of hype.

Who do you think will finish in the top 6 of the Championship?

In no particular order: Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.

Who do you think will finish in the bottom 3 of the Championship?

In no particular order: Luton Town, Millwall and Barnsley.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Funnily enough, back in my playing days I almost signed for Lincoln under Keith Alexander so I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot purely because of Keith. It’s great to see the team doing so well under Danny Cowley and I do hope the rise carries on into the coming season.

What do you think the score will be?

I think the score will be 3-1 to Wednesday!

Random fact about your Club?

We originally started off as a Cricket team!!! They were aptly named The Wednesday due to Wednesday being the day they played and to stay together and keep fitness up during the winter months they created The Wednesday FC.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

The one player I’d have from Lincoln would be Bruno Andrade, he’s just got something about him. I haven’t seen too much of him but what I have seen I’ve always liked.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Sheffield Wednesday Supporter?

Being at Hillsborough on a Friday night against Brighton in the Play-Off semi 1st leg. We won 2-0, the atmosphere was electric and there was a moment in the match where thousands of fans turned on their phone lights, it was one of those moments a football fan will never ever forget.

Sheffield Wednesday 2-4 Sheffield United. That is all I’ll say on that one.

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

I’d say our most underrated player is probably Liam Palmer. He really came into his own under Steve Bruce and put in some fantastic performances last season and the fans finally started appreciating just what he’s capable of.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

Wednesdayite – They play a pivotal role at the club, they promote various schemes to bring in supporters to games who wouldn’t necessarily be able to make it if they didn’t exist, the put on Away day travel and many more services.

Which was your favourite match involving Sheffield Wednesday?

My favourite match involving Sheffield Wednesday is probably Sheff Wed v Southampton. Southampton (under George Burley) were doing quite well in the league and were 3-0 or 3-1 up for a large portion of the game. We managed to reduce their lead to 3-2 but they were so stubborn we just couldn’t break them down. We had a corner in the final minute, Chris Brunt put it in the box and of all people to get onto the ball… Mark Crossley, our veteran goalkeeper managed to beat everyone in the air for the last gasp equaliser.

Which was your least favourite match involving Sheffield Wednesday?

My least favourite match involving Wednesday is the Steel City derby, the same one as my most embarrassing moment as a fan. I’ll cut it short:

Sheff Utd 1-0 3rd minute – Oh dear
Sheff Utd 2-0 about 19 mins later – Oh dear.
Sheff Utd 2-1 45th min – Perfect time to score
Draw 2-2 after the hour – GET IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!
Sheff Utd 3-2 a minute after we equalise – Urrrgh
Sheff Utd 4-2 10 mins later – Hometime!

Do you have a Former Players Association at Sheffield Wednesday?

I’m not aware of a Sheffield Wednesday FPA.

What’s the best thing about Sheffield?

Well, I don’t actually live in Sheffield, I live in Leeds so I have to say the best thing about Sheffield is Hillsborough and anything related to Sheffield Wednesday 😉

Wednesday’s child is full of woe?

Haha, what kind of a question is that? There’s plenty of woe in football, hopefully, this coming season will see it off for a while whilst Steve Bruce is at the helm.

As Sheffield’s 3rd team (after The Blades and Sheffield FC) do you feel that you are perennial underachievers?

Ooooooohhhhhh, now now!!! That’s not very nice! Don’t get me started on Grimsby! Seriously though, as it stands we are the underachieving (professional) club of Sheffield right now and it pains me to say that “The Pigs” across the city deserve to be where they are based on their season last year but it won’t last long and under Steve Bruce I’m sure we’ve got the right man to guide us back to the promised land.

And finally, the answers provided by Tommy:

How long have you supported Sheffield Wednesday?

Ever since I was a young boy my dad used to carry me in and bought me season tickets from a young age so all my life.

Where did you finish last season?

12th just thankfully as I had a bet on top 12 when Bruce took over.

What do you think of your Manager?

Highly rate him and was thrilled we appointed him however by the time you publish this he will probably be the next Newcastle manager.

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2019/20 season?

Would have been playoffs however with the uncertainty of who will be the new manager it’s not as easy to predict.

One(s) to watch?

Fernando Forestieri on his day is just a joy to watch a special player.

Who do you think will finish in the top 6 of the Championship?

West Brom should be up there with the likes of Fulham Cardiff & Dirty Leeds but as you see every year plenty of shocks to be had in that mix-up.

Who do you think will finish in the bottom 3 of the Championship?

Blackburn Rovers & Birmingham City will have bad seasons I think maybe Queens Park Rangers as well.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Decent club on the up in recent seasons wouldn’t be opposed if we approached for your management team if Bruce goes.

What do you think the score will be?

I think we will win but you will score so maybe 2 or 3-1 to us.

Random fact about your Club?

Rivers Cuomo from the band Weezer is a fan along with Jermaine Jackson from the Jackson 5.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

Hmmm, Gilks experience backup I supposed.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Sheffield Wednesday Supporter?

Always proud.

Worst – The League One season we lost to Exeter and Stevenage 5-1 was nothing short of disgraceful two horrible trips Exeter in the snow with the bulk of motorways closed diversions galore etc. & Stevenage a midweek game we were 4 down within about 25 mins.

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

Kieran Lee, Superb player box to box gets into scoring positions great eye for a pass.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

None worth a chat about.

Which was your favourite match involving Sheffield Wednesday?

There have been a few memorable games.

Beating Leeds 6-0.

Scoring in the 90th and 96th minutes at Rotherham to come from behind to win 3-2.

The Wycombe game that sealed our promotion was good.

Wembley for the occasion despite the result was a superb day 40,000 plus fans made some atmosphere.

Millennium Stadium 2005 promotion 4-2 win.

Which was your least favourite match involving Sheffield Wednesday?

See the most embarrassing matches.

Do you have a Former Players Association at Sheffield Wednesday?

None that I am aware of.

What’s the best thing about Sheffield?

The People & Hendersons Relish.

Wednesday’s child is full of woe?

Especially if Bruce Goes.

As Sheffield’s 3rd team (after The Blades and Sheffield FC) do you feel that you are perennial underachievers?

Behave!

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