Exclusive:Lifetime memories and one regret: Sheffield United derby heroes relive iconic Wednesday win, nine years on
Nine years ago today, Sheffield United beat their city rivals 4-2 at Hillsborough on an afternoon no-one present will ever forget. Danny Hall spoke to two of the Blades’ heroes from that day
Scoring the game’s first goal, on one of the most memorable afternoons in Sheffield United’s recent history, is understandably one of the highlights of John Fleck’s footballing career. But if he could relive September 24, 2017 again, he would change just one tiny thing.
“I don't think a lot of the United fans were even in the ground at that point, it was that quick,” the Scot smiled. “I’ve come across loads of people since and they said they were still out on the street. So I wouldn't have minded it being five minutes later!”
Instead it came in minute three, as United made a dream start to the first derby against city rivals Wednesday since 2012. Chris Wilder’s United were fresh out of League One and Wednesday had made the Championship play-offs in the last two seasons. An Owls side packed with talent was unbeaten in seven.
“I think everyone, probably rightly, expected us to get rolled over,” said Fleck, speaking to The Star ahead of the ninth anniversary of that iconic day. “But obviously we had a different sort of mindset and mentality going into the match.
“There was a lot of excitement and probably a few nerves at that time as well. Heading towards the game on the bus, that's when you sort of felt the difference. I think Chris took us a route which we wouldn't usually go, just to get in the mix with the fans and stuff.
“The atmosphere in the game was insane and we were seen as the underdogs, just coming up from League One and against some big-name players. So that probably helped us.”
There was hardly time to draw breath inside Hillsborough when the baby-faced David Brooks, handed a shock start amid something of an injury crisis for the Blades, won a free-kick in a decent position.
The routine was simple, but the finish was devastating. Paul Coutts faked a run, Brooks rolled it the other way and Fleck smashed the ball past Keiren Westwood in front of a stunned Hillsborough Kop.
“We worked on it a lot in training,” Fleck said. “Well, not a lot actually, because it was pretty simple. But Brooksy still managed to stand the wrong way! Couttsy was trying to tell him to turn around.
“So that’s why the free-kick took so long to take. It should have been simple, but we got there in the end. But he was amazing that day as well. As soon as it left my foot, I knew it had a good chance.”
Westwood could barely move before it rippled into his net. And soon after United were in dreamland when Leon Clarke - formerly of Wednesday, just to add to the drama of the day - sprung the offside trap and put them 2-0 up.
Wednesday pulled one back before half-time, which changed the mood in the ground immediately. And then when Lucas Joao equalised in the second half, Hillsborough was genuinely shaking as jubilant Owls fans bounced up and down.
But not for long.
Mark Duffy, fresh off the bench after being left out of the starting XI, turned Joost van Aken inside and out before lashing past Westwood to put the Blades back ahead. The Owls had been level for less than two minutes, and Clarke capped off a remarkable afternoon with a second.
“I’ve played in some big games up in Glasgow and I’ve been involved in beating them as a fan,” said the former Rangers man. “But when they scored that second, I must say, it was one of the loudest things I’ve ever experienced.
“You felt like the stadium could fall down at any moment, which you don’t see very often. So fair play to them. But Duff had that moment of magic in him, which a lot of players haven't got. And I think he was obviously fuming because he didn't start the game as well. It was a magical moment.”
Although they didn’t know it at the time, United were riding the crest of a wave that would eventually take them into the Premier League and to the brink of European qualification before Covid-19 completely destroyed the momentum that had been building for so long.
Time has taken them down different paths. Duffy is now involved in coaching, at National League club Southport, while Fleck has not yet hung up his boots and is keeping in touch with United’s fortunes through some media work.
Chris Basham can now be found on his bike around the north east, while Jake Wright combines his position as a coach at United’s academy with teaching at Newfield School.
That group forged lifelong bonds on the pitch, their families grew up together off it. Many of its members remain close, all these years on, and the tragic loss of George Baldock in 2024 hit them all indescribably hard.
Speaking to The Star, Duffy described the United side of that era as “a special group” and added: “Looking back, a lot of the lads were just down-to-earth people, just normal blokes, and we all socialised together. We used to have a drink, which is well known, and we just got on.
“Not all the time - we used to scrap now and again - but the gaffer managed it really well. We were all from similar backgrounds, hard-working people, and that just helped feed the culture. It was a time I’ll never forget.”
And neither will anyone fortunate enough to witness it.