"I love the club.." Sheffield Wednesday man reflects on his six-year Owls stint after major milestone

Barry Bannan has had to take the rough with the smooth at Sheffield Wednesday.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

And while the result didn’t pan out as he may have dreamt it, the little Scot put on a typically energetic performance at Vicarage Road yesterday as only a controversial Tom Lees own goal stood between the two sides at the final whistle.

It was commented that Bannan was the best player on the pitch for either side in what was his 250th appearance for the club with whom he signed a new two-year contract back in February.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A player for the big occasion, the Owls skipper has spent six years at the club having arrived as one of Carlos Carvalhal’s first signings. He made an instant impact as a huge part of the Wednesday side that provided back-to-back play-off campaigns and has remained an ever-present, taking the armband from Tom Lees ahead of the current season.

Barry Bannan brought his number of Sheffield Wednesday appearances to 250 on Friday.Barry Bannan brought his number of Sheffield Wednesday appearances to 250 on Friday.
Barry Bannan brought his number of Sheffield Wednesday appearances to 250 on Friday.

“It’s a massive honour for me to play that amount of games for this club,” Bannan told BBC Sheffield after the Watford defeat.

“It’s a massive club, I love the club and to reach that milestone is great. It’s something I’ll probably look back on when I retire more so than now, but it’s a great honour and hopefully there are many more for me to come.”

Wednesday head into their home clash with Cardiff on Easter Monday seven points back on the safety spots with eight matches left to save their Championship status.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Asked how difficult it has been to see the club struggling in what has been an up and down time at S6, Bannan said: “That’s the way it goes at football clubs, you have ups and downs.

“At the minute it’s a bit of a low and we’re fighting or our lives, but it’s a challenge and it’s something you’ve got to face.

“I’m not saying I’m enjoying it, I’d sooner but up there at the top end of the table obviously, but I’ve enjoyed my time here and long may it continue. I’ve loved it since I came in from day one here and we’ve got a big, big eight games to go.”

MORE FROM OUR WEDNESDAY WRITING TEAM

*

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Chris Holt, Football Editor