Sheffield Wednesday's 15 to none the climax of tearful, glorious journey: Alex Miller's Owls column
A first home win of the season in a match that saw a team reach zero points in a long-since doomed campaign. Sheffield Wednesday’s victory over West Brom transcended a football match. Alex Miller was there to witness it.
The largest crowd of the Championship campaign, gathered in garish colour and hot on emotion, stood to hang on the every word of the man in the centre-circle. David Storch drew breath to acknowledge those who have played such a part in the plausibility of the day. He made assurances to supporters and to the excitement of those in grass skirts, he said there was one last gift.
Eyes diverted to the big screen, it became clear what was happening. Wednesday supporters were to learn what points deduction they would be dealt next season. Drenched in nervous optimism, the breath of 30,000 hung in the sunshine as if clutching at a dream. In a few moments the prospects of their next autumn, winter and spring would be informed via a countdown befitting the drama of the moment.
To the screen. 15 dropped to 14. Memories of the season drained into the mind’s eye; of protest coffins and black and yellow leaflets and inter-fanbase squabble on the realism of it all. The last day of the 2024/25 season witnessed a four-figure protest in Hillsborough Park, flares thick in the gullet and anger thick in the air. On Saturday a stroll through the park was just that; a pleasant wander past joggers and folk with ice creams. Smiles and an air of delight.
From 14 to 13, 12 to 11. Staff unpaid, the cold disrespect of silence from Bangkok forcing tearful phone calls to journalists asking if they had any information on when they might be able to pay their bills. Players organising behind-the-scenes movements to help their colleagues out. Silence from Bangkok. Desperate attempts to sell unrefined gold, intermediaries receiving blunt messages in response to genuine attempts to buy the thing. Frustration, fear that it was being left to rot. Silence from Bangkok.
It went to 10. The mood within the stadium was that that would be enough to celebrate, prospects damaged but so much more achievable than the dreaded 15. Elsewhere, much-loved players fought battles in other colours, sold or pushed to the point that they couldn’t take any more. Youngsters sold-off to keep the lights on, club icons alike. Every passing defeat, every oh-so-nearly, every late concession, every necessary injury. Week after week after week.
Nine, eight, seven. The minds eye flickered to togetherness, unity and cohesion. Battles have been won before by those within the old girl, recent ones at that. After the initial wave of in-fighting and discourse over what to do and when, after protestors were abused and groups splintered, came Leicester.
A vision of community mirrored in an empty stand, applause trickling from those in familiar surroundings that sent a message of acknowledgement from the wider football community. The summer of spiralling sadness sparked something in the Wednesday fan base and led by its Supporters Trust, the scrap came back and then some; boycotts, Parliamentary speeches and a day at the Thai Embassy.
It paused at six, the ground open-mouthed and expectant. Social media rumour - and for 24 hours the buzzing of reporters' phones from excitable friends in the fanbase, for what it's worth - had been alive with suggestions that that was the sanction they'd receive. The image on the screen pulsed and hinted as supporters cheered in joyous expectation. Five.
When Wednesday fell into administration, the onus fell on its fanbase to keep her lit. The scenes on the day and in the Megastore soon afterwards are ones this reporter will never forget; ordinary, every day folk rallying to save something truly special. Staff wore smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Fans sang that he was gone.
At four, you thought of the struggle thereon. Rumour and nervousness, a Christmas Eve that delivered a monster bid and an unsuitable candidate. The appointment of James Bord’s consortium as preferred bidder put a pin in the ballooning Wednesday spirit and left the fanbase flat. No matter how much they tried to convince itself these were the group to take it forward, the feeling was hollow.
And then it collapsed. Confusion, worry. But later that night Norwich and the first extended evening at Honolulu. Defiance, passion, possibility.
The screen showed a three, and then a two. The appointment of Storch came with wrangles beneath. There were moments that looked hairy, the points deduction level displayed in the south west corner the very issue. The Americans came into the Owls universe in a passion, enthralling supporters with, yes, a few easy PR wins, but an integrity. Excitement built.
One. By now the stadium knew where it was heading. A further pause, febrile mood, celebration as it ticked to zero. The crowd, already standing, seemed to rise up and up once more in a buzz of colour and emotion. The points deduction was erased. Wednesday would get their fair crack.
To stand at the bottom of the South Stand and watch as the realisation unfolded was a rare privilege indeed. So cold the night has been, it felt like morning had broken through the curtains at last. Sheffield Wednesday has new ownership and a new energy to it, shown on the field in the afternoon that followed as the Owls burst from their shirts to achieve that long, long awaited home win.
What happens next is anyone’s guess. Arise are in the process of assembling an impressive unit to steer this football club from three decades of malnourishment. They need to build a squad and they need to enhance the stadium, the training ground and their prospects.
But what will forever be Wednesday’s biggest asset will be those open-mouthed, staring up at a screen at 12:20 on Saturday lunchtime. What happens next has promise but no guarantees. What is for absolute certain is that the football club was saved by a very many people. Eyes welled, geese bumped, Honolulu Wednesday was a true joy to witness. Onwards.