Sheffield Wednesday fans still have wicked sense of humour despite season from hell
Owls supporters made their own entertainment in Oxfordshire as Wednesday were thrashed 4-1
Wednesday fans have been stripped of many things this season but their sense of humour is still intact.
Decked out in fancy dress, Hawaiian shirts, inflatables and flags, they brought Honolulu to Oxford United’s sun-kissed Kassam Stadium for the final away day of a season which has been far from a holiday - a million miles away from a trip of a lifetime.
Supporters have seen their club worn down to its bones. It is just a shell. They rallied to keep keep the lights on during administration and shone brightly when everything else was complete darkness.
I have always thought that Wednesdayites have a wicked sense of humour compared to some others. With Oxford’s relegation to League One confirmed before kick-off, they teased the home ranks with chants of ‘we’re going to Bromley, you’re going too’ and ‘you’re going down with the Wednesday.’ The U’s took it well, responding with ‘if you’re all going to Bromley clap your hands.’
Songs about Jose Semedo, Atdhe Nuhiu, Reda Johnson, Fernando Forestieri, Barry Bannan and Carlos Carvalhal followed, as fans seemingly tried to see which one could get the biggest laugh. They didn’t go as far as Bartosz Ślusarski or Gary Taylor-Fletcher, though.
Coming back to Wednesday being stripped naked of everything they own. They do have something else, or someone else, though, in 17-year-old Will Grainger who scored his first senior goal for the club. As a boyhood Owls fan, it was a dream moment for him and his family who were at the game.
For one whole minute, there was some light relief. Football was back to being romantic and special. For 60 seconds supporters could enjoy one of their own finding the back of the net with a well-taken finish which was befitting of someone who had hit a century of similar strikes. But before social media updates had even been posted, Oxford spoiled all the fun and went straight down the other end and scored. 4-1. ‘We can’t have anything nice.’
On the pitch, Wednesday looked tired. It was a lacklustre display. It has been a long slog. They were left a little red-faced by a team who they will face again next season in the third-tier. Although they will not wake up quite as sore or red as the supporters who spent the afternoon topless.
And so to West Brom and hopefully the start of a new era. Bring your Sergiu Bus, Dejan Kelhar and Filipe Melo songbooks.