Sheffield Wednesday is making a big effort to connect with supporters again

The smallest of gestures can sometimes go a long way.

As Hallam’s Sandygate ground glistened in the late afternoon sun, Sheffield Wednesday’s senior players, who were not even playing, gathered pitchside to ensure every supporter who wanted a selfie or an autograph got one. It was a simple, thoughtful, act which put smiles on a lot of faces. It will have made their day.

For once, an off-field story involving The Owls was wholesome and not draining. It wasn’t about points deductions or people going unpaid or a club fighting to survive. It was football stripped right back. It was cleaner, friendlier, happier. It felt like Sheffield Wednesday was healing after the darkest of times.

When asked about the important of bringing the first-team along to a friendly which was used for mainly the under-21s and under-18s, the words of Owls assistant coach Pete Shuttleworth felt rather important. They had held more meaning and weight because of recent struggles.

“The new Sheffield Wednesday that we are going to be is going to be a community-based club where we want to connect with the community,” he told The Star. “For the first-team to be here tonight and to be really accessible to all the supporters who have come on the evening, I think is really part of where we are going to go going forward. For them to do that, and they are always willing to do that, they are a really good set of lads who are willing to give up their time and come and sign supporters' shirts, things like that are really positive for them.”

It is clear, I think, that this message had come right from the top. From David Storch, David Bruce and Simon Wilson. This is a ‘new’ Sheffield Wednesday. One which looks after its ex-players. One which engages and listens to its supporters. One which is fair and reasonable in business. One where players and its supporters feel connected. This is another example of the owners ‘getting it.’ And they have done that by simply listening to people. They seem to have grasped the mad world of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club impressively quickly.