Barry Bannan fights tears in message to Sheffield Wednesday fans - and makes future declaration
Exited Sheffield Wednesday legend Barry Bannan has battled tears in an emotional video message to supporters after his departure to Championship colleagues Millwall was confirmed.
The 477-game ex-Owls midfielder has been the beating heart of the side for the last decade, rising through the stakes of Hillsborough legend status to become synonymous with the Hillsborough club. He leaves at the age of 36 after nearly 11 years, joining a Lions side battling for promotion to the Premier League.
Bannan offered do much more than on-field contribution to Sheffield - and to the club itself. The 27-cap Scotland man was a keen advocate of the club’s Community Programme arm and latterly became an ambassador for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital for which he has raised tens of thousands alongside friends and family. The decision comes after a year of hell at S6 and has proven difficult for a family embedded into the city.
“This city has given me and my family everything, the best years of our lives so far have been in this city,” Bannan told club media in a teary exit interview. “It was always nice to give something back. Being so popular in this city, you have a role, you’re a role model for younger ones growing up. I always feel like I needed to give back to this place because it’s given me so much. It’s my second home.”
Bannan’s roles and responsibilities at S6 in recent years have gone far beyond that of a regular football captain and his presence will be felt with great gravity not only on the pitch but off it. A video released by the club shortly after confirmation of his undisclosed fee transfer took in some of the personalities to have been involved with the club over the last decade and displayed the longevity Bannan has shown to remain a standout player.
Bannan continued: “There are people at the training ground who have been there way longer than me. They’re still there. So it’s not just about leaving a club, it’s about leaving relationships. You see these people every day for 11 years - whether you want to or not! That’s the hardest thing for me, you’re walking out on people you see every day who are amazing friends.
“The Sheffield Wednesday family has done so much for my family. They’re gutted, everybody in the household. It’s been a tough weekend, but they’ll be Wednesday fans forever.”
Signing off while fighting back tears, Bannan said it was the fan base that kept him at Hillsborough amid near-constant interest from elsewhere - and made a declaration that this is not goodbye for good.
“It’s just an amazing club,” he continued. “I’m lucky to have been here for so long. It’s everything to me, I’ve had an amazing 11 years here, it’s am amazing club and hopefully they get back to where they should be.
“I want to start by thanking you (the fans) for the 11 years I’ve been here. It’s been amazing. As I’ve said all along, god willing in the future I’ll be back here in some capacity, whether that’s coaching, as a fan, whatever it might be. I will be in the stadium when I finish footy. Because of you, I stayed here for so long. Thank you. Hopefully one day we meet again.”