It, too, was a disaster, with the Lancashire side running out 2-0 winners thanks to an Ian Thomas-Moore goal and a Paul Cook penalty late on. It was Peter Shreeves first game as permanent Wednesday boss.
From Italian enigmas and brothers of England internationals to promising youngsters later charged with drugs offences, let’s take a look at what happened next to the Wednesday players that took the field that day 19 years ago.
1. SHEFFIELD - SEPTEMBER 1: General view taken during the Nationwide Division One match between Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United played at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England on September 1, 2002. Sheffield Wednesday won the match 2-0. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Hillsborough, 2002. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
2. Chris Stringer
Goalkeeper Chris Stringer made only nine appearances in a Sheffield Wednesday shirt but will be well-known to Owls fans, having broken into the fringes of the first team as a teenager. Once seen as the natural successor to Kevin Pressman, he struggled with injuries and was released in 2004. Operations on his calf muscles had resulted in him developing blood clots and doctors had advised him against further attempts at playing. He retired aged just 20, stating, "I would carry on playing, but my health is more important and I have to get on with my life." The Star understands he still lives in South Yorkshire. Photo: Getty Images
3. Ian Hendon
A steady defender, Hendon joined Wednesday from Northampton Town and played 49 league games across a three-year Owls career before leaving for Peterborough and then Barnet. Now a manager at Gibraltan outfit Europa Point, he spent time as manager of Dover Athletic and Leyton Orient previously, with his first dugout spell coming alongside Danny Maddix at Barnet back in 2003. Has also worked under Sam Allardyce as a first-team coach at West Ham. Photo: Michael Steele
4. Leigh Bromby
Yorkshire-born Leigh Bromby became a much-used man at Wednesday as they sought to bring in the next generation of players following relegation from the Premier League. A strong defender who could also play in midfield, he made 100 league appearances before hopping over the blue/red divide in the Steel City to sign for Sheffield United in 2004. Successful spells at Watford and Leeds followed before he retired to eventually head behind the scenes at Huddersfield Town, where he now works in the key role of football operations manager. Photo: Jamie McDonald