Blades moves, drugs, death threats: What happened to the last Sheffield Wednesday team to play Gillingham?
Sheffield Wednesday take on Gillingham this weekend for the first time 18 years.
By Alex Miller
Published 11th Nov 2021, 10:00 BST
Updated 11th Nov 2021, 11:06 BST
That last encounter was played in the FA Cup third round at the Gills’ Priestfield stadium and was one to forget for the sold out away allocation, who watched Gerald Sibon give them the lead after four minutes before a Marlon King brace and goals for Chris Hope and Guy Ipoua handed the home side a 4-1 win.
An awful lot has changed at both clubs in that time since, but what happened to the players that stepped out in Wednesday colours that day?
Through a raft of switches to Sheffield United, drugs charges and death threats, it’s been an eventful couple of decades for those who were involved.
Before the two clubs do battle on Saturday, let’s take a walk through what happened next..
Through a raft of switches to Sheffield United, drugs charges and death threats, it’s been an eventful couple of decades for those who were involved.
5. Ashley Westwood
A warts-and-all defender, Ashley Westwood signed from Bradford City in 2000 and spent three years at Hillsborough before moving on to Northampton. From there he became something of a journeyman. Is now a globe-trotting manager, having held posts at Bengaluru FC in India, Penang in Malaysia, AIK in Sweden and now RoundGlass Punjab back in India. Photo: Phil Cole
Jon Beswetherick spent two largely unhappy years at Wednesday from 2002. He'd arrived from a solid reputation at Plymouth but moved on in 2004 to Bristol Rovers before sliding into non-league, retiring five years later. Photo: Steve Ellis
Yet another youngster in what was an evolving Wednesday squad, Crane was seen as a fine prospect. Left the club for Grimsby in 2003, where he spent three years, before heading into non-league football. Last seen playing in local Sheffield leagues. Photo: Mark Thompson
Another member of the 2004 cross-City crew, Quinn had played in 157 league matches for Wednesday before a four year stint at Bramall Lane. Went to Ipswich and was last seen playing back up here for Handsworth. Photo: Clive Mason