Eric Cantona and astroturf – Carlton Palmer discusses the Man Utd legend’s brief spell with Sheffield Wednesday

On this day in 1992, Eric Cantona ran out at the Sheffield Arena for Sheffield Wednesday against Baltimore Blast – Carlton Palmer has now spoken about his short spell with the Owls.
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Cantona went on to become one of the most well-known footballers in the world, winning numerous trophies in a glittering career with Manchester United, but for a small amount of time it looked like he may end up wearing blue and white.

Now famous images show the Frenchmen in white trainers running down by the boards at the Arena in the ‘Transatlantic Challenge’, and stood next to Kevin Pressman and Nigel Pearson, but it was all very short-lived as he went on to sign for Leeds United later that month.

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Palmer, who was part of Trevor Francis’ side back in the early 1990s, says that he was possibly a bit too expensive for Wednesday to have taken a punt on back then.

Speaking to Joe Cole and Tom Davies on JOE’s ‘All To Play For’ podcast, the Owls legend said, “I remember Eric coming in. I got on really well with him, and he was staying in the same hotel as me. He liked a drink, and even then he had the swagger. He was unbelievable.

“I believe he was recommended to Trevor Francis by Michel Platini, and it was snowing when he came to Sheffield Wednesday - he came for a week.

“So we went up to a place called Aurora where they had astroturf, and we played 11 v 11. There was a free kick just outside the box, and Eric said he’d take it. John Sheridan and whatever was there, but he said he’d take it.

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“So he took, and put it in the top bin. Everyone was looking at him thinking ‘F****** hell!’.

“But it was a lot of money at the time for him. And they asked him to come back on trial for another week, and as Eric does he says, ‘No, Eric doesn’t come on trial’. He didn’t come back, and that’s how the story went.”

But oh, what could’ve been...

More Owls news

Eric Cantona playing for Sheffield Wednesday in an indoor game in 1992.Eric Cantona playing for Sheffield Wednesday in an indoor game in 1992.
Eric Cantona playing for Sheffield Wednesday in an indoor game in 1992.

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