mkowl Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 Ok personal anecdote alert @Andyben you can stop reading it now. This Saturday is the 50th anniversary of my first ever game, first trip to Hillsborough. I appreciate most will give no shits but I thought I would like to reflect on this personal millstone. I mean the fact it was an end of season must win match v Bolton to avoid relegation from Div 2 to Div 3 is somewhat ironic. Here we are 50 years later and not much changes. Certainly not my obsession with our football club, that started that day, never really changed despite the ups and the many downs. It is a love / hate hope / despair relationship. The fact it can ruin or make a weekend, jeez an entire summer. Part of you wishes you weren't so passionate, opinionated, ruddy superstitious, your day to day life, your mood. Yet at the same time, if I wasn't passionate at this what would it be, golf, rugby ahhh, DIY or shopping. Or even worse not being passionate of anything. I am reminded of the covid lockdown, I was fine until the weekend and then totally lost. But at least we didn't lose. So thanks Sheffield Wednesday I think 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradowl Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 (edited) I remember it well that day, previous Saturday we had lost 8-0 at Boro and left us needing a win on last day or we would probably be going down, towards end of game and other results weren't going for us and we was getting a bit desperate until Ken Knighton popped up with a goal. Massive pitch invasion after final whistle. Edited April 26 by bradowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tank_Owl2,0 Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 (edited) 50 years, half a century, where has that time gone. I remember thinking how great it was both winning and the celebrations. The following few years put that in perspective! It was my first game as well. I’d been pestering my Grandad and Uncle for ages to take me. Maybe they knew it might not be a good move having experienced years of ups and downs themselves. Although my Grandad did see us win at Wembley. I wonder what kind of money we have spent on tickets etc in that 50years? Edited April 26 by Tank_Owl2,0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 26 Author Share Posted April 26 23 minutes ago, Tank_Owl2,0 said: 50 years, half a century, where has that time gone. I remember thinking how great it was both winning and the celebrations. The following few years put that in perspective! It was my first game as well. I’d been pestering my Grandad and Uncle for ages to take me. Maybe they knew it might not be a good move having experienced years of ups and downs themselves. Although my Grandad did see us win at Wembley. I wonder what kind of money we have spent on tickets etc in that 50years? I had been pestering my Dad - not that it took much persuading to take me to the match for my birthday rather than have loads of kids in the house for a party Many years later, I think he did worry that he had created some football obsessed idiot on the back of it. Today just happens to be the 3rd anniversary of him leaving us, so a tad melancholy alongside the happier memories Given the recent 5000 game anniversary I was sort of thinking I been around for 2000 or so of them, no idea how many I have attended, but must be 800 - 850. No idea on that cost, but I know I attribute at least 2 car purchases and running costs to the cause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy Nickelarse Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 (edited) 2 hours ago, mkowl said: Ok personal anecdote alert @Andyben you can stop reading it now. This Saturday is the 50th anniversary of my first ever game, first trip to Hillsborough. I appreciate most will give no shits but I thought I would like to reflect on this personal millstone. I mean the fact it was an end of season must win match v Bolton to avoid relegation from Div 2 to Div 3 is somewhat ironic. Here we are 50 years later and not much changes. Certainly not my obsession with our football club, that started that day, never really changed despite the ups and the many downs. It is a love / hate hope / despair relationship. The fact it can ruin or make a weekend, jeez an entire summer. Part of you wishes you weren't so passionate, opinionated, ruddy superstitious, your day to day life, your mood. Yet at the same time, if I wasn't passionate at this what would it be, golf, rugby ahhh, DIY or shopping. Or even worse not being passionate of anything. I am reminded of the covid lockdown, I was fine until the weekend and then totally lost. But at least we didn't lose. So thanks Sheffield Wednesday I think Happy Golden Jubilee! You'll likely have been there just two years later then when winning a night match against Southend ensured we didn't fall through the trapdoor to the 4th division. We celebrated it like we were champions. Edited April 26 by Teddy Nickelarse 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owling_Wolf Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 47 minutes ago, Teddy Nickelarse said: Happy Golden Jubilee! You'll likely have been there just two years later then when winning a night match against Southend ensured we didn't fall through the trapdoor to the 4th division. We celebrated it like we were champions. And then released loads of the players! (From memory.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owling_Wolf Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 (edited) Happy Anniversary MK and Tank! Let's hope you're both celebrating after the match. Just a thought, MK: "the ups and the many downs." Promotion and relegation-wise, there's only actually been one extra of the latter. (I know you weren't actually being that literal. There's a lot more to Wednesday supporting than just specifically that and we do seem to have collected a hell of a lot of misery along the way.) Let's all hope for two weekends of celebrating to end this season, and reason to look forward with anticipation. UTO! Oh, and MHR, MK. 👍 Edited April 26 by Owling_Wolf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy Nickelarse Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 4 minutes ago, Owling_Wolf said: And then released loads of the players! (From memory.) Yes we were bottoming out under Len Ashurst. I liked Neil O'Donnell out of that team. Len brought him with him from Gillingham for about £4k IIRC. Not released but injury forced retirement prematurely a year or so later. A couple of others of note - Eric ' Billy Whizz' Potts and the quality but injury prone Mick Prendergast - sadly died too young. Some little gems that linger in the memory from what were pretty bleak times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 26 Author Share Posted April 26 2 hours ago, Teddy Nickelarse said: Happy Golden Jubilee! You'll likely have been there just two years later then when winning a night match against Southend ensured we didn't fall through the trapdoor to the 4th division. We celebrated it like we were champions. I did go to that one; the early days I was not really a regular until about 77/78 That one I was in the West Stand Upper, my Dad went with his Uncle who had a season ticket up there and drove us to the game. He always left 5 minutes early - but I think even he stayed to the final whistle but then off we went. So any celebration passed me by I still can't fathom when after my parents divorced, my old man re-married and stopped going, i managed to convince my Mum that me as an 11 year old could go to games with my slightly older mates. It was years later that a mate said they were allowed to go because I was the sensible one 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owling_Wolf Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 1 hour ago, Teddy Nickelarse said: Yes we were bottoming out under Len Ashurst. I liked Neil O'Donnell out of that team. Len brought him with him from Gillingham for about £4k IIRC. Not released but injury forced retirement prematurely a year or so later. A couple of others of note - Eric ' Billy Whizz' Potts and the quality but injury prone Mick Prendergast - sadly died too young. Some little gems that linger in the memory from what were pretty bleak times. I remember all of those players positively. (Eric the Fruit Bat, surely!) Especially Mick Prendergast, who seemed to have the world at his feet when he first broke through. Savaged by injuries, he went down the leagues as we did. Very sad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastCraigsOwl Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 23 minutes ago, mkowl said: I was the sensible one We'll have to start calling you Jose MKinho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy Nickelarse Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 26 minutes ago, mkowl said: ........... I still can't fathom when after my parents divorced, my old man re-married and stopped going, i managed to convince my Mum that me as an 11 year old could go to games with my slightly older mates. It was years later that a mate said they were allowed to go because I was the sensible one 🤣 On a similar note. One Derby day in the 60's when I was too young to go alone, the 16/17 year old Unitedite John next door offered to take me with his mates (all of similar affiliation). Crowds weren't segregated so he plonked me by the wall at the front of the kop while they went further back. Lost 2-0 to 2 Alan Birchenall goals. John collected me later and escorted me home - piggy backing me quite a bit as I tired. Top lad John Tingle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoylandOwl Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 Old ***ts. As Reesh would say. 👀 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 26 Author Share Posted April 26 23 minutes ago, HoylandOwl said: Old ***ts. As Reesh would say. 👀 🤣 I will remember this should I bump (elbow first) into you tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyben Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 43 minutes ago, mkowl said: I will remember this should I bump (elbow first) into you tomorrow At your age it's 50:50 if you'll remember tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoylandOwl Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 1 hour ago, mkowl said: I will remember this should I bump (elbow first) into you tomorrow I’ll watch for the doddering sod heading my way….. 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 26 Author Share Posted April 26 38 minutes ago, Andyben said: At your age it's 50:50 if you'll remember tho... It's 50 : 50 i end up at Hillsborough and not Oakwell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyben Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 At least they're both in the same town.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owling_Wolf Posted April 26 Share Posted April 26 4 hours ago, mkowl said: It's 50 : 50 i end up at Hillsborough and not Oakwell 4 hours ago, Andyben said: At least they're both in the same town.... What a tap in that was! 🙄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 7 hours ago, Owling_Wolf said: What a tap in that was! 🙄 I get an assist I would have been disappointed if Andy has not tucked it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyben Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 6 minutes ago, mkowl said: I get an assist I would have been disappointed if Andy has not tucked it away. Better stats than Bannan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 27 Author Share Posted April 27 20 hours ago, Owling_Wolf said: Happy Anniversary MK and Tank! Let's hope you're both celebrating after the match. Just a thought, MK: "the ups and the many downs." Promotion and relegation-wise, there's only actually been one extra of the latter. (I know you weren't actually being that literal. There's a lot more to Wednesday supporting than just specifically that and we do seem to have collected a hell of a lot of misery along the way.) Let's all hope for two weekends of celebrating to end this season, and reason to look forward with anticipation. UTO! Oh, and MHR, MK. 👍 I think as we were in Tier 2 and currently are the actual ups and downs must even out - where is an accountant when you need one ! Not fully verified but my quick calc is 14 seasons in the top flight 12 in tier 3 24 in tier 2 I mean 50 years is a large sample period and that suggests our level is The Championship. 24 seasons and counting not in the top division is pretty damning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyben Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 11 minutes ago, mkowl said: I think as we were in Tier 2 and currently are the actual ups and downs must even out - where is an accountant when you need one ! Not fully verified but my quick calc is 14 seasons in the top flight 12 in tier 3 24 in tier 2 I mean 50 years is a large sample period and that suggests our level is The Championship. 24 seasons and counting not in the top division is pretty damning There's a website that I used on another thread which will give you the average league position from this date 50yes ago (ish). I'll try and dig it out. I suspect we'll be 16th in the second tier or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyben Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 Hate to say it but in the all time evert able of points gained were 14th and demblades 6th But this doesn't differentiate between what division the points were gained https://footballrates.com/alltimetable.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owling_Wolf Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 1 hour ago, mkowl said: I think as we were in Tier 2 and currently are the actual ups and downs must even out - where is an accountant when you need one ! Not fully verified but my quick calc is 14 seasons in the top flight 12 in tier 3 24 in tier 2 I mean 50 years is a large sample period and that suggests our level is The Championship. 24 seasons and counting not in the top division is pretty damning You're right about our promotion & relegations over your 50 years watching them. I'd unthinkingly put my own in, after I started in the mid-1960s. 🙄 57 seasons almost for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoylandOwl Posted April 27 Share Posted April 27 Happy birthday MK… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffieldblue Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 On 27/04/2024 at 08:09, mkowl said: I think as we were in Tier 2 and currently are the actual ups and downs must even out - where is an accountant when you need one ! Not fully verified but my quick calc is 14 seasons in the top flight 12 in tier 3 24 in tier 2 I mean 50 years is a large sample period and that suggests our level is The Championship. 24 seasons and counting not in the top division is pretty damning "Only" been in tier 3 for 11 seasons ant we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 28 Author Share Posted April 28 10 minutes ago, Sheffieldblue said: "Only" been in tier 3 for 11 seasons ant we? I will happily stand corrected, it was a quick tally in my head 5 between 75/76 to 79/80 for sure Then I try and blank the rest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 28 Author Share Posted April 28 Yep it is 11 - I always forget that the first time back in the early 2000's was only 2 seasons. Just felt like 3 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 28 Author Share Posted April 28 Anyway 11 too many ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrySpeakup Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 This was a picture from a Sunday paper of the Ken Knighton winning goal in the 88th minute against Bolton in 1974 I got a proper print of it from the paper - that's me circled just above the keeper's head 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fOWLmouth Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 That’s great to have and to bring back memories.Do you still have the hair?😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrySpeakup Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fOWLmouth Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 I had similar hair back then but sadly it’s disappeared in the main.What I do have is the same style scarf you are wearing. I think it’s the same one,it has a printed motif at one end and is plain blue on the reverse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrySpeakup Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 yes it was plain blue on the other side but didn't have a badge or anything on the front I cut most of my hair off and beard in 1977 when i got into punk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fOWLmouth Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 I never got into punk apart from some of the music. I was riding old British motorcycles back then and living in the past like a rocker from the 60’s.Still have two BSA’s and a Triumph.Now it’s me in the 60’s. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owling_Wolf Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 40 minutes ago, HarrySpeakup said: what do you think? 😮😮😮 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoylandOwl Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 On 28/04/2024 at 09:05, mkowl said: Yep it is 11 - I always forget that the first time back in the early 2000's was only 2 seasons. Just felt like 3 ! It felt a LOT more than 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoylandOwl Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 7 hours ago, HarrySpeakup said: what do you think? That’s not the same bloke I know! 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 30 Author Share Posted April 30 7 hours ago, HarrySpeakup said: This was a picture from a Sunday paper of the Ken Knighton winning goal in the 88th minute against Bolton in 1974 I got a proper print of it from the paper - that's me circled just above the keeper's head From memory we sat in that sort of area but were 2/3rds of the way up. I never really grasped the significance of this match until many years later. I was more in awe of the whole experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted April 30 Author Share Posted April 30 19 minutes ago, HoylandOwl said: That’s not the same bloke I know! 😉 We had a lad in our 6th form with that hair style. Sadly for him it was the era of the Young Ones so he was called Neil (made a change from Jesus). Can't say much my attempts to grow a mullet made me a mash up between Blackadder and Anna Ford. So I was called Blackanna. It was still better than "fat ****" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoylandOwl Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 10 minutes ago, mkowl said: It was still better than "fat ****" You must have known me back then too 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastCraigsOwl Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 13 hours ago, HarrySpeakup said: This was a picture from a Sunday paper of the Ken Knighton winning goal in the 88th minute against Bolton in 1974 I got a proper print of it from the paper - that's me circled just above the keeper's head When I first looked at the pic, I thought it was somebody's guess at a Spot the Ball competition. Then I read your post... and spotted the actual ball 😕 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lobster Posted Wednesday at 00:37 Share Posted Wednesday at 00:37 I passed 60 years of this last year - It still doesn't get any better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkowl Posted Wednesday at 07:04 Author Share Posted Wednesday at 07:04 6 hours ago, lobster said: I passed 60 years of this last year - It still doesn't get any better That's cheered me up 😱 I think it's that in my 50 year journey to date, the pinnacle was 33 years ago, okay it plateaued for a few more after but its a ruddy long time really being a bit shit since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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