Sheffield Wednesday FC: The Official History 1867-2017

Sheffield Wednesday, the third oldest football club in England, have experienced contrasting fortunes in their first 150 years but remain one of the best-supported teams in the land, with a rich and fascinating history. Within these pages, the ups and downs of ‘The Owls’ are covered in detail, from the formation of the original cricket club in 1820 to the present day.

At a general meeting held on Wednesday 4 September 1867 at the Adelphi Hotel, it was decided to form a football club from the membership of the Wednesday Cricket Club as a means of keeping together the members of the cricket club during the winter season. Thus began the story of one of the most respected and cherished football clubs in England, springing from the spiritual home of football itself. The Wednesday Football Club played their first ever game in September 1867 and within twenty years had turned professional as Sheffield Wednesday, making their home at Olive Grove. When the lease for Olive Grove expired in 1899, Sheffield Wednesday made the long trek north to the suburb of Owlerton, taking up residence at the Owlerton Stadium, later to be renamed Hillsborough.

To mark Sheffield Wednesday’s 150th anniversary, club historian Jason Dickinson has painstakingly researched and written a comprehensive history of this venerable old club, one that every self-respecting Wednesday fan will want to read.