Tom Whitworth - Owls: Sheffield Wednesday Through the Modern Era

W HEN you work for so long on a project like this, it is amazing to discover just how many people are willing to help you out along the way. Whether sitting for an interview or offering their guidance, without their help this book would not have been possible.

When I sent out the outline idea to Paul at Pitch Publishing he was immediately enthusiastic, showed the faith and along with Jane supported me right until the end.

I am grateful of course to those who agreed to give up their time and be interviewed for the project. They were: Dave Allen, Andy Booth, Chris Brunt, Marc Degryse, Simon Donnelly, Trevor Francis, John Gath, Lee Grant, Steve Haslam, Grard Houllier, Paul Jewell, Rob Kelly (who one bright September afternoon in Nottingham let me sit in Brian Cloughs dugout), Darryl Keys, Darko Kovacevic (via Stella Samouilidou at Olympiacos), Mark Lewis, Graham Mackrell, Steve MacLean, Ian McMillan, James OConnor, David Pleat, Darren Purse, Petter Rudi, Frankie Simek, Trond Egil Soltvedt, Paul Sturrock, Kevin Summerfield, Alan Sykes, Emerson Thome and Howard Wilkinson.

Extra special mentions must go to Daniel Gordon and Nigel Short who each repeatedly gave up their time to meet and talk to me, and to Lee Strafford who for hours and hours in Sheffield again and again took the time out to show me the way.

The following people were also kind enough to help with vital background information: Geoff Atkinson, Philippe Auclair, Narendra Bajarla, Dominique Bartholome (of LEquipe, and FranceFootball), Ian Bason and the Foxes Trust, Matthew Bell, Mihir Bose, Dave Brown, James Corbett, Mark Edwards, Chris Eyre, Professor Chris Gratton, Professor Geoff Green, Nick Harris, Paul Holmes, Graeme Howlett, Phil Hunt at the International Steel Statistics Bureau (for the Sheffield steel output figures), Michael Kendrick, Dan King, Carl Lee, Ken Malley, Michael Morton, Rick Parry, Roger Reade, Richard Riggs and Chris Kitchen at the National Union of Mineworkers (for the miners strike statistics), Paul Thompson, Rob Sawyer, Patrick Seyd, Matthew Slater, Raymond Sparkes, Rob Tanner, John Williams and Martyn Ziegler.

Gary Armstrong (a Blade), Anthony Clavane, Danny Broderick and my pal James Titterton (another Blade) were there throughout the process to offer their views, but also to help with reviewing part, or all of the text their input was priceless. When at last the text became almost ready for public consumption, Kate Moore and chief editor Gareth Davis were on hand to expertly whip it into shape.

Trevor Braithwait at Sheffield Wednesday patiently put up with my requests to talk with Milan Mandari and set up the first meeting. Although in the end a second meeting and full interview never did take place, never mind, it was still nice to meet you both. Olaf Dixon at the League Managers Association put me in touch with several of the clubs past managers. And David Coupe kindly provided a long-term lend of his fantastic blue file of newspaper clippings.

Steve Titterton helped to broaden the range of the subject and, along with my friends Chris Olewicz and James Caruth, was there to listen to my ideas and offer some more back in return. In the early days Pat Allison helped with one of the trickier chapters; in the later days Dave Lawson did the same.

Just as I was getting started David Conn, whose work had gotten me into all of this stuff in the first place, was good enough to meet up and buy me lunch. Peter Markie was always there with an enthusiastic ear and a brew. Jim Caruth Senior shared his recollections of good times spent on the Kop and was happy to lend a line from one of his poems. Louis Clay gave up an afternoon to trudge around Hillsborough to take his lovely photos. Pete McKee allowed me to use the Wednesday cartoons (he also gave me an hour to share some of his memories and explain his process) and his manager, Chris Smith, helped find them. Ta lads.

Some people helped but for various reasons did not wish to be named. Their time and input was just as important and just as appreciated. You know who you are (unless you dont).

Thanks to my family and friends for all of their encouragement and support along this pretty long journey, especially my Dad who for several years has listened to me talking about the whole bloody thing, and my Mum, who is the best.

To anyone else who helped, thank you.

Up Sheffield! Up the Owls!

About The Author

Tom Whitworths work has appeared in, among other publications, When Saturday Comes and FC Business. A Sheffield Wednesday fan, he lives in Sheffield, up one of its many hills.

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