Owls origins

Last updated : 17 August 2009 By C. Morris

Devoted followers of Sheffield Wednesday are no doubt aware of the club’s humble beginnings.

An article on the football league’s official website details how the club started out life as ‘The Wednesday’, formed on the 4th September 1867, formed by members of a cricket club.
Having had previous nicknames including the Blades, Wednesday settled at Owlerton Stadium in 1899 and from this were to become known as the Owls and officially took the name Sheffield Wednesday in 1929. 

Of less common knowledge is the fact that their first ever game against the Mechanics was won by three goals and four rouges to nil.

At that time, the goals were very narrow and a second set of posts were positioned slighter wider. Any shot missing the goal but going through these posts would score a rouge and these would determine the winner if the goals scored by each team were level.   

Judging by some of the wayward finishing witnessed by fans up and down the country every weekend there are a fair few strikers that might benefit from having the chance of scoring rouge goals in the modern day game.

 To read the Owls-based article in full visit the official football league website at: http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/FeaturesDetail/0,,10794~1751825,00.html