As a kid I was never into football, or any sport actually. My dad was a Blade (insert boo’s here). Other than him going to the match on a Saturday and it occasionally being on the TV in the background, I never paid much attention to football and had no desire to.
I met my husband when I was 19, we fell madly in love and quickly wanted to start a family and build a life together. My husband is the epitome of a Wednesdayite. He’s loved and followed the club since before he could kick a ball himself, his support of the club is matched by the most dedicated of fans. He can recall the kits worn at specific games, the players that made an impact, hosted a charity event at the ground to raise money for Sheffield Children’s hospital, and will always hold a place in his heart for Carlos.
We left England in 2013 to pursue new careers and a life in the sun. We had to leave family, friends and Sheffield Wednesday behind. The last 13 years of being a Wednesday supporter have looked a little different from when he was a young man living in Sheffield with his season ticket. It’s seen him trying to communicate in broken Spanish to ask if they can find a game on their dodgy box, slamming the laptop shut when the streaming he paid for won’t stop buffering, getting live updates via whatsapp from his friends at the ground, not receiving the shirts we’d ordered through the utterly shambolic online Wednesday megastore, chatting with our local bar man in rural Ireland who actively keeps up to date on Wednesday just to engage with one of his regulars, rewatching the Peterborough game more times that anyone could possibly count and visiting home to try to squeeze the odd match in here and there. All of that has been challenging, but his passion and dedication to the club never wavered, he never lost hope, until last season.
He was really worried for his club. Scared that this really could be the end and the feeling of uncertainly lingered for a long time. Then, in May 2026 hope was restored. Not just hope, but optimism, excitement and the promise of a football club being ran as a football club.
The club, players, staff and fans have been through a lot. Disappointment, uncertainty and disrespect. But now we look ahead. Ahead to a potential future, a future felt almost unreachable just a couple of months ago. And it’s exciting.
When my husband made the wild suggestion that we buy season tickets for 2026/2027 even though we still don’t live in the country, my initial response was are you insane?
Buying a season ticket for a club that you don’t live in the same country as seemed a little unhinged, but I heard him out.
This year we’ve reached the point where the kids are old enough to fend for themselves, we’ve been able to start having weekends away and enjoying time as just a couple for the first time in a long time. We can still have this quality time he said, just at S6 instead of Sicily. Not the most convincing of arguments I’m sure you’d agree.
But looking into his hopeful, passionate eyes, how could I say no. He loves this club, and wants to support Sheffield Wednesday both financially and by being there in person to witness this revolutionary season. We bought the tickets. 2 of an unprecedented 22,000 (so far). I cannot wait to experience this part of Sheffield Wednesday’s journey, be surrounded by the incredible fans with that strong Yorkshire accent that I miss more than I realise and hopefully bear witness to some incredible football along the way.
Over the years, my interest in football has increased…slightly. I still don’t know all the rules, whether a pass is good or bad most of the time or who’s a good signing, but that doesn’t matter, I love Sheffield Wednesday (sorry Dad!). The electric atmosphere of being in Hillsborough is unmatched. The love and passion of the fans is contagious. I never thought I’d find myself writing an article for WAWAW.NEWS, a website my husband built from scratch, or shouting “we’re all Wednesday aren’t we!” at a random man in Wednesday shirt at Dublin zoo, but here we are. I didn’t choose this life, I married into it, Wednesday til death do us part, and I couldn’t be happier about it.