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Things seem to be looking up for the Owls of late, but fans still want more, and rightly so. We’re here to discuss what occurred when Sheffield Wednesday were last in the top flight, and given how long ago that was, supporters are entitled to expect better.
Sheffield Wednesday are a massive club, there’s no two ways about it. They’ve got a huge stadium, a big following flocking to Hillsborough each week, and a rich heritage within the game.
Under Danny Rohl this year, the Owls have threatened to be a genuine play-off contender, and while that now looks to be off the table, there is still plenty of progress being made in S6.
But, a club of this magnitude and history deserves to be in the Premier League. Sadly, it’s been an age since Sheffield Wednesday were last in the top flight.
We’ve had a look at the journey since then to see how far the club has fallen, and why the future could and should be bright for the blue and white half of Sheffield.
Sheffield Wednesday lost their top flight status in 2000
It is now 25 years since Sheffield Wednesday were last in the top flight. The club was relegated in the 1999/2000 campaign.
The Owls finished in 19th place in the Premier League that season, with 31 points from 38 games. Frustratingly, they were just five points away from safety.
Wednesday had assembled an expensive, and on its day, very talented squad in the late ’90s. Big names like Paolo Di Canio, Benito Carbone, and Wim Jonk joined stalwarts Kevin Pressman, Des Walker, and Andy Booth.
It was a dismal campaign, in truth. The Owls occupied the bottom three all season (bar the first game week), failed to win any of their first nine games, and were dealt an 8-0 battering by Newcastle United.
Manager Danny Wilson was given the backing of the board throughout much of the campaign. In retrospect, this seems an odd, and very fatal decision.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 17 | Bradford City | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | −30 | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Wimbledon (R) | 38 | 7 | 12 | 19 | −28 | 33 |
| 19 | Sheffield Wednesday (R) | 38 | 8 | 7 | 23 | −32 | 31 |
| 20 | Watford (R) | 38 | 6 | 6 | 26 | −42 | 24 |
Still, Wednesday had won just twice in the opening 20 games, but things did improve after Christmas. The Owls suffered just one defeat in five in the New Year, but the wheels soon came off again.
In the end, chairman Dave Richards departed for a role with the Premier League itself. Wilson lost his job soon after, departing in March 2000.
By then, it was too late. Peter Shreeves, Wilson’s assistant, took over but couldn’t save the club from relegation. A 3-3 draw to Arsenal in gameweek 37 was enough to seal Wednesday’s fate.
Sheffield Wednesday are true sleeping giants in the Championship
It was a sad day for Sheffield Wednesday fans, but a bitter one for general football afficionados, too. The Owls were a staple of the Premier League, having been one of the founding members in 1992.
The club’s past success and the legacy of football being born in Sheffield counted for nothing as English football saw a giant fall into the second tier.
| Season | Division | Finish |
| 2000/01 | Division 1 (now Championship) | 17th |
| 2001/02 | Division 1 | 20th |
| 2002/03 | Division 1 | 22nd (R) |
| 2003/04 | Division 2 (now League 1) | 16th |
| 2004/05 | League One | 5th (PO) |
| 2005/06 | Championship | 19th |
| 2006/07 | Championship | 9th |
| 2007/08 | Championship | 16th |
| 2008/09 | Championship | 12th |
| 2009/10 | Championship | 22nd (R) |
Since then, we’ve seen Wednesday plummet to the third tier, come back to the Championship, go down again, and return once more.
The great escape of 2023/24 was a stark reminder of how far the Owls have fallen. But, with Rohl at the helm, fans have started to dream again. He’s one of the most popular and indeed one of the best Sheffield Wednesday managers, with lots of potential.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 9 |  BlackburnBlackburn | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 42 | 40 | 2 | 52 |
| 10 |  WatfordWatford | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 47 | 51 | -4 | 52 |
| 11 |  MillwallMillwall | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 37 | 39 | -2 | 51 |
| 12 |  Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 53 | 59 | -6 | 51 |
| 13 |  NorwichNorwich | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 54 | 6 | 49 |
| 14 |  PrestonPreston | 38 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 39 | 44 | -5 | 47 |
Rohl has Sheffield Wednesday playing good football, has largely united the fans, and clearly has the trust of the players. The fact they are still within touching distance of a play-off finish this year is testament to that, even if they fall short.
If — and it’s a big if — Rohl stays beyond this season, we could see something special at Hillsborough. He’s been linked with Southampton, and fans fully expect Rohl to leave.
Hopefully he does stay, and gets the backing of the board. Then, finally, we might see this sleeping giant end its exile from the top flight.