Grand Day Out - The life and times of Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley

OWLS LEGEND: John Sheridan fires the winner against Manchester United in the final of the Rumbelows Cup in 1991.OWLS LEGEND: John Sheridan fires the winner against Manchester United in the final of the Rumbelows Cup in 1991.
OWLS LEGEND: John Sheridan fires the winner against Manchester United in the final of the Rumbelows Cup in 1991.
IT has been a fair while between drinks since Sheffield Wednesday's last Wembley trip in the spring in 1993 when - like London buses - four quick-fire visits came around in a short space of time under Trevor Francis.

All told, Wednesday, who face Yorkshire rivals Hull City on Saturday in the richest one-off game in football which everyone is talking about - certainly on these shores - have frequented the home of football on seven previous occasions.

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Here’s the lowdown on all those previous trips to the national stadium.

FA Cup final replay, Arsenal 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1 (aet), May 20, 1993

Sheffield Wednesday's players salute their fans after their 1966 FA Cup Final loss.Sheffield Wednesday's players salute their fans after their 1966 FA Cup Final loss.
Sheffield Wednesday's players salute their fans after their 1966 FA Cup Final loss.

The replay proved not much more noteworthy than the first instalment, but star billing was afforded one man - an unlikely hero in Andy Linighan.

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The north-easterner, who played on with a broken nose after a first-half challenge from Wednesday striker Mark Bright, netted a last-gasp 119th-minute header in extra-time to seal the domestic cup double for George Graham’s side.

The replay, staged on a Thursday night, was notable for a number of reasons. It attracted the smallest crowd (62,267) for an FA Cup Final at Wembley, while the kick-off was delayed by half-an-hour because an accident on the M1; the first time a Wembley kick-off had been delayed since the ‘White Horse’ final in 1923.

David O’Leary, who still holds the record for the most Arsenal appearances, played his final game for the club.

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Steve Morrow celebrates at Wembley after scoring Arsenal's winning goal in the Coca-Cola Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. Picture: Adam Butler/PA.Steve Morrow celebrates at Wembley after scoring Arsenal's winning goal in the Coca-Cola Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. Picture: Adam Butler/PA.
Steve Morrow celebrates at Wembley after scoring Arsenal's winning goal in the Coca-Cola Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. Picture: Adam Butler/PA.

Wright put Arsenal ahead on 34 minutes with his 30th goal of the season following Alan Smith’s assist, but Chris Waddle levelled following Harkes’ cross.

FA Cup final, Arsenal 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1 (aet), May 15, 1993

A dour spectacle ended all square with David Hirst - who partnered Mark Bright up front with Paul Warhurst reverting to the defence - cancelling out Ian Wright’s opener.

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Wright stepped out on the shadows following his scoring blight to put the Gunners ahead on 21 minutes. A free-kick from Paul Davis was headed across the Wednesday goal by Andy Linighan - and Wright headed in from the far post.

Sheffield Wednesday Chris Waddle (right) and Mark Bright celebrate after winning the 1993 FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley against Steel City rivals Sheffield United. Picture: 
PA.Sheffield Wednesday Chris Waddle (right) and Mark Bright celebrate after winning the 1993 FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley against Steel City rivals Sheffield United. Picture: 
PA.
Sheffield Wednesday Chris Waddle (right) and Mark Bright celebrate after winning the 1993 FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley against Steel City rivals Sheffield United. Picture: PA.

Hirst levelled just after the hour. Bright headed on in the penalty area and John Harkes headed back for Hirst to drive in a left-foot shot.

Coca Cola Cup final, Arsenal 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1, April 18, 1993

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Oft remembered for the Steve Morrow ‘moment.’ For the initiated, it saw Arsenal’s Northern Ireland utility man bizarrely fracture his arm in a freakish accident following celebrations at the end of the match after the Gunners won 2-1.

A surprise selection in midfield, Morrow was celebrating his decisive goal - the first of his career - when he took a tumble over captain Tony Adams, and was carried off on a stretcher.

Sheffield Wednesday's players salute their fans after their 1966 FA Cup Final loss.Sheffield Wednesday's players salute their fans after their 1966 FA Cup Final loss.
Sheffield Wednesday's players salute their fans after their 1966 FA Cup Final loss.

While the rest of the team were performing a subdued lap of honour, Morrow was on his way to hospital to end his season.

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The game saw Wednesday, who went close when Paul Warhurst volleyed against David Seaman’s left-hand post, take a tenth-minute lead.

It proved a milestone strike for John Harkes, who became the first American to score at Wembley when he fired home low past Seaman from 18 yards following Phil King’s cut-back from John Sheridan’s free-kick.

The impressive Paul Merson restored parity from Paul Davis’s free-kick and after Kevin Campbell hit the post, the Londoners won it through Morrow’s emphatic 68th-minute after Carlton Palmer couldn’t clear a cross from Merson.

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FA Cup semi-final, Sheffield Wednesday 2 Sheffield United 1, April 3, 1993

Wednesday prevailed in the all-Steel City last four clash, with the game memorable for an exhilarating Chris Waddle strike and a late goal from Mark Bright in front of 75,364.

Steve Morrow celebrates at Wembley after scoring Arsenal's winning goal in the Coca-Cola Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. Picture: Adam Butler/PA.Steve Morrow celebrates at Wembley after scoring Arsenal's winning goal in the Coca-Cola Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. Picture: Adam Butler/PA.
Steve Morrow celebrates at Wembley after scoring Arsenal's winning goal in the Coca-Cola Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. Picture: Adam Butler/PA.

A brilliant Waddle free-kick put favourites Wednesday ahead in a spectacular Wembley moment.

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But the Blades were undeterred by the setback and fought back to take the match into extra time courtesy of a goal from veteran striker Alan Cork.

With the entire stadium - and no doubt the vast majority of Sheffielders back home - on tenterhooks Bright tapped in the winner to send the blue-and-white half of Sheffield into ecstasy and bring about instant depression for followers of the Blades.

Rumbelows Cup final, Manchester United 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1, April 21, 1991

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A sweet strike from gifted Mancunian schemer John Sheridan ensured history for the Owls, who became the first team outside of the top flight to win the League Cup since Swindon defeated Arsenal.

The golden moment arrived on 37 minutes with a stunning strike from the boot of boyhood Rev Devils supporter Sheridan.

Nigel Worthington’s free kick from the right was headed away by Gary Pallister, under pressure from Nigel Pearson and Sheridan stormed in, in front of Brian McClair to power home from the edge of the box.

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The Owls played the game out to ensure a famous win for the club and ex-Old Trafford boss Ron Atkinson as Wednesday claimed their last trophy success.

FA Cup final, Everton 3 Sheffield Wednesday 2, May 14, 1966

There was heartache for Wednesday after Everton came from 2-0 down to defeat the Yorkshire outfit in a pulsating Wembley final.

Jim McCalliog put the Owls ahead with a deflected shot which flew past Gordon West early on and they doubled their money on 57 minutes.

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Johnny Fantham saw his fiercely-struck shot half saved by West, with the unmarked David Ford firing home.

Cornishman Mike Trebilcock, a £20,000 signing from Plymouth, then came to the party in a resounding response from the Toffees.

In only his second cup tie, he scored two goals in five minutes to level before the winner came when Gerry Young allowed the ball to slip under his foot and Derek Temple ran on to score.

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FA Cup final, Sheffield Wednesday 4 West Brom 2, April 27, 1935

A crowd of 93,204 saw Ellis Rimmer-inspired Wednesday triumph 4-2 against the Baggies.

The Owls took the lead just two minutes in through Jack Palethorpe, but boyhood Wednesdayite Wally Boyes levelled before the break.

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Mark Hooper regained the lead for Wednesday twenty minutes from time, but the lead didn’t last long with a Teddy Sandford shot soon deflected into the net off Walt Millership to make it 2-2.

Rimmer, who had scored in every previous round for Owls, then announced himself, putting the Hillsborough outfit ahead and adding a second in the final minute.