Richard Hercock: Sheffield clubs must rebuild from top to bottom and restore pride

That was over 30 years ago, back on Boxing Day 1979, and most folk in Sheffield probably thought the fixture would never take place again at such a low level.

Since those dark days – the Blades even dropped into the fourth tier of English football shortly after – both Wednesday and United have graced the Premier League and enjoyed success on the field.

The pinnacle in Sheffield derbies came at Wembley in 1993 when over 70,000 travelled down the M1 for the FA Cup semi-final.

But next season it looks like the unthinkable will happen; another Sheffield derby on the fixture schedule, and once again it will be in League One (the old Division Three).

An astonishing run of results from both clubs meant that until the Owls grabbed a 1-0 win at Carlisle United nine days ago, neither Wednesday nor United had won a match since mid-December.

Few at Hillsborough would have believed that possible after thrashing Bristol Rovers 6-2 just days before Milan Mandaric completed his takeover and saved the club from administration.

Optimism was sky-high and manager Alan Irvine splashed the cash in the January transfer window, but he still could not buy a win and it was no surprise to see him sacked and Gary Megson drafted in.

Mandaric must have thought he had bought a classic motor only to drive round the corner and discover the wheels had fallen off on a clapped-out banger.

Megson, the former Owls player, took time to work out what had gone wrong at Hillsborough – mainly that Irvine attempted to create a completely new defence midway through the season while allowing his captain to walk away for free (Darren Purse’s contract was cancelled, then he walked into a job at Championship side Millwall a few days later) – but recent results seem to suggest the rot has been stopped.

Before Saturday’s game with Plymouth – themselves troubled by finances which have seen them take a 10-point deduction – Wednesday had kept two successive clean sheets on their travels at second-placed Bournemouth and Carlisle. Hugely impressive for a side which had been conceding three goals a game.

But the damage has been done this season and mid-table seems Wednesday’s destination unless they can string together an unlikely winning run. At least with nine of their final 15 matches being at Hillsborough this season, they will have home advantage.

Across the city at Bramall Lane, things look even worse, if that is at all possible.

Like Wednesday, United turned to one of their own to help resuscitate this once proud club.

In Micky Adams they have a lifelong Blades fan, but hard work and application can only take you so far.

Currently on their fourth manager this season, it is clear that the financial problems at United mean it could get worse before the club can start to rebuild.

After winning against promotion-chasing Swansea City on December 18, few would have predicted the Blades would not pick up a victory from their next 14 games.

I would wager the Hercock family heirlooms that if Chris Morgan had not missed most of the season with a cruciate ligament injury then United’s situation would not be so severe.

One man never makes a team, but Morgan is a man-mountain of a leader on the field and his attitude is infectious. United are much weaker defensively without him.

With games against Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and QPR coming up, the fixtures are not being kind to United.

If the Blades do join Wednesday in League One next season, there could be several derbies in store.

For Chesterfield and Rotherham United – the unofficial third Sheffield club as they lodge at the city’s Don Valley Stadium – look good bets for promotion from League Two, while Scunthorpe United could be joining the Blades in falling from the Championship to join Wednesday and Huddersfield Town, who, however, will be hoping they can pass the Blades on the way up.

One thing is for certain, any Steel City derby next season will not even come close to beating the 49,309 crowd of 1979 – still a record for the third tier of English football and one unlikely to be beaten. The 1980 Easter return at Bramall Lane was watched by 42,526.

So what for the future?

Adams has to be persevered with despite the mutterings that this winless run should bring another change of manager at the Lane.

It is now time to stick with the guy, even in relegation, and allow him time to rebuild and start from scratch this summer.

As for Megson, perhaps he could take a drive by his former school, Myers Grove, in Stannington just a stone’s throw from Hillsborough.

Myers Grove – whose former pupils also include ex-Owls manager and player Chris Turner and this correspondent – has seen better days.

Part of the school, known in my days as a pupil back in the early Eighties as the lower school where you would spend your first two years aged 11 and 12, now stands derelict with windows smashed. The playground where we kicked around a football is now a car park.

The rugby pitch off Wood Lane is now overgrown and even dog walkers avoid it.

Its crumbling state is a sorry site, a bit like what has been allowed to happen at Wednesday over the years.

But looming high above the old buildings is the new Forge Valley Community School – a merger of Myers Grove and neighbouring Wisewood school.

That is what both Wednesday and United need right now.

To rebuild from top to bottom, put in solid foundations, and bring the pride back to Sheffield football which the long-suffering fans of the Steel City clubs richly deserve.