Relaxed approach paid off for Owls to shock United in final

‘Big Ron’ steered the Owls to a Wembley victory over Manchester United in the League Cup final 20 years ago today that opened the door to a golden era in the club’s history.

Although branded a ‘Judas’ after quitting to join Aston Villa a few weeks later, he returned for a second spell as manager in 1996 and saved the club from relegation.

Now 72, Atkinson is still waiting on news of a proposed reunion dinner for the ‘Boys of 1991’. It will surely happen before too long.

The Wembley victory was one of the club’s greatest days and a declaration of intent as the Owls – then in the old Division Two – prepared to return to the top-flight.

From Stan Boardman telling jokes on the team bus, through the pre-match birthday party for Trevor Francis, to Yorkshire Television’s decision to screen War of the Monster Trucks not post-match celebrations, it left countless stories to be told.

Looking back yesterday, the memories are as fresh now as then for the man who masterminded it all. His self-confidence also shows no sign of waning.

“People often say to me now, ‘If you had stayed, Ron, we would have won the league title the following season’. And maybe they are right,” he said. “We absolutely paralysed some teams that year and would have gone up as champions but for the Cup run.

“We had good players with bags of character and spirit; Sheridan was a magician, (Roland) Nilsson was the best professional I ever worked with, Nigel Pearson – not the best centre-half in the world – but certainly the best skipper, and ‘Hirsty’ (David Hirst) who, at that stage in his career, was as good a centre-forward as anyone else around.

“They were a team both on and off the field and there were no outsiders. I never felt as confident before a game as I did that weekend. I just knew we were not going to get beat.”

A solitary goal from John Sheridan settled the contest and condemned Alex Ferguson’s side to a defeat just over two weeks before they lifted the European Cup-winners’ Cup.

“They were definitely more nervous than us,” said Atkinson who, ironically, was sacked to make way for Ferguson at Old Trafford. “I think he had only won one trophy at that stage even though it was four or five years into his reign. We were laughing and joking in the tunnel and they were edgy.”

The Owls’ pre-match preparations had been dramatically different to United’s with Atkinson using a number of managerial masterstokes.

“We took all the players and their wives to London on the Friday for a meal. It wasn’t really a party but a night out in an Italian restaurant,” he said. “By coincidence, it was Trevor Francis’s birthday and I remember Nigel Pearson fooled him into thinking he had received a telegram from Giorgio Armani.

“Who should walk in while we were there but (the Manchester United chairman) Martin Edwards. I asked him to stay and have a drink – saying the match would take care of itself – but he wasn’t keen. Maybe he thought I was playing mind games.

“On the Saturday morning, we decided to train them quite hard in Marlow. You don’t always have long sessions the day before a game but I wanted them to be fairly tired on Saturday night. Not many of the lads had played in a Cup final before and there might have been nerves. But none of them stayed up late, they all went to bed early. In fact, we had a job waking some of them.”

Atkinson employed the services of stand-up comedian Boardman to lighten the mood on the final journey to the national stadium.

“He cracked a few jokes and put the lads at ease,” he added. “He nearly overdid it, mind you, they were so relaxed. If we had lost, everyone would have said I was wrong to do it. And if I had been at the club for years, I probably wouldn’t have done it – but I wanted the players to feel special.

“That success ranked very high up in my career as it gave the club and its fans the chance to go to Wembley for the first time since 1966. It was extra special because they had waited so long.

“Even now, whenever I meet Wednesday supporters, they nearly always come up and say ‘Thanks, that was a great day that I will never forget.’ And Wednesday supporters are everywhere. Even the vicar in the village where I live in Worcester is a Wednesday supporter.”

When Atkinson quit to join Villa, he advised Owls chairman Dave Richards to appoint Francis as his replacement. Under the former England international, the Owls finished third in Division One the following season, qualified for the UEFA Cup, and also reached both the finals of the FA and League Cup in 1993.

Francis, however, was sacked in 1995, a decision that signalled the end of the club’s 90s boom period. The fact they are now in League One makes today’s anniversary even more poignant.

“I find it amazing when I look where the club is now,” said Atkinson.

“But whenever people talk to me about the four or five ‘biggest’ clubs in the country, I always say ‘Don’t rule out Sheffield Wednesday.’ I do hope they get back and I think it will be a big disappointment if they are not knocking on the door next season.”

Manager, TV pundit, landlord – what became of Cup heroes?

Ron Atkinson (Manager):Now 72, ‘Big Ron’ is enjoying his retirement. Branded a ‘Judas’ after quitting the Owls in the summer of 1991 to join Aston Villa, he returned to Hillsborough for a brief second spell as manager six years later and saved the club from relegation. His media work dried up in 2004 after a comment about Chelsea’s Marcel Desailly sparked a race storm.

Chris Turner (Goalkeeper): Sheffield-born Turner, who had reached the age of 38, was released by the Owls that summer. He returned to Hillsborough as manager but the club was in meltdown and he was unable to prevent relegation to the third tier in 2002. Was involved in a collapsed takeover deal for the Owls earlier this season.

Roland Nilsson (Right-back): The popular Swedish international was one of the key figures in Wednesday’s glory era and is often cited as the best foreign signing in the club’s history. After returning to Sweden he linked up again with Atkinson at Coventry and later managed the club in the Championship. He recently agreed to become the next manager of Danish champions FC Copenhagen.

Peter Shirtliff (Centre-back): After three years with Charlton, Barnsley-born Shirtliff had returned for a second spell with the Owls. By the time he moved on again in 1993, he had clocked up over 350 appearances for the club. Moved into coaching at Barnsley and has worked for a variety of clubs since including Leicester, Tranmere and Swindon. Also managed Mansfield.

Nigel Pearson (Centre-back): Club captain Pearson lifted the trophy at Wembley and was named man of the match. After leaving the Owls, he enjoyed success as a player with Middlesbrough before embarking on a career in management and winning promotion to the Championship with Leicester last season. He is now steering Hull City towards the play-offs.

Phil King (Left-back): A West Country boy, King was snapped up by the Owls for £400,000 in 1989 after impressing at Swindon. Spent five years at Hillsborough before linking up again with Atkinson at Aston Villa. Now a pub landlord in Swindon, he also works for BBC Radio Wiltshire.

John Harkes (Midfield): The first American to play in the English Premier League, Harkes spent three years at Hillsborough. He made nearly 100 appearances for his country and also played in two World Cups. After a brief spell with Derby, he returned to the US to play for DC United in 1996. Is now a Major League Soccer pundit on the ESPN channel.

Danny Wilson (Midfield): Currently out of the game, Wilson steered Barnsley into the top flight as manager but his return to Hillsborough in 1998 ended in failure as the Owls were relegated from the Premier League. Has also managed at Bristol City, MK Dons, Hartlepool and Swindon.

John Sheridan (Midfield): Despite spending the first seven years of his career with Leeds, it was at Hillsborough where Sheridan played the best football of his career. Still a massive fans’ favourite, he now manages neighbours Chesterfield who are set to win promotion as League Two champions. Played in two World Cups for the Republic of Ireland. Also managed Oldham.

Nigel Worthington (Midfield): Now manager of Northern Ireland, Worthington served the Owls for a decade, clocking up over 350 appearances. He moved to the club from Notts County and had linked up with his mentor Howard Wilkinson for a third time at Leeds prior to hanging up his boots in 1998. Led Norwich City to the Premier League before landing the Irish job in June 2007.

David Hirst (Striker): Cult hero ‘Hirsty’ is a regular in the Hillsborough hospitality areas on match-days. Injuries hampered his career but he still bagged 149 goals for the Owls and played for England three times during his 11 years with the club. Started his career at Barnsley and finished with a brief spell at Southampton but was often a target for Manchester United. When a £3m offer was snubbed by the Owls in 1992, the Red Devils signed Eric Cantona from Leeds instead.

Paul Williams (Striker): The Londoner was only with the Owls for two years but struck up a productive partnership with Hirst in attack and boasted electric pace. Signed from Charlton, he scored 25 goals in 93 starts for the club, before heading back south to join Crystal Palace. He is no longer involved in the game.

Substitutes:

Lawrie Madden (Defender): Madden became a freelance sports journalist and is a regular in the press room at Hillsborough.

Trevor Francis (Striker): Did not figure in the final but stepped up to become manager following Atkinson’s departure.