Sheffield Wednesday v Rochdale: Weaver aims to turn back the clock and lead Owls to glory

Goalkeeper Weaver, a lifelong supporter of the Owls, won three promotions in four seasons at the start of his career with Manchester City.

He was also the hero of a penalty shoot-out in a play-off final at Wembley that took City back to the second tier.

However, since the last of his promotions in 2002, the door to Weaver’s trophy cabinet has remained firmly shut.

“We won two promotions in my first two seasons as a player, I was only 19 and I thought it would be like that every year,” he recalled. “Unfortunately in this game, you sometimes you have to go through bad times to get to the good times again. If we do win promotion this season, I will appreciate it a little bit more because I am older and being a Wednesday supporter, too, would also make it extra special.

“A club this big should not be in League One but it has had problems since leaving the Premier League. It’s been on a slippery slope but, hopefully, it has now been to its lowest point,” he added. “We failed to bounce back last season but at least League One holds no surprises for us now.”

Weaver, 32, plays for the Owls in today’s opening game of the season against Rochdale at Hillsborough.

Manager Gary Megson has been unable to bring in a new striker despite lodging an improved £250,000 bid this week for Rotherham United’s Adam Le Fondre.

Former Owls director Graham Thorpe, who served on the board between 1994 and 2002, has died aged 73.