(R)
Sheffield United 2 v Sheffield Wednesday 1
The Championship
Sunday 22 February 2026
SUFC 2025/26 Game #49
Look. This is my (R)ivalry. I don't really go in for the playground farmyard animal name-calling, with both sets of fans using the same insult at each other. Also, I don't really go for the new gotcha style of rivalry - one of ‘em has posted this, so that means they think this, which fucking contradicts this other thing - gotcha … piggy!!!
My first Derby was Hodgy’s Testimonial at Bramall Lane, in September 1968. I was stood on The Lane End. Acid was thrown on The Shoreham.
This is my Rivalry. To me, it doesn't feel like hate. I just want to beat them every time, I want them to lose as many of their other matches as possible, I want them to plummet down league tables, I want them embroiled in betting scandals and other financial controversies, I want them to sign shit players, for vast prices, and pay them far more than they are worth. I want them to run out of money, I want the bailiffs called in. I want a final day of the season where we get promoted, and they get relegated. I want to win a game against them to relegate them, in bastard February. I want them fucking gone. From my ground, from my league, from my competition, from my line of sight, from my hearing. Gone. Fucking gone.
What? Yes thanks. I have had a few good years recently.
No empathy. No sympathy. My Rivalry. Gone.
However. While we're at it. The English Football Club Ownership Model is broken. Broken for us all. Not just Sheffield Wednesday. Broken. And it can't be fixed now.
Fuck ALL Owners.
Fuck our Owners. And Fuck Chansiri.
Which type of Bad Owner do you prefer is all that is down for us. And we can't even fucking choose. They'll just descend on us.
One of the key takeaways from the Chansiri era is;
Even when it looks like the owner is spending their own money, they're not. They're just putting the Club into ever more debt - to themselves. That is how Chansiri ends up a major creditor of his own Football Club.
Chansiri has spent a load, on any old shit, and now he wants it back. Sure, he won't get it all back. But, if, as many fans of many clubs feel, it's the Owner splashing their own cash - why/how the fuck can he put a claim in?
And the solution for Sheffield Wednesday is obvious. Having been put into Administration to save the club, they need to come out of Administration with a new owner. A new owner who will spend a load, an absolute fucking load. But, this time it'll be different. Because the money will be spent on EXACTLY the right players. Success, she will arrive, oh yes.
Do the same. But different. Obvs.
The English Football Club Ownership Model is broken.
The shit hit the fan for Wednesday when they couldn't pay the lady in the ticket office, the bloke on the car park, the players and the taxman. Wednesday Fans need to be realistic about what “recovery” means for them in the short term. It's not getting six points from the next nine games. It's about meeting those payments.
It's worth explaining - going into an Administration is not a victimless crime.
Wednesday were promoted out of League One in 2023. They pipped other clubs to a play off spot, knocked Peterborough United out, and beat Barnsley in the Final. That pipping, knocking out and beating was done by players who shouldn't have been playing for Sheffield Wednesday. Done by players who Sheffield Wednesday palpably couldn't afford.
Him who scored that goal against you. The defender who headed it clear. The impact sub who came on. None of that should have happened. Because those players were being paid money that ultimately wasn't there.
You've been robbed.
What was Big Patrick Bamford Number 45 doing? The ball is played into him. He's in space. He's got time. But, he's just stopped!!!
I'm in the Bramall Lane Upper Corner. Big Pat is in the inside left channel in front of the Shoreham End. Let's have it right, we're distant. We have an imperfect view of each other. Have I missed something? Has a whistle already gone? Has a flag been flagged? Because, Pat has stopped. When he should be TheOppositeOfStopped.
Pat has stopped, so he can work out how to score, Pat scores. Beautiful.
You can argue the toss about Kalvin Phillips sending off. But, at least we have consistency. Those challenges, where you make a tackle, fairly in old money, but your follow through is not controlled, and you make contact on your opponent, dangerous contact. Those. Those are consistently Red Cards. It's not an appalling challenge. But, it ends up with a clattering on the kid's shin. That's how it is nowadays.
The Red Card changed the dynamics of the game. A reshuffle for United. Disruption. And Wednesday got a toe hold.
A bit of panic. Under pressure a bit. Struggling to find an out ball. But, it's not like Wednesday were dangerous, creating good chances. And we had the best chances in the later stages anyway.
Rivalry. Relegated. Gone. Good.
Bearwood Brewing (Wokingham), Weapon Of Choice: Riwaka, Hazy IPA on Keg at 5.8%
Abbeydale Brewery, Pathfinder, Hazy Pale Ale on Keg at 4.5%
Shiny Brewery (Little Eaton), Armchair Astrology, Hazy Pale Ale on Keg at 4.4%
Would you please consider subscribing (free) to have my Blog delivered to your email inbox (via Substack). Thank you.
You can find me on Social Media
X @ball_sup
Untappd ball_sup
Stats
I have now Blogged from 1,753 games in 4,205 days







Some interesting and wise words. A good read and some nice 👌 beers 🍻 where were you drinking ?
great read as always pal!