People are only just realising why Sheffield Wednesday are called ‘Wednesday’

PEOPLE are only just realising why Sheffield Wednesday are called ‘Wednesday’.

The Owls are one of the most iconic clubs in English football and not just because they have a day of the week in their name.

Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest football clubs in the world.

The Yorkshire based outfit actually started out as a cricket club called the Wednesday Cricket Club, which was founded in 1820.

The club was named after the day of the week on which it played their matches and because founding members had a half day off work.

In 1867 the club created the Wednesday Football Club as a way to keep the players fit in the colder months when cricket wasn’t usually played.

The club turned professional in 1887 and adopted their current name of Sheffield Wednesday in 1929.

They adopted the nickname the Owls following their move to Owlerton in Sheffield.

However, Sheffield United fans used to refer to them as pigs because of a story which suggested their current stadium Hillsborough was built on a pig sty in the 1880s.

The Owls have won nine major honours in their history including four first division titles and three FA Cups.

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The club haven’t been in the Premier League since 2000 and are currently in League One.

Darren Moore’s side staged a memorable comeback from 4-0 down in the first leg against Peterborough to win on penalties.

They have a chance to earn promotion to the Championship against Barnsley in today’s League One play-off final.