Sheffield Wednesday are one of the iconic names in English – and not just because they have a day of the week in their title.
The Yorkshire side are one of the oldest football clubs in the world and have an impressive array of silverware in their trophy cabinet.
But why exactly are Sheffield Wednesday called ‘Wednesday’?
Let’s take a look at the history behind the club’s name.
Where did Sheffield Wednesday get their name from?
Sheffield Wednesday actually originated as a cricket club.
The Wednesday Cricket Club, founded in 1820, was named after the day of the week in which the team played its matches.
The Wednesday Football Club was created in 1867 by the cricket team as a way of keeping the players fit and together during the winter, with cricket typically not played during the colder months of the year.
The football team also played their games on a Wednesday as that was the preferred day of the traders who made up the majority of the side.
The club turned professional in 1887 and adopted their current name in 1929 under the stewardship of manager Robert Brown.
Wednesday also took on the nickname ‘Owls’ following their move to Owlerton, Sheffield.
A less affectionate name was given to them by supporters, who used to refer to Wednesday fans as ‘pigs’ in light of the spurious story that their current stadium, Hillsborough, was built on a pig sty in the 1880s.
Wednesday were also reportedly the first of the two Sheffield teams to be named the ‘Blades’.
The nickname, a reference to the city’s steel industry heritage, is now used by Sheffield United instead.
How many trophies do Sheffield Wednesday have?
Sheffield Wednesday have won nine major honours in their history.
Along with their four First Division titles, the club have collected three FA Cups, one League Cup and one Community Shield.
Wednesday have spent the majority of their existence in the top tier of English football but have not played in the since 2000.
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