Like many others my age, I knew already at that point that I wasn’t going to be good enough to play for them (or anybody else for that matter). To write for a living was my dream, and for the subject matter to be my football club was the ultimate goal.

It’s why, after over a decade away, I jumped at the chance to do exactly that a few years ago. I read The Star growing up, my grandad had it delivered until the day that he died, and knowing that he kept clippings of some of my articles from the paper is something that always warms my heart.

During my time covering Wednesday I’ve been lucky enough to write about some incredible moments, attend some phenomenal games, and meet many of my footballing heroes – both from my childhood and the modern day. I’ve had drinks with some of my club’s most memorable figures, and been in rooms that teenage me would never have believed. In so many ways I’ve lived the dream.

I feel incredibly privileged to do. I get to watch football for a living, and then write about it. I get to speak to great footballing minds, and consequently improve my own knowledge of the game that I love so much.

‘Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ they say.

Except that’s not always the case. Over the past year or so especially, there’s been very little to love about this job, and a lot that not only felt like work – but was actively miserable. This isn’t a ‘woe is me’ piece, so please stick with me, but from a professional perspective the arse end of the Chansiri era has been the most difficult and draining of my career.

Hours of pouring through rules and regulations, thousands of emails and messages trying to understand the farce that was playing out in front of us all. Days spent trying to verify where pirate-esque chests full of gold and LinkedIn screenshots were real. ITKers having a pop myself and my colleagues in the media over something they’d heard from someone that was absolutely 100% true… When it wasn’t.

But then came the light. The top-up of my battery, so to speak. Seeing those away ends, hearing those chants, watching the fanbase that I’m so proud to be a part of defy the misery thrust upon them to simply choose to enjoy what was left of a frankly horrific season.

The last 10 days or so completed the recharge. I’ve seen some big days at Hillsborough during my time as a Wednesdayite – from the stands and from the press box. But being there on Takeover Day was up there with the best. The atmosphere, the sense of rebirth, the coming together once more of a group of supporters who have been through the absolute wringer. Honolulu Wednesday. Wednesday are massive. That song with no words - I don’t even know if it has a name - that just took me back to being in the stands with my dad and grandad.

Thank you to everyone who came up to me over the last couple of weeks, who had kind words to say about The Wednesday Word, or came to thank me (and my counterparts) for what we’ve done over the last year. But honestly, if anybody needs thanking, it’s you lot.

The change enacted at Sheffield Wednesday is the result of a monumental collective effort. It doesn’t happen without the fans, or the Supporters Trust, or the 1867 Group, or the club staff, players and manager. It doesn’t happen, of course, without David Storch and Arise. No one person or group deserves more plaudits than another in my eyes, this football club has been given a fresh start because of every boycott, every letter and every person taking a stand. It’s a victory for all of us.

Then, to add to all that, Friday and Saturday was another shining example of what Wednesday is all about. I spent time talking to the likes of Sam Hutchinson, Steven Fletcher, Jack Hunt and so many others as they returned to raise money for the incredible Weston Park Cancer Charity, and the message was always the same…

“I loved it here, I still love it here.” Carlos Carvalhal said that practically all of them speak about their time at Hillsborough as the best of their careers. Thousands turned out for the dinner and charity game organised by the Community Programme, and in total tens of thousands of pounds will have been raised. Just Wednesdayites doing what Wednesdayites do.

I started writing this in an airport lounge after a few drinks, so forgive me if I’m a bit soppy, but the two weeks have been another reminder of what I’m so incredibly proud to be part of this family. I didn’t choose it, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

‘Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ they say. Even though that’s not always true with Sheffield Wednesday, I still have the best job in the world. Up those zero point Owls.

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Grainger’s name isn’t new to Wednesdayites, they’ve been hearing it for a couple of years now following his exploits at U15 level alongside now Manchester City striker, Caelen-Kole Cadamarteri. This season, though, he’s taken the step up into the first team – despite being just 17.

Most fans know of his goalscoring and creating exploits at youth level… He’s got 32 goals and assists for club and country so far this season, though he’s still waiting for his first in the professional game. If it wasn’t for a good save from Sol Brynn on Wednesday night, that would’ve changed.

But it was his challenge on Luke Ayling, who was on the brink of signing his first pro deal at Arsenal when Grainger was born, that stood out for many. It showed a spirit, a tenacity, similar to his performance against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season when he went toe-to-toe with Sean Longstaff.

The talented teen is seen as somebody who is in a similar mould to Josh Windass. The number 10 position, whether centrally or more to either side, is the one earmarked for him going forward – and it’s where he ended up at the Riverside after replacing Jarvis Thornton.

Throwing down the gauntlet…

His ability is there to see, but his attitude has also stood out. The Wednesday Word understands that the gauntlet was thrown down to the Wales youth international back in November after a heavy defeat to Sheffield United’s U18s. Still 16 at the time, but with growing hype, Wednesday’s coaches – and Henrik Pedersen – wanted to see more from him.

Since then he’s become a regular feature in first team training, donned the captain’s armband at U21 level, and shown glimpses of the fact that he’s ready to be a more utilised part of the senior side at Hillsborough.

A big problem, however, is that he still doesn’t have a professional contract. The ongoing takeover situation at S6, and the uncertainty that surrounds it, has meant that Grainger is still on a scholarship at Middlewood Road, and he could be snapped up by another team at any point. He wants to stay at Wednesday, TWW is led to believe, but without a contract anything can happen.

We’ve seen the Owls mismanage youngsters far too often over the years. They’ve got the pathway wrong, or the former chairman made it difficult for reasonable terms to be agreed. Players have languished in the U21s when they should’ve been out on loan, or getting more minutes at senior level.

The hope is that new owners, and almost certainly new structures, at the club will fix that, and sorting out a deal for Grainger should be among their top priorities when it comes to the football side of things when – or if – this takeover happens.

Some teenagers would’ve wilted after a stern talking to from the first team manager, Grainger has flourished. Now he deserves to be rewarded with a proper deal, and a road map of how his boyhood club plans to make sure he does what many others haven’t - reach his potential.

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Charles, who is still just a 20-year-old, put on an absolute masterclass at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon. His 11 saves were the most any Championship goalkeeper has pulled off since he did the same - also against Leicester City - back in August. This outing was different, though.

After his world-class stop from Oliver Skipp, the double-save that kept out Stephy Mavididi and Luke Thomas and the phenomenal effort to stop Jordan Ayew from getting a winner, there was no doubt about who was Man of the Match. There were other big moments, too.

So it’s truly miserable that this evening, amid all the praise and all the positivity, the former Manchester City youngster was subjected to racist comments from a cowardly individual who frankly has no place in modern society.

We don’t know who they are, or who they support, because they’re faceless - as so many of them are. His flurry of racist comments on Charles’ Instagram were met with the sort of reaction that you’d hope for - and expect.

The club said their piece, too.

Pierce Charles racism ‘deplorable on every level’

A statement from them this evening read, “Sheffield Wednesday are aware of disgraceful and completely unacceptable racist messages directed towards one of our players on social media following Monday’s game against Leicester.

“The club condemn in the strongest tone any form of racism or discrimination and will work side by side with the relevant authorities to bring the offenders to justice… It is not the first time we find ourselves in this position. It is deplorable on every level.

“Our zero-tolerance stance remains steadfast and unequivocal. Racism is cowardly. It has no place in society. We stand together and only together can we stamp it out.”

It’s incredibly depressing that in the year 2026 we’re still dealing with this. It’s a minority, that’s what we always caveat this with, but minority or not - it’s still happening.

Pierce won’t let it bother him too much, he won’t let a brilliant Easter for the Charles family be ruined by a dickhead with a keyboard. I’ve had the chance to chat with him many times over the years, and he’s got a far better head on his shoulders than I - and many others - had at his age.

He’ll know that this cretin with their private account and default profile picture will never achieve what he will. By 20 he’s one of the hottest goalkeeping properties in Europe, he’s an international footballer, he’s got the adoration of a fanbase that loves him. Some racist with a keyboard shouldn’t detract from what was a truly brilliant display at S6.

Negativity often sticks more than positivity, that’s an unfortunate fact of life, but Pierce is so much bigger than some troll online with nothing better to do. And I’m certain will see him on some grand stages in the future. He’ll have the sort of future that some idiot with letters and numbers for a username can only dream of.

Wednesday are heading to League One and nothing that happens between now and the end of this season will change that. Pedersen is the one that’s overseen this calamity of a season, and he’s the one who has drawn the ire of so many Owls fans looking for somebody to blame.

But we all know where that blame lies. It’s not with the manager, who’s doing his best to keep morale up and avoid getting battered. It’s not on the players who have continually run themselves into the ground in the most unpleasant of situations. It’s not the fault of anybody who still turns up at Middlewood Road every day trying to keep this football club ticking over.

The winless run is miserable, as was the torrid spell without a goal. Speaking to people within the game, though, there’s nothing but praise for the way that the Dane has gone about his business with Wednesday.

People can complain about his subs. But what options does he really have? They can question his tactics. But often it’s just been damage limitation. This football team isn’t managing games badly; they’re simply running out of steam… It’s why we see the same movie so often. Compete, hold their own, concede, lose.

The fact of the matter is that Pedersen does not deserve to be judged on this season at Hillsborough. Nobody from the outside really knows if he’s a good manager or not, because nothing about his first season has been even close to normal. The 48-year-old has been playing catch-up since his first day on the job, and has had hurdles placed in front of him at every turn.

Pedersen is regarded highly in football circles. He’s a big reason why so many clubs were so willing to work with the Owls in recent transfer windows despite their hugely restrictive limitations. There’s been no sniping from behind the scenes - which is common if a changing room is ‘lost’ - and there has been plenty of praise for the way that he’s kept this sinking ship bobbing along.

Relegation may have been confirmed last month, but it’s been a certainty for months. Despite all that, the Wednesday boss didn’t let standards drop. Players were reprimanded for lateness, individual meetings to talk about improvement continued, and it’s been drilled into players that a lack of effort would not be tolerated.

An entire summer rebuild is on the cards, one that will – hopefully – be overseen by a new owner. David Storch has already met with Pedersen and by all accounts liked what he heard – a decision will have to be made one way or another come June. For what he’s done over the last year, I reckon the Owls boss has earned himself a crack at doing this job in a functioning and supportive environment.

If it doesn’t work out, then fair enough. But let him succeed or fail on his own merits, not the actions of a Thai businessman who left one of England’s oldest football clubs to fall into absolute and complete disrepair.

Rumi, a 13th-century Persian philosopher, once said, “Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.” Henrik Pedersen took over a Wednesday side destined for ruin - he at least deserves a chance to pursue the treasure that could lie ahead.