'Right at the very top' - Sheffield Wednesday coach has lofty ambitions after seeing bouncing Hillsborough
Pete Shuttleworth has loved being part of things at Sheffield Wednesday, and sees the club really going places under new ownership.
Shuttleworth joined the Owls last year as a first team coach, forming part of Henrik Pedersen’s technical team ahead of what they knew would be a testing campaign in the Championship. Things got even worse off the field after he joined, but he was a key figure in helping the Dane hold things together at Hillsborough despite all of the challenges.
The 47-year-old came with a world of experience having worked at clubs like Derby County, Birmingham City, Plymouth Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers prior to his move to S6, and he also spent time at international level with the Republic of Ireland.
Wednesday’s staff, players and supporters have been through a lot recently, especially over the last year in particular, but Shuttleworth says that he’s been blown away by what he’s seen from everybody involved.
Speaking to The Wednesday Word recently, the ex-Sheffield FC assistant admitted that the atmosphere at the West Bromwich Albion game as the 2025/26 season came to a close was ‘like we were winning a cup final’.
“For all the heartache that we’ve all had, the staff, the players, the supporters,” he told TWW. “It’s been tough, we’ve been knocked again and again, but we’ve tried to keep our chins up and stay positive. The lads were amazing, to put in what they put in knowing that we had a depleted squad and had to use a lot of young players.
“But to finish the season with a win, and see that positivity back in the stadium… When we went out at 12 o’clock for the warm-up, the stadium was packed and they were chanting and singing already - it was the most energetic warm-up I’ve ever witnessed in my life. They were there like we were winning a cup final when it was just a possession drill.
“They were amazing in their fancy dress, and after seeing the energy they were giving, we went into the changing room and just told the lads to feed off it. And they did just that, they did us proud.
“Yes, in reality it only took us to zero points, which is not much to celebrate, but the rebirth of the club and what we can do next year after the news about the points means that it was a really good starting point for what comes next. Hopefully next season we can have atmospheres like that when we’re looking to win the title or reach the play-offs or doing something really special.”
“We need to build on that now going forward, but with more quality - and win loads of games of football to take the club onto the level where it should be… Which is right at the very top.”
Visiting Hillsborough was nothing new for the Owls coach, but it was different being part of the home side rather than the away one, he explained.
“I’d known Hillsborough before from the away dugout and as the away team,” Shuttleworth went on to say. “So I know what it can be like because I’ve been on the receiving end of it, but to feel it from the home dugout, and to feel what they gave the team was incredible.
“We know it’s not been a successful season in terms of the amounts of wins we got, but what a group of players. They stuck together, tried their best, and tried to make the supporters proud of what they put out on the pitch - hard work, endeavour, competing. All the basic values of Sheffield Wednesday. We need to build on that now going forward, but with more quality - and win loads of games of football to take the club onto the level where it should be… Which is right at the very top.”
Shuttleworth was speaking to TWW after helping to raise thousands of pounds for Weston Park Cancer Charity, and he’ll now be hoping that the positive mood around Hillsborough after the season just gone can transfer into what lies ahead.
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