Feel Good Wednesday

Wednesday's clash with rock-bottom Charlton Athletic this weekend brings with it a rarity as far as recent Owls matches go - a feel good factor.

It's that feeling I got when we played Norwich City on the final day of last season - albeit being a huge game to win to stay in the Championship - with the club working with the fans to get beautiful old Hillsborough packed to the rafters like the 'good old days'.

It's different to that of a Sheffield derby, with all the excitement of a great atmosphere and a big crowd, minus the nerves and fear of being upset on the day by our near rivals - of course that never happened...

In recent seasons, I'll admit, sometimes I've seen going to watch the Owls as a chore rather than going for the excitement of seeing the football in display, or for the atmosphere.

Saturday is the exception, and hopefully there'll be a lot more exceptions to come this season and beyond.

We can expect a good crowd at S6 on Saturday, largely thanks to the offers put in place by the club before all the recent changes, but it's much more than the crowd and atmosphere that'll make Saturday special.

Of course, it's the arrival of Lee Strafford as club chairman and Nick Parker and the club's chief executive officer which has sparked what will hopefully be a successful new era at the club.

The duo, along with the remaining staff at Wednesday, seem to have done more in a matter of days and weeks at S6 than the club have done in the past couple of years.

The lowering of ticket prices, special offers for season ticket holders, special ticket prices available on the day of the match, beamback for the Sheffield derby, and much, much more, with hopefully, much much more to come.

It seems like a different club, a club going places, a club that's there primarily for the fans, a club given back to us.

Saturday feels like we're as one, the club, the fans, all hoping for victory against Charlton to mark the start of what will be, in the long run, hopefully a return back to the promised land.

Maybe I'm getting carried away, but that's what football's all about isn't it, hope?

Coming back down to earth slightly, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if Charlton came and spoiled the party this weekend, despite being on a terrible run of form which has left them somewhat adrift at the bottom of the Championship.

Still, the buzz of once again having the feeling of excitement ahead of an Owls match, the sight of the stands at S6 more full than empty, and the sight of Lee Strafford and Nick Parker in the directors seats, will no doubt show that Wednesday are back.

Get down to Hillsborough this Saturday, tickets are available at £10 for adults and £5 concessions - and are available on the turnstiles - and have a bit of the feel good factor!

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