A bit about you:
Name: Rich Davies
Current home town: Sheffield
Birthplace: Sheffield born & bred
How long have you supported your team? I’ve been a season ticket holder 30 years this season but I’ve supported the Owls pretty much since I was born, so over 40 years!
Overview of your club:
Favourite thing about your home ground:
I love going to Hillsborough, yes it needs a lick of paint, but it has character and it’s the Church were we Owls fans worship every other Saturday (and the odd Tuesday). And I know Leicester fans have fond memories of Hillsborough from a night back in 1997 too!
Favourite match played by your team & why:
There have been a few games down the years and I’ve narrowed it down to two games. First off one from the past was the 1991 League Cup Final, then known as the Rumbelows Cup. As a Second Division (Championship) side at the time, and “massive” underdogs, we beat then Division 1 (Premier League) Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley with a John Sheridan goal to bring the cup back to Sheffield and in doing so we became the last club to win the competition while competing outside the top flight.
The other game would be the final game of the 2011-12 season v Wycombe with it all in our hands to clinch promotion to the Championship. We won 2-0 and got promoted (at the expensive of our close neighbours in S2 – “mind the gap”) but, and this is sending shivers down my spine typing this, seeing Hillsborough for what will probably be the only time ever we’ll see Owls fans on all four sides of the Stadium and the celebrations that went with the day was a sight my kids and I will remember for a long long time!
Favourite player of all time who played for your club:
It has to be Chris Waddle without a second thought. It was a pleasure to watch an absolute legend (and I don’t use that word lightly at all) week in and week out during his time with Wednesday. My youngest son Riley is named Riley Christopher in his honour, he hasn’t met Waddle yet but I hope to change that soon at one of the many charity games he plays in the Sheffield area!
About our forthcoming match against you:
Your favourite current player in your squad and why?
As a rule I don’t usually have favourites so I’ll go with my twin boys’, Rhys & Riley’s, favourite player who is Jermaine Johnson (JJ). They are only seven and have been season ticket holders since they were one and JJ is the one player who has been there during all of this time and they love his pace, trickery and his goal celebration – he’s out of the side currently but will no doubt be on the bench. If I had to pick one player in the current side it would be Atdhe Nuhiu for this heart and 110% effort every time he pulls on the shirt!
Player in your squad we should most fear and why?
Despite losing to Watford last weekend we have a few players who are in form right now. The centre back partnership of Loovens and Oneywu would be one to look out for and Connor Wickham was probably our best player whilst on loan from Sunderland with 8 goals in 11 games before he returned to his own club. Right now though Leon Best (another loan player) is scoring regular but Kieran Lee in midfield is probably the one to watch on Friday night.
Player in our squad you most fear and why?
Being slightly biased I’d have to pick a local lad (local to us) in Jamie Vardy. He’s had a great season for Leicester and his goals have obviously got you on the verge of promotion to the Premier League.
He’s a “massive” Owls fan and for those of you that know Sheffield he enjoys the odd soft drink in my local ‘The Wadsley Jack’. He’ll get a great reception from the Owls fans in the King Power Stadium with a shadow of a doubt, unless he scores against us (which is probable)!
Up and coming prospect in your squad?
I said in the piece last year one youngster to look out for was Liam Palmer who was out on loan at Tranmere Rovers for the season, well I wasn’t wrong. He’s been a regular in the side this season firstly at right back, whilst Lewis Buxton was out injured, and now in central midfield and he’s had a great season so far.
The future is looking bright now as we have quite a few youngsters with potential around the academy squads and we’ve had another player emerge this season in the shape of striker Caolan Lavery. He’s already a Northern Ireland U21 international and has scored goals in the first team this season, most memorably 2 against L**ds in a 6-0 drubbing at Hillsborough. Caolan will be on the bench at the least on Friday night.
Where do you think you’ll finish this season?
The season is nearly at an end and after an awful start Stuart Gray has definitely turned our fortunes around. I think we’ll finish about 12th but any higher than that would be a bonus for us this season but as long as we finish above L**ds we’ll all be happy.
How do you think you’ll do against us?
Obviously Leicester are on a real hot streak now, I believe it’s 20 unbeaten in the league right now, the last time you guys lost was a couple of games in a week against Brighton and also at Hillsborough with goals from Connor Wickham. However with you shooting for the Premier League I think this one will be a score draw.
Any other comments?
I’d like to congratulate Leicester City on the season so far which will no doubt finish with promotion to the Premier League! You have a great manager who us Owls fans know very well so a “massive” well done to Nigel Pearson! WAWAW