Name: Jack Allen

Born: 31/01/1903

Position: Attacker

Clubs: Brentford, Wednesday, Newcastle, Bristol Rovers, Gateshead

International honours: None

The name of Jack Allen will forever be associated with the league championship winning campaigns of 1928/29 and 1929/30, as he finished top scorer on both occasions and netted an incredible 74 goals over the two seasons.

Having been recruited from Brentford in March 1927, Allen endured a relatively slow start to his SWFC career and was in and out of the team as Wednesday floundered close to the foot of the table following promotion from Division Two.

However, a run of four goals in the final five games of the 1927/28 'Great Escape' season highlighted Allen's potential as a goalscorer.

In October 1928, he was given the opportunity to shine in the centre-forward position when injuries sidelined Ted Harper and Jimmy Trotter. Jack fired eight goals in three games against Portsmouth, Birmingham and Bury, and by the end of his 14th game in the role his tally had reached 22. At the end of the term, he had struck 35 times in 37 outings.

The following campaign saw Allen claim 39 goals in 47 matches, including four in a 7-2 victory over Manchester United and hat-tricks against Derby County and Leicester City. Six of those goals came in the FA Cup run which saw SWFC reach the semi final.

Allen fell out of favour the following year as the success of Jack Ball saw him relegated to the sidelines, and in January 1931 he was sold to Newcastle United. Jack will long be remembered as the lethal Londoner whose goals earned league success for the Owls.

Season         Appearances    Goals
1926-27                    5                0
1927-28                  17                9
1928-29                  37              35
1929-30                  47              39
1930-31                    8                2
TOTAL                  114             85

Name: Gary Bannister

Born: 22/07/1960

Position: Attacker

Clubs: Coventry City, Wednesday, QPR, Coventry City, WBA, Nottingham Forest, Atoke City, Lincoln City, Darlington

International honours: England under-21

Bannister's razor sharp marksmanship made him a big favourite with the Hillsborough faithful in the early 1980s. He topped the club's scoring charts in each of three seasons spent in the Steel City, playing a major part in the rise under Jack Charlton and Howard Wilkinson which saw Wednesday challenge both for a return to the top flight and FA Cup success.

Charlton paid what proved to be a bargain £100,000 to Coventry City for Bannister's services in 1981 and the talent which attracted Big Jack was immediately apparent. The crowd quickly warmed to the striker after a goal on his home debut against Crystal Palace and 'Banno' never looked back.

In his first season he was an ever-present and rattled the first of three 22-goal hauls over his time in S6, as the Owls came agonisingly close to promotion from Division Two, his efforts earning the supporters' Player of the Year award.

His best scoring spell came between late November and mid-February, when he claimed ten goals in 11 games including five consecutive games on target.

The Cheshire product was also in blistering form at the outset of the 1982/83 season with seven goals from the opening eight matches as SWFC ascended to the top of the table by November, before a dismal string of results saw them gradually slip down the rankings as dreams of cup glory took priority until the FA Cup semi final defeat by Brighton.

In 1983-84 Gary teamed up with new signing Imre Varadi to form a strike partnership which proved the scourge of opposition defences. The pair were simply unstoppable, bagging 41 goals between them as Wednesday stormed to promotion.

However the fans never got the chance to see Bannister play First Division football for the Owls. That summer he joined Queens Park Rangers for £200,000 - SWFC's record sale at the time.

Season      Appearances      Goals
1981-82              45                     22
1982-83              50                     22
1983-84              48                     22
TOTAL              143                    66

Name: Ernest Blenkinsop

Born: 20/04/1900

Position: Left back

Clubs: Hull City, Wednesday, Liverpool

International honours: England, 26 caps

The high standard of performances produced by Ernest Blenkinsop during his 11 years as an Owl earned him a reputation as one of the best left-backs to wear the blue and white stripes.

Blenkinsop was known as an unflappable and stylish player whose confidence when distributing the ball, and craft when controlling it, endeared him to the hearts of the Wednesday faithful.

He had played as a centre forward for a spell at his previous club Hull City, but after Bob Brown spied him turning out for the Tigers' reserves, he moved to Sheffield and became established in the role of full back.

Cudworth-born Ernest was a vital cog in the SWFC line-up which won the League championship twice in a row after a meteoric climb from the foot of the second division. His form earned him an England call-up and he was the regular international left-back from 1928 to 1933.

In total he gained 26 caps - making him the club's most capped player for 30 years until Ron Springett surpassed that total. Blenkinsop also captained the national side and in a 1930 defeat of Scotland, he was one of four SWFC players on England duty that day.

When Ernest was sold to Liverpool, the move did not earn universal approval from supporters with many feeling he still had a major role to play at Hillsborough. That reaction displays the affection with which Blenkinsop and his achievements in the game were regarded not just by Wednesday supporters, but followers of the game around the country.

Season       Appearances      Goals
1922-23                18                     0
1923-24                45                     0
1924-25                14                     0
1925-26                42                     4
1926-27                40                     0
1927-28                43                     0
1928-29                41                     1
1929-30                45                     0
1930-31                42                     0
1931-32                42                     0
1932-33                23                     0
1933-34                29                     0
TOTAL                424                    5

Name: Tom Brittleton

Born: 23/04/1882

Position: Midfielder

Clubs: Stockport, Wednesday, Stoke

International honours: England, five caps

Brittleton's Wednesday career spanned 15 years and numerous playing positions, earning him a special niche in the history annuals of the club. He was known as a colourful character and this reputation was furthered by the fact that he made his last SWFC appearance at the age of 41.

Brittleton was initially recruited from Stockport County in January 1905 to play as an inside forward, but over the course of his time at Owlerton he filled in at full back, centre half and centre forward before he became established in the wing half position. He was one of the first players to use the long throw as a mode of launching attacks and was also renowned for his tackling ability.

Tom played in every round of the FA Cup in 1907 as Wednesday swept aside Wolves, Southampton, Sunderland, Liverpool, Woolwich Arsenal and Everton to lift the trophy for a second time. He assumed the captaincy from Andrew Wilson before gaining international recognition with England in 1912, the first of his five caps.

Allied to his achievements on the pitch, the Winsford product had a reputation for being somewhat unique in his approach to life and an oft-recounted incident which sums up that image occurred in 1911. Tom was selected by the Football Association to represent them on a tour of South Africa. He weighed up the idea before deciding that his summer would be better spent fishing!

The longevity of Brittleton's career is testimony to both the ability and the attitude of a unique and talented character.

Season      Appearances      Goals
1904-05              12                    3  
1905-06              20                    3
1906-07              39                    1
1907-08              37                    6
1908-09              37                    5
1909-10              34                    6
1910-11              32                    1
1911-12              31                    2
1912-13              38                    1
1913-14              35                    2
1914-15              26                    1
1919-20              32                    2
TOTAL              373                  33

Name: Lee Chapman

Born: 05/12/59

Position: Attacker

Clubs: Stoke City, Arsenal, Sunderland, Wednesday, Niort, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Ipswitch Town, Swansea City

International honours: None

A four-year stint at Hillsborough proved the pivotal period of Chapman's career, as the towering striker banished previous failures to carve himself a reputation as one of the top frontmen in the country.

A traditional centre forward in the old fashioned sense, the Lincoln-born star's ability to crash home crucial goals, particularly with his head, created a trademark and made him an idol to legions of Owls fans.

His aerial prowess was allied to a level of bravery that ensured he would always risk injury by going in where the boots and heads were flying. Indeed it was a common occurrence for 'Chappy' to be sporting stitches in a nasty wound after a game - often picked up in the process of finding the net.

Lee's £100,000 transfer in 1984 ended the short stay at Sunderland which followed a miserable period at Arsenal. Upon arriving in Sheffield he set about the task of rewarding Howard Wilkinson's faith in his abilities by notching 20 goals in his first season - including strikes against both Arsenal and Sunderland, and his other former club Stoke City.

Despite suffering fitness problems during the 1985/86 season, Chapman contributed 15 goals, helping Wednesday to a fifth-placed finish and progression to the FA Cup semi final.

Twenty-two goals the following term earned him the Player of the Year award and were also crucial in gaining the Owls a mid-table finish from a disappointing campaign as the team began to lose impetus.

Lee was a bright spot again through the 1987/88 term, weighing in with another 22-goal haul to top the scoring charts for the third successive - and final - term, before departing for French club Niort at the end of that season.

Season      Appearances      Goals
1984-85             49                    20
1985-86             41                    15
1986-87             49                    22
1987-88             48                    22
TOTAL             187                   79

Name: Tommy Craig

Born: 21/11/1950

Position: Midfielder

Clubs: Aberdeen, Wednesday, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Swansea City, Carlisle United, Hibernian

International honours: None

Ask any Wednesdayite introduced to the club as an early 1970s youngster for the identity of their boyhood hero - chances are they'll name Tommy Craig.

The little Scot became one of the most popular players in SWFC history during his five and a half year stint at Hillsborough, equally admired by young and not-so-young alike.

Tommy was a cultured midfield man whose creativity made him the team's talisman during his time at the club. His educated left foot was a huge threat from set pieces and outside the area, while his prowess from the spot also earned him a reputation as a penalty expert.

The Glaswegian was a record breaker on two counts when he moved south of the border in 1969, as the £100,000 SWFC paid to Aberdeen broke both the club's transfer record and the British record for a teenager.

News of his arrival was met with approval by the fans, so it was therefore unfortunate that Craig's stay at Wednesday coincided with one of the bleakest periods in their history. His bright start in Sheffield 6 was over-shadowed by relegation from the top flight in his first full campaign, setting the tone for a decade of struggle.

In spite of his best efforts at the heart of the midfield battleground, the team floundered as they endeavoured to adapt in Division Two and by the time of his departure for Newcastle in 1974, the Owls were heading for Third Division football for the first time in their history.

Had Tommy been part of a more talented SWFC outfit, he could have achieved much more. However, he succeeded in entertaining his followers and giving them fond memories that are treasured by many to this day.

Season       Appearances      Goals
1968-69                 1                     0
1969-70                43                    5
1970-71                42                    5
1971-72                39                  10
1972-73                45                  11
1973-74                40                    4
1974-75                23                    4
TOTAL                233                  39

Name: Tommy Crawshaw

Born: 27/12/1872

Position: Defender

Clubs: Heywood Central, Wednesday, Chesterfield

International honours: England, ten caps

Crawshaw served Wednesday for 14 years, in which time he played a vital role in both league and cup success the club achieved in that period.

The centre half joined the Owls in 1894 from Heywood Central, having begun his footballing career with Attercliffe. Within a year of arriving at Owlerton, he had been selected for England and went on to gain ten caps as well as playing for the Football League XI.

Sheffield-born Crawshaw was a player who led by example, much respected by colleagues and opponents alike, and he brought his brand of courage and determination to every game he played in. He was a vital member of the Owls' first FA Cup winning side in 1896, scoring in the semi final replay against Bolton. He also played in every game of the 1899/1900 promotion campaign.

As SWFC established themselves in the First Division, Crawshaw's experience was a major influence and it was a proud moment for the man from the Park district when the club won the league championship in 1902/03.

Crawshaw missed just one game that season and only two the following year as Wednesday retained the title and reached the FA Cup semi final. Manchester City denied him the opportunity of lifting the cup on that occasion, but that defeat only delayed cup success.

In 1907 the Owls faced Everton in the FA Cup final at Crystal Palace. Goals from George Simpson and Jimmy Stewart sealed a 2-1 victory, and captain Crawshaw brought the squad back home to a hero's welcome. The triumph proved a fitting send-off for Tommy, who moved to Chesterfield the following year.

Season      Appearances      Goals
1894-95              32                    3
1895-96              33                    4
1896-97              28                    0
1897-98              32                    3
1898-99              34                    5
1899-1900          37                    3
1900-01             33                     4
1901-02             31                     1
1902-03             35                     0
1903-04             38                     0
1904-05             36                     0
1905-06             43                     0
1906-07             38                     1
1907-08             15                     0
TOTAL              465                  24

Name: Terry Curran

Born: 20/03/1955

Position: Attacking midfielder

Clubs: Doncaster, Nottingham Forest, Derby, Southampton, Wednesday, Sheffield United, Everton, Huddersfield, Sunderland, Grimsby Town, Chesterfield

International honours: None

Curran made a phenomenal impact during his time as an Owl - his maverick style of play and the part he played in Wednesday's resurgence under the stewardship of Jack Charlton making him the idol of the Kop.

The manner of Curran's arrival in March 1979 epitomises the nature of the man, the player electing to drop down two divisions from top flight club Southampton. In his first full season at Hillsborough, he fired 24 goals as the Owls were promoted to the Second Division.

The high point of that campaign was the 'Boxing Day Massacre' of Sheffield United at Hillsborough. Terry was outstanding, scoring one and creating another two as the Blades were subjected to a legendary 4-0 hammering.
In the return derby match at Bramall Lane, he curled home a superb shot from long range to further enhance his popularity on the terraces.

Although known as a winger, Curran was employed in a floating role during that campaign, a move which proved a huge success. Many supporters felt that his form was worthy of an international call-up and on his day Terry was certainly a handful for the most accomplished of defenders.

In the 1980/81 campaign, his 11 goals helped the Owls find their feet in the higher division. In his final year at the club his relationship with Charlton deteriorated, in spite of the fact that Wednesday were once again pushing for promotion - this time to the Division One - and Curran's form suffered as a result.

Terry will always be remembered with warm affection by all at SWFC as the man who emerged as the final ingredient in the mixture which revived the Owls' fortunes.

Season      Appearances      Goals
1978-79              12                     1
1979-80              46                   24
1980-81              41                   11
1981-82              39                     3
TOTAL              138                  39