Sheffield Wednesday legend David Hirst has returned to Hillsborough as club ambassador, with a new fan bar named after him opening in the South Stand under the club's new American ownership.
Hirst, who scored 149 goals in 11 years at Wednesday from 1986, had been in exile from the club for a decade after a contract dispute involving his son George, who is now at Stoke City, soured his relationship with former owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Meeting the new owner
Hirst first met David Storch, the American businessman behind the Arise consortium, over dinner in March, soon after Arise became preferred bidder to buy Wednesday out of administration. The pair discussed nicknames. 'Is it David or Dave or is it Hirsty?' Storch asked. 'Hirsty's good enough for me, and then we'll know who you're talking to,' Hirst replied. Storch told him: 'Well, that's great, because my name's Storchy.'
The two met again at the West Bromwich Albion game in May, which Hirst described as 'a fantastic carnival atmosphere, exactly how it should be every game at Hillsborough.'
'We met just before the takeover in a little restaurant in Sheffield,' Hirst said. 'We had a great chat about plans they had if the takeover came to fruition. I was sold from the start. It was all about reconnecting and finding out who and what they needed to know to get our club back where it belongs. They've come with such a positive attitude into what was to be honest an absolute s***storm.'
Rebuilding under Storch
Wednesday sit top of League One after six games under head coach Henrik Pedersen. The new owners have installed a fresh executive team, signed 18 new players including the return of Barry Bannan, restored the 1970s owl as the club crest, and struck a kit deal with Umbro for a classic blue-and-white striped home shirt with black shorts.
Exile and return
Hirst said he had felt unwelcome at the club since the row over his son George in 2018. 'I don't know how the other lads felt but I wasn't welcome after my previous adventures with Mr Chansiri,' he said. 'Things were well documented from one side and that was Mr Chansiri's side. He embellished and elaborated on things that weren't true and it wasn't something I was prepared to slug out in public, so I walked away.'
'We weren't the bitter ones. We understood George had to leave through situations beyond our control. I was still a Wednesday fan. I still watched from afar. I'm a blue, George is a blue. Thankfully it worked out well for both of us and now it's great to be back. It was a no-brainer for me. I'd been away for 10 years and to come back and the welcome I received, the only thing missing was the fatted calf.'
Hirsty's Social
Hirst's bar, Hirsty's Social, opened at the start of this season, focused on pies and ale rather than corporate hospitality. Three hours before kick-off against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, Hirst greeted fans for selfies and hugs. 'Anyone who was here against Bromley, yes I am wearing the same clothes,' he told the room, referencing Wednesday's 7-2 win. 'Yes, I have washed them before you ask, but we all liked the 7-2 win, so I thought I'd give it another go.'
Last month marked 40 years since Hirst, now 58, joined Wednesday from Barnsley for £250,000. 'I've been here so long I know virtually everybody in the stadium,' he said. 'We've had a good start. If we'd got beat every game it might be different but everybody coming in here has a smile on their face.'
Memorabilia and guests
The bar is dominated by a large 'WEDNESDAY' sign that once hung on the back of the West Stand and was found unused beneath it. There are plans to display Hirst's old shirts, photographs and his original contract, also unearthed from old club documents. Belgian artist and Wednesday fan Brecht Vierstraete presented Hirst with a framed portrait, which Hirst said would go on display.
Former players Mel Sterland and Rodger Wylde attended as guests, with Wylde toppling from a small stage during a Q&A before being admonished by Hirst for using dressing-room language in the bar. The bar features a Sheffield music soundtrack, beer from Thornbridge Brewery, pies from Jackson's bakers, and carpets designed by creative agency Peter & Paul in Kelham Island.
A more Sheffield-centric club
Sheffield pop artist Pete McKee presented Storch with an original painting at the first home game of the season against Bradford City. The painting, now in the boardroom, shows Storch in Wednesday stripes and a garland, taken from the West Brom game when he confirmed the takeover and said he had convinced the English Football League to waive an expected 15-point penalty. 'This place has had three licks of paint since 1966, and now we're getting murals and paintings on the wall,' Hirst said.
Chansiri bought Wednesday in 2015 and spent heavily, reaching the play-off final before Wednesday lost, broke EFL financial rules, suffered points deductions and fell into crisis, ending with administrators taking over what Hirst called 'an empty shell of a club.'
'I've seen Storchy and other members of his staff in and around the city,' Hirst said. 'They've been at Sunday League football, non-league football, in the city shaking hands and speaking to people. That never happened before. With Mr Chansiri, it was his box and that was that. There was no input or output. He ran things the way he saw fit and the guy spent a hell of a lot of money, but you can't buy dreams like that. He thought you could come from nowhere and run a football club his way. It turned out spending a vast amount of money wasn't the right way. The right way is to get the knowledge around you and listen to the right people.'
Managing expectations
Wednesday drew 0-0 with Wigan on Saturday, a result that kept them top of League One. The club remains under strict EFL spending restrictions after its financial troubles.
'Let's not kid ourselves,' Hirst said. 'We were weeks if not days from going under. We've an old ground that needs some care. They're working on it. Things are not going to be perfect this season on or off the field. Hopefully, it's good but I come from the real world, and I've been around football for long enough to know there's no magic wand in this game.'
