When Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson was born in the summer of 1995, his hometown club were in the Premier League and Chris Waddle was their star player.
By the time he started going to Hillsborough as a supporter, they were in the third tier. They have bounced between there and the Championship in the two decades since.
But occasions like Friday night, which saw the Owls stun Newcastle to reach the FA Cup fourth round, with Waddle in the stands and full of praise for a ‘special night’, remind you that this club belongs in neither of those divisions, and certainly not League One, where they currently reside in second position.
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson (right) has expressed his hope that happier times are on the horizon for Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday beat a Newcastle side boasting millions of pounds’ worth of talent on Saturday
Darren Moore’s side are in the slums of League One – way below where they should be
Yes, as Owls boss Darren Moore admitted, Wednesday were boosted by Newcastle’s weakened team-sheet, but it still included a £60million striker, £40m midfielder and £32m defender. That was before £100m’s worth of talent arrived from the bench.
So while Goliath used its might to dominate — Newcastle had 22 shots and 75 per cent possession — they looked like a clumsy giant in front of goal. David, by comparison, used its stones sparingly and savagely. They had to smash, grapple and grab at times.
Josh Windass was the hero with two goals inside 13 minutes in the second half, but Dawson had made sure they arrived at that juncture still level.
The shot count alone tells you he could hardly sit back and enjoy the show, like his fellow Wednesdayites had. But when the 27-year-old came to reflect, he was able to apply some perspective.
‘I have never seen the good days of Wednesday,’ he said. ‘I saw the League One struggles. I was there when we won promotion to the Championship in the play-off final at Cardiff in 2005. That is my first big memory, but then it was tough days in the Championship, relegation, and then promotion.
‘But since I have been in the building, it has been tough. To be involved in a relegation out of the Championship again (2020-21) was hard. So to have nights like this and to feel we are turning it around, it is great for everyone, especially the ones who have seen the bad times.
‘It is there for everyone to see what this football club could be like. If we keep on going in the right direction, we can have nights like this more often. Hillsborough was rocking.’
Dawson, a boyhood Wednesday fan, shone and was branded ‘unbelievable’ by Kieran Trippier
Only once since the start of October have Moore’s side been beaten, and even that was in an EFL Cup penalty shootout against Premier League Southampton.
Supporters talk with confidence regarding the structure now in place at Hillsborough, from Moore and the recruitment team to the ambition of Thai owner Dejphon Chansiri.
For all the turbulence of recent years — and expectation here still leads to grumblings of discontent concerning Moore’s playing style — it feels like they are on course for a smooth passage back to the Championship.
‘Any footballer will tell you they don’t want to ply their trade in League One or League Two,’ added Dawson. ‘Every League campaign is not plain-sailing from start to finish.
‘We had a tough patch in terms of performances, but still managed to grind out results, so it was never doom and gloom from our side. We knew we would turn the corner.’
Josh Windass struck for Wednesday to equalise before Matt Smith scored the winner
In turning the corner, they drove Newcastle boss Eddie Howe around the bend, such was their resilience. Kieran Trippier called Dawson ‘unbelievable’.
Twice he saved from Alexander Isak in the first half when the £60m striker looked more likely to score. The home crowd twisted the volume dial clockwise in the wake of those super stops.
And this old ground was swaying by the time Windass pounced from close range in the 52nd minute before following up with a first-time steer from 20 yards in the 65th minute. Bruno Guimaraes responded for the visitors but the home side survived a nervy finish.
‘What a game, what a cup tie,’ said Waddle, who played for both clubs. ‘Give Wednesday massive praise, they had a go at Newcastle. They didn’t sit back, they were only forced back the last 15 minutes.
Newcastle will be kicking themselves, they had glorious chances and could have put the game to bed. But Wednesday deserved it for the commitment they showed, it was fantastic.’
