Chris Kirkland explains how Sheffield Wednesday helped Joe Wildsmith win a prestigious League One award.
Chris Kirkland played for Sheffield Wednesday for three years, making 90 appearances before being replaced by Kieren Westwood.
The custodian also played alongside Joe Wildsmith, who has been with Wednesday since he was a child.
The 28-year-old was promoted to the first team in 2014 and spent a year with Kirkland before leaving, giving him a chance to break into the starting lineup while Westwood was injured.
Wildsmith spent eight years with the Owls’ senior team but never established himself as a regular, eventually joining Derby County on a free transfer.
Despite spending January on the bench, Wildsmith has mostly retained his first-choice position for the Rams this season, earning promotion to the Championship as well as the League One Golden Glove award.
The Owls academy product has 20 clean sheets in 40 Derby starts, and he has only conceded three goals in the team’s final eight games.
Sheffield Wednesday are responsible for his Golden Glove award.
Kirkland congratulated his former teammate on X, citing Middlewoad Road training as a key factor in his success.
The 42-year-old posted a message on Twitter: “Congratulations Joe pal I knew all those extra gym and core sessions at 8am every day I had you doing with me @swfc would pay off in the end.”
Sheffield Wednesday could use Joe Wildsmith now.
Joe Wildsmith’s career never really took off with his boyhood club, and he was frequently up against stiff competition for his spot.
Wildsmith faced significant challenges in replacing Kieren Westwood, one of the best goalkeepers in Wednesday’s history.
However, the Owls could really use him this summer. He has clearly developed into a great player since leaving Hillsborough, and Wednesday may go into the summer with no senior goalkeepers.
Hopefully, Wednesday won’t take Derby’s place in League One.