Sheffield will host its first Steel City derby in over five years next season, and Wednesday captain Barry Bannan is eager to seize the opportunity to establish his team as the city’s top dogs.
Sheffield United finished at the bottom of the Premier League and will join Wednesday in the Championship next season, after the Owls’ dramatic final-day survival. The last encounter between the two sides was in March 2019, resulting in the third consecutive goalless draw. Wednesday will start the season ahead of United in the standings due to a two-point deduction imposed on the Blades for missed payments to other clubs during the 2022/23 season.
Bannan, who has yet to experience a derby victory with Wednesday, first played in the 4-2 defeat at Hillsborough in September 2017 before the series of draws. As he negotiates a new contract expected to extend his stay into a 10th season at S6, he is determined to change his derby record.
“It’s a big, big game,” Bannan told The Star. “During my time here, we haven’t been on the winning side, so it’s something I want to change next season. It’s fantastic for the city to have a Sheffield derby. When the derby comes around, the city is electric. As players, you want to play against your rivals and be the best in the city, so hopefully, we can claim the bragging rights and be the top team in the city next season.”
A dedicated Celtic supporter, Bannan has played in Birmingham derbies with Aston Villa. He relates to the passion of the fans and believes matches like the Sheffield derby are what footballers live for. He dismissed the notion that such matches are “just another game.”
“I grew up watching one of the biggest derbies in the world, so I know their significance,” Bannan said. “This is no different; it’s a massive derby. The hatred between the supporters on derby days is intense. But these are the matches you want to play in. Football without derbies and rivalries lacks excitement; you want to play against your rivals where there’s more at stake.
“People say ‘it’s the same as any other game’—well, it’s not. There’s a lot at stake, and as footballers, you want to make your fans happy. Growing up, if Celtic lost, I’d get teased at school for weeks, and my dad would get it at work. It’s the same here. If we lose, it’s not just for that day; it’s for weeks, months, sometimes the whole season. They’ve had the bragging rights since I’ve been here, but hopefully, we can change that.”
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