Football
Liam Palmer Reflects on Sheffield Wednesday's Survival and His 25-year Journey Ahead of Testimonial Match
Sheffield Wednesday's Liam Palmer reflects on the club's narrow escape from Championship relegation and his 25-year journey ahead of his testimonial match.
Image Credits: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
Liam Palmer is confident Sheffield Wednesday learnt a tough lesson having narrowly avoided Championship relegation last season.
Historic Comeback and Promotion Triumph
The Owls famously won promotion back to the second tier the previous season despite having looked down and out after the first leg of their semi-final play-off with Peterborough United.
Posh led 4-0 going into the second leg, but Palmer and his teammates pulled off arguably the biggest comeback in the history of the competition to win the second leg 5-1 and then triumph 5-3 on penalties.
They went on to beat South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley 1-0 at Wembley to regain their Championship status
The Challenge of Staying Up
But last season was a barrage of fire, and the club only managed to avoid the dreaded drop after a deal scrap at the end of the season.
Now, Owls’ stalwart defender Palmer, the club’s longest-serving player, believes they will bounce back stronger from the experience as the look to make waves in the second tier this term.
“The times when we’ve had relegations and tough moments make the good moments that bit more special,” Palmer told SportsBoom.com
I think we were under no illusions last season that a newly promoted side is not going to challenge for promotion straight away
Liam Palmer
“Looking back, especially how the season finished with us celebrating (staying up) on the pitch at Sunderland, well a lot got made of that.”
“Some people said it was a bit embarrassing, but it wasn’t the fact we were celebrating staying up, it was the feeling of where we’d got to from where we have been.”
“We had a few honest conversations amongst ourselves as players to make sure we got over the line, so to do have done in it right at the last minute – when everybody won that day – was an amazing feat.”
The Importance of a Strong Start
Palmer: “The previous season we’d won a lot of games, we were winning regularly and had that winning feeling. There was a level of expectation because of the comeback at Wembley.”
“So, to have been relegated the following season would have taken a lot of the shine off our promotion.”
“We were desperate to stay in the league, but what we’ve learnt is that is imperative to start well.”
“We didn’t win for our first 17 games last season, which was unacceptable, so we want to flip that now and show what a good start can mean to a campaign.”
“We’ve put in a lot of hard work and detail in pre-season, for me the standard has gone up with the new players that have come in.”
Image Credit: Sheffield Star
“It’s one that I don’t ever want to end to be honest.”
“It will, of course, but I’m just trying to enjoy every minute of it, whether that’s from a day-to-day perspective or taking a lot more of it in.”
Reflecting on His Journey
“When you’re younger you tend to have your focus elsewhere, but as you get older that changes.”
“I was so driven when I was younger than you don’t get chance to acknowledge the day-to-day achievements as much, you just don’t get much chance to reflect.”
“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved. Right up until I was 16 or 17, I didn’t think I really wanted to this (play football) for a career.”
“I just loved playing football, and I loved Sheffield Wednesday. I never thought of making it until I go to that scholarship age, and you start thinking about the level you’re going to need to produce to make it.”
“I actually thought ‘I’m not far away from the level need to do this!”
“But feeding off that hunger of youth, excitement and enthusiasm really helped me.”
“I’m probably enjoying my football now more than I was then, so that probably tells you how much I’ve enjoyed the journey.”
“It’s not all been plain sailing my no means, but I’ve been incredibly proud to represent this club.”
“I’ve grown from being a boy to a man.”
I joined the club at seven and I’ve been there ever since. It’s been a journey, that’s for sure!
Liam Palmer
“It’s one that I don’t ever want to end to be honest.”
“It will, of course, but I’m just trying to enjoy every minute of it, whether that’s from a day-to-day perspective or taking a lot more of it in.”
Reflecting on His Journey
“When you’re younger you tend to have your focus elsewhere, but as you get older that changes.”
“I was so driven when I was younger than you don’t get chance to acknowledge the day-to-day achievements as much, you just don’t get much chance to reflect.”
“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved. Right up until I was 16 or 17, I didn’t think I really wanted to this (play football) for a career.”
“I just loved playing football, and I loved Sheffield Wednesday. I never thought of making it until I go to that scholarship age, and you start thinking about the level you’re going to need to produce to make it.”
“I actually thought ‘I’m not far away from the level need to do this!”
“But feeding off that hunger of youth, excitement and enthusiasm really helped me.”
“I’m probably enjoying my football now more than I was then, so that probably tells you how much I’ve enjoyed the journey.”
“It’s not all been plain sailing my no means, but I’ve been incredibly proud to represent this club.”
“I’ve grown from being a boy to a man.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.