I hope it stays that way – otherwise it will get like American football, where they bring their families and have hamburgers and everything, and that would spoil it for me. Celtic won the SPL title earlier this month with an 18-point lead over Rangers in second,” wrote Matt Bicknel in April 2012. Mick Picking (Defender for Sheffield Wednesday) was there for me when I lost my mum, he took me back to his house and he looked after me. Players were jubilant at the final whistle after six matches where kept clean sheet after clean sheet. Twelve pints, eight whisky chasers and one stripper later, Jimmy is making a fool of himself on the Bramall Lane pitch in front of that long-suffering dad from Hollyoaks, who is handed the No-Nonsense Scottish Manager role that football films seem to think is absolutely mandatory.

Down in the Football League, Millwall were top of the First Division (now Championship) in December 1996.

He played for the Owls 129 times, scoring 12 goals, between 1982 and 1985 and was an integral figure in Howard Wilkinson's side which won promotion to the top flight in 1984. Running out at Ibrox with a full house was absolutely magnificent and it was a pleasure to play for them. When you play with attacking full-backs, it would be ideal for me because all I used to do was get down the line, get crosses in, make goals and score goals.

An energetic, dynamic right back, Mel’s powerful shooting earned him the nickname ‘Zico’ – after the Brazilian star – and his attacking prowess saw him strike 49 goals for Sheffield Wednesday, many from set-pieces. I told my dad that I was going to see him and he said, 'don’t be frightened, be positive, you’re in the first team.That chance comes in the Cup semi-final against Manchester United, no less, but any football pedants still watching might want to prepare themselves. However, he emerged as a regular player in 1980–81, when still only 19 years old, playing 22 league games and scoring once in the Second Division. I know Celtic will be at them and they’ve brought a few players in but Rangers have got good balance now, they’ve got exciting players and I think Gerrard and Gary Mac won’t let it slip. Sterland was a key player in Leeds United’s title triumph of the 1991–92 season – the last of the Football League First Division before the creation of the FA Premier League as the top division of English football – as he scored six goals in 31 league games.

Quite how a football could be hit so hard and yet with such precision is still baffling scientists today and how Sterland somehow managed to get the ball to gather pace en route defied the laws of physics. By now, Wilkinson’s side had established themselves in the First Division but, once again, a Wembley trip proved elusive as Everton triumphed 2-1 after extra-time at Villa Park. It was made more than 35 years ago but the details of trying to afford energy bills and work out how to make do with what you still resonate. At Wednesday he will be fondly remembered for, among other things, the role he played in helping the Owls to the 1966 FA Cup final, and the fact that he was utilised all over the field in a variety of different positions.

His time at Ibrox would be brought to an abrupt end however when Souness decided to cut his losses and sell Sterland to Leeds United. Palmer celebrated in the direction of the benches, enraging the Spaniards who confronted the City forward. We have covered this question, back in 2005, when we discovered posties, pest-controllers, a vicar and many other curious post-career ways to earn a living. But it was typical of a unique footballer and an engaging character who demanded success from himself and others.

It is why the former full-back, brought up on the Manor estate in the Steel City and a regular on the Kop back in the days when supporters were still open to the elements, is eagerly looking forward to tonight’s gala dinner to celebrate the Owls being formed exactly 150 years ago. He revelled in the Elland Road atmosphere and played with the sense that every day was the best of his life. His surges down the right flank and deliveries into the box often created goals for his teammates and he was also known for his lengthy throw-ins. He said: “On The Manor was filmed at a really challenging time for people on the Manor estate and it’s about living in poverty conditions…and feeling like the community has been let down by the Government.If it’s not too infra dig to respond to one’s own question,” continues Michael, “I’ve just read about Josh Gray (also ex-Darlington, funnily enough). You just think ‘I’m playing for Sheffield Wednesday and now I’m playing for England and I’m from the Manor Estate. In the 1987-88 season then-European champions won a 20-team league by a 15 point margin – but, since at that time a win only got you two points in Portugal, that lead would translate into 25 points on current standards. Trafford looked like he would concede his first goal of the Euros when Spain were awarded a penalty with seconds remaining after Abel Ruiz was fouled by Levi Colwill.