Wednesdayite welcomes new Owls Blogger Rory McAllister to these pages, Rory is a Southern Owl and in this, the first of his monthly blogs, he starts by introducing himself and he tells us how and why he fell in love with the Owls.   

So over to Rory to tell his story...

"Dear Wednesdayites,

Hello - let me say that first up I'll let you know who I am. I'm Rory, 31, engaged, mortgaged-up, girlfriend of eight years and a Westie called Ruby of two and a half. I live in Ascot, Berkshire and have been a Wednesday fan for near-on 17 years now. It's a long story as to how I started supporting Wednesday, in a strange way I just had a soft spot for them. On the whole, it was mainly to do with Chris Waddle's arrival and the football season of 92-93 - and we don't need reminding of that?

And yes, I'm including our 'gift' to Manchester United with the title, Fergie and Brian Kidd on the pitch falling to their knees, fists clenched. Only a side like Wednesday would be capable of that, right?  But that's what makes us unique. We can do things other clubs can't.

Like loosing two cup finals in a row and gifting teams Premiership titles. And pushing over refs placing ourselves on yesteryear reels for years to come.

Other than that I don't think we've been that bad a bunch over the years
- sure it's been a roller-coaster to cliche it - but I did read somewhere we hold some sort of record for the amount of away fans brought to Cardiff for a play-off match (or any other club match for that matter). That's not bad is it? How many other clubs who haven't won anything significant in 19 years can say that?

So - why - as a 'Southerner' should I stick with a team with whom I have no affiliation with whatsoever? I don't come from Sheffield, neither do my parents, grand-parents or previous pets. My love for Wednesday goes back to being a kid from Berkshire I suppose. Reading were really the only local side worth a punt, but through those times there wasn't a lot to be had supporting The Royals - and I do believe you need some sort of head start when supporting a football team. I suppose my other point is just that at the time (and I still think this way now) there's a difference between a 'follower' and a 'supporter'. There's nothing wrong with either, except that I think that a 'follower' looks out for the result, keeps the odd eye on transfers and league position etc whereas a 'supporter' chucks their money the club's way by attending matches, buying scarfs, shirts and those cushions you can get in the Owls Megastore - and becomes a member of any affiliated side-clubs, like Wednesdayite.

A supporter. That's what I wanted to be. I've always liked to throw myself into whatever I'm doing with full passion and since crying and feeling like a dumped tramp after the FA Cup replay that Thursday night in May 1993 I knew I was hooked. I'd never got upset over a football match before - not even during/after England's semi-final against West Germany three years prior. Thing was, I knew there was a strong connection to both matches. Chris Waddle. He scored in the replay from his 'wrong side' of the pitch even though he's a left-footer which would make it his right side, but I still don't think to this day I've screamed and cheered as loud as I did watching it on the telly. It felt that important to me. I'd stuck my neck out at school, said I was a Wednesday fan and was surrounded by Arsenal fans on the playground. But I stood my ground even if they made me feel like a loser. I felt proud to be a Wednesday fan and proud of what they'd achieved. If it was Paul Warhurst's season of defender becomes striker or Waddle's brilliant semi-final Gazza-esque free-kick I don't know? But something had happened.

It felt great to be different. I'd never had a draw toward any of the London teams - even when Waddle was at Spurs (I've always been a Waddle fan). I'd got into football during Mexico '86 and then kept an eye on things but never really got too worked up about it until Italia '90 rolled around. Added to that is the Wednesday story which I've outlined above.

Anyhow - that's my story - albeit briefly.  It's been great to meet fellow supporters over the years - more so recently since I've joined Wednesdayite.

I'll hope you'll all accept me as one of your own - you have done so far

- and I apologise for having the wrong accent. Although I've never felt conscious cheering for Wednesday either at Hillsborough or away against the likes of Reading or QPR - I've also never been asked if I was "in t'wrong end, lad?".

I love being a Wednesday fan - I really do.  I've always had a story to tell as fan and I hope to be back on a monthly basis with this new blog for 2010.  Thanks to Richard at Wednesdayite for the invite to do it.  If ever I get anything wrong, feel free to batter me to a pulp, but go easy
- it was never my intention to be inaccurate about anything.

I look forward to meeting some of you and sharing half-time opinions whilst taking a slash - that's what seems to happen at matches in the Gents anyhow.  Although eyes are always kept above shoulder-level, obviously.

Until next time, when hopefully we'll have put even more points on the board and continue our creep away from the relegation zone, we'll blog again then.

UP THE OWLS!

- Rory The Southerner