With less than a week to go now until the big kick off against Dagenham & Redbidge, self proclaimed 'Southern Owl', and regular Owls Blogger Rory McAllister kick offs with his latest blog.

Rory talks about his hopes and fears for the campaign and how he copes with the many jokes from Reading fans...

Dear Wednesdayites,

Well - where do I start? I suppose by saying hello again (if you read the blog last season - and thanks for doing so!) and hello to you if you're new to the blogs, or to Wednesdayite. Welcome! Come in, wipe your feet, sit down and join the ride. And what a ride it'll be. You can always be guranteed that with Sheffield Wednesday. The words Sheffield Wednesday are an anagram of 'we must all be mental', after all.

It happens very often, but I was asked again at the weekend why I'm a Wednesday fan (when I'm not from Sheffield and nor do I have any other connections). I have many different responses, some rehearsed which I reel off, some I make up on the spot and then add it to the list. I did, however, on this occasion use a tried and tested answer:- "...well, it's a lot more interesting than supporting Man United and winning all the time". This response often leaves the recipient funbling through customs for words to retort and often a look and raised eyebrow that says 'what kind of an answer is that?' Well, only a Wednesday fan would understand, wouldn't they? I'm sure you've found a wry smile over that one. I know I did.

So annnnnnyway - how are you? I know. I know. I feel the same. But I thought I'd ask out of politeness. It's been a fairly quiet few months for me since the Palace game (don't worry, that still hurts) but we've had a few signings and kept hold of some of the starting eleven.

I've been wearing my Wednesday shirt over the summer and you always get comments. Especially here in Berkshire, as for one, the blue stripes go the wrong way (Reading FC). And you always get comments purely because people don't see too many Wednesday shirts down this way. Problem is, it's always the same old bore with the same old line. "Sumbuddy' gotta support 'em!" HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!! I'm bent over. My sides hurt. Please stop! Please....honestly...you're hilarious. On this particular occasion I made a response up on the spot "Yeah, and there was 30,000+ of us of the last game of the season, so I'm not alone". Perhaps he was just trying to be friendly? Perhaps I was feeling sensitive. If you ask me, he was just trying to be boring. So yes, we find ourselves at the end of people's jokes again. But we're made of tougher stuff than that, aren't we? That's right. Steel.

So then, Saturday 7th August 2010. It begins all over again. Dagenham & Redbridge. I'm certainly for one not going to make jokes or act complacent, let's face it, our pre-season hasn't been amazing just yet, has it? However, looking at the players we've brought in, looking at the ones we've managed to keep hold of (for now) and just ignoring the £550,000 grand that the taxman wants from us we surely, surely, we should be in with a shout of getting back up first pop? Surely the half a million to the taxman will be sorted and we can concentrate on getting off to a good start? One thing I am looking forward to is the plethora of away fixtures down this way for this season, Brentford being the closest to me on Sunday 5th September - so I'll see you there, if you're going.

I won't write too much as we haven't even got going yet - we'll see how the season pans out. Before I go though, I hope some of you who tore up your shirt, stamped on it, cut it to bits or just threw it on the BBQ have come back for more. I have a feeling you might have. I know I would have. You just can't help it. If you feel Wednesday in your blood then it's there to stay. I know, sometimes you wish it'd just go away! I'd rather my blood be blue than red, though!

How do we rate our chances? The squad's fairly strong (for League One), it's a fresh-ish start for us and our first game is at home. Let's hope we break the 20,000 barrier for tickets although I know that's a big ask considering we've had no joy since 'that day in Cardiff'. And, ok, a few wins against the Blades here and there. Regarding Wednesday this season though, I can't help but thinking of England and the biggest footballing anti-climax since they first kicked a ball made out of pig's bladder. Perhaps I was a fool to think England would do well, I thought we'd make the quarters at least? I just hope Wednesday don't follow - frustrating, not performing and utterly disappointing. At least we know the first match won't be on ITV HD, so we won't miss any goals.

UP THE OWLS!  See you throughout the season!

- Rory The Southern Owl