Sheffield Wednesday take on one of their biggest rivals when Leeds United go to Hillsborough this evening – but the stadium will be mostly empty
12:36, 26 Aug 2025Updated 12:53, 26 Aug 2025
James is Associate Sports Editor for the Mirror website. He is regularly found miserably watching Sheffield Wednesday on weekends off work.
Sheffield Wednesday fans are boycotting tonight’s fixture against Leeds(Image: Getty Images)
Tonight, Sheffield Wednesday fans will do what no supporter wants to do and what no supporter should feel like they have to do.
The entire essence of being a football fan is going to the match, cheering on your team and being part of something which binds together generations of like-minded people.
But two stands at Hillsborough will remain completely empty for the Owls’ Carabao Cup clash against Leeds, and they will signify a club on its knees.
And, more pertinently, the name emblazoned into the seats of the North Stand will provide the very reason why: CHANSIRI.
Wednesday’s hapless Thai owner has taken them to the precipice of oblivion and fans now feel the only way to force him out of their beloved club is to starve him of any more cash.
READ MORE: Government take action on Sheffield Wednesday crisis as Owls fans plan ‘funeral march’READ MORE: Sheffield Wednesday have been left to rot by Dejphon Chansiri – he MUST sell crisis club
After a young Wednesday side toppled Bolton on penalties following a six-goal thriller in the first round, the Owls’ Supporters’ Trust went about polling their members over whether they should call for a total boycott of the Leeds fixture.
Eighty-two percent of those who responded agreed they should not attend.
Prior to this point, the Trust had already called for fans not to spend another penny in the ground on food, drink or merchandise, but had refrained from advising people not to attend games.
Leeds are probably Wednesday’s closest rivals after Sheffield United, although that gap is more of a chasm. Even so, this fixture would ordinarily have in excess of 25,000 spectators inside Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday fans protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri(Image: PA)
Instead, there will be a sold-out away end and a handful of defiant home fans in the South Stand wanting to lend their support to a group of young players thrown into an impossible situation.
But the vast majority will stay at home, or go to the pub. The Sheffield Childrens’ Hospital are the beneficiary after thousands of pounds were donated via the Trust for people wanting to spend their ticket money more productively.
I will be one of those staying away with a very heavy heart. Going to the match is in my DNA but I know I and thousands of other Owls fans are doing right thing for the long-term future of the club.
The message to Chansiri is loud and clear: Sell up and go.
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