GROUND LAYOUT
Although the ground has not had the level of new investment some other clubs have recently received, it is still a beautiful ground oozing character. It has four large separate stands, all of which are all covered and are roughly the same height, giving a uniform feel to the stadium.
A NORTH STAND
On one side is the North Stand. This large single tiered stand was opened in 1961. It was hailed as an architectural marvel, as at the time it was the largest cantilever stand ever built in Britain and only the second such type of stand to have been constructed
B SOUTH STAND
The two-tiered South Stand on one side of the ground is the largest of the stands and is superb looking. It was originally opened in 1914 and was designed by the famous football ground architect Archibald Leitch. A second tier and new roof were added in 1996, to expand capacity for the European Championships, for which Hillsborough was a host venue. In keeping with the original look of the stand, a triangular gable incorporating a clock adorned with a copper football was placed on the new roof. The stand has a large lower tier with a small upper tier above. At the back of the lower tier is a row of executive boxes. The team dugouts and Directors Box are located on this side.
C SPION KOP
At one end is the Spion Kop. This was previously a huge open bank of terrace that was at one time the largest in Britain. It gained a roof in 1986 and was made all seated in 1993.
D WEST STAND
Opposite is the West Stand or Leppings Lane End. This two-tiered stand was opened in 1966, in time for the Club to host some World Cup games played that year. Like the Kop, it has a number of large supporting pillars. One corner of the ground is filled with seating between the North & West Stand, this area is uncovered. On the other side of the West Stand is a large video screen, under which is tucked a Police Control Box. Unusually for such an old ground, it doesn't have a set of floodlight pylons. Instead the stadium is illuminated by lights running across the front of the stand roofs.
Away fans are normally placed in the upper tier of the West Stand (the Leppings Lane) end of the ground, where up to 3,700 away supporters can be accommodated. If there is a particularly large following (or for an FA Cup Tie) then the corner described above may also be made available, plus the lower tier of the West Stand. This can take the allocation up to 8,000. Alternatively, if a small away support is expected then the open corner between the Leppings Lane & North Stand is only made available.
FIRST MATCH AT HILLSBOROUGH
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY V DERBY COUNTY AT HILLSBOROUGH
The last ten games at Hillsborough between these two sides lie slightly in the favour of the visitors with Derby winning 3, 5 drawn (3 of them 0-0 hope that's not an omen), whilst Wednesday only winning 2 but they were the last 2.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY DERBY COUNTY Championship
23/09/06 1 2
Chris Brunt 62 Paul Peschisolido 79
Steve Howard 90
22/01/08 1 1 FA cup 3rd
Steve Watson 10 Kenny Miller 47 round replay Derby County win 4-2 on penalties
11/04/09 0 1 Championship
Rob Hulse 45
20/03/10 0 0 Championship
09/02/13 2 2 Championship
Michail Antonio 51 Jeff Hendrick 23
Miguel Angel Llera 57 Jamie Ward (pen) 48
18/02/14 0 1 Championship
Patrick Bamford 78
16/08/14 0 0 Championship
06/12/15 0 0 Championship
22/04/17 2 1 Championship
Steven Fletcher 58 Darren Bent 48
Gary Hooper 64
13/02/18 2 0 Championship
Lucas Joao 18, 47
WEDNESDAY'S DEFENSIVE FRAILTIES COST THEM THE GAME
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY ... 1 DERBY COUNTY ... 2
Derby County can look back and count their lucky stars this evening. They started the game poorly and so Wednesday took the initiative with star player Lucas Joao up front leading the way. It was no surprise after twelve minutes when they took the lead, Barry Bannan's high ball to the right found Adam Reach who's shot beat Scott Carson from a narrow angle.
Although Wednesday looked good going forward it was a different story at the rear and Derby who looked out of this game in the first 29 minutes found themselves level to the shock of everyone in the ground, Duane Holmes found Jack Marriott in the Wednesday box but his shot was blocked by Cameron Dawson and fell to Harry Wilson who fired home.
Six minutes later and everyone around me in the Kop stand couldn't believe their eyes as Marriott found the net himself, put through by Florian Jozefzoon the Derby number fourteen got between two Wednesday defenders to slot the ball home totally against the run of play.
Derby almost made it three at the end of the first half when Marriott's shot was flicked onto the bar by Dawson, if that had of gone in it would have been a travesty of miss justice.
The second half consisted of Wednesday trying to find the cutting edge that fired them into the lead in the first half with Derby especially toward the final whistle quite content to hold on to what they had got three points gained by daylight robbery they definitely got away with one this afternoon.
REVIEW
Very nice ground Hillsborough although you need to have the brain of a rocket scientist to find your seat as the arrangements aren't set out very good, well, in the Spion Kop stand anyway.
If you've got big feet you won't like the steps in the stand and the seats are too close together, not enough leg room.
It has been a brilliant visit best for a while as ever the football in this part of the UK is very entertaining and the atmosphere was second to none.
MATCH DETAILS
