Stocksbridge, just a few miles north of Hillsborough on the A6102, have a fine relationship with Wednesday and regularly play host to pre-season friendlies between the two teams.
Tuesday’s 1-0 second string defeat to
Stocksbridge are seething with the news that a sponsorship deal with a major steel manufacturer has been subsidised, although Wednesday are set to pay their local neighbours £20,000 a year to be able to play their reserve games there.
The deal could work well for both clubs though - Wednesday are looking to cut their debt and they may be making a saving on running costs by holding matches away from Hillsborough in the long term while Stocksbridge desperately need the finance.
Wednesday’s pitch has been in appalling condition this season as well, so hopefully with the deal being struck with Stocksbridge, the playing surface at Hillsborough will be back to its best.
It will not be the first time Wednesday have played reserve games ‘away from home’ as they have also used Rotherham’s pokey Millmoor ground and the vastly underused Don Valley Stadium in previous years.