Vertical Editions are delighted to announce '91, the debut book by Sheffield Wednesday journalist Alex Miller. Alex covers The Owls for the Steel City's daily newspaper The Star, and his book will focus on a remarkable season in Wednesday's history, when they won promotion and also lifted the League Cup at Wembley after beating the mighty Manchester United.
"Before the summer of 2019 I had barely taken any notice of Sheffield Wednesday, none more than any other club in Yorkshire beyond Leeds United and Bradford City - my two local teams," Alex said.
"By the end of summer 2019 I was gainfully employed by the Sheffield Star as a Sheffield Wednesday writer and fell in love with the club, in my first 12 months covering a transfer embargo, charge of financial misconduct, three managers and a global pandemic that stopped the season flat for three months! "I didn’t grow up in a football family really. It was all about rugby. My old man played for England at youth level and both my uncles on my mother’s side played alongside him at the local club - that’s how they met. "It’s a cheesy cliche but in being paid to write about football I really am living the dream I’ve had since I realised I wasn’t good enough to play professionally. And that was pretty early on, let me tell you! The opportunity to write my first book about one of the most fascinating sides I’ve ever spent any time learning about is the continuation of that. "It’s a diverse set of individuals, this 1990/91 Sheffield Wednesday side 30 years on. You’ve got a landlord of a Swindon pub and a Premier League manager, a US soccer icon and two men who went on to manage the club. And some of them are taking a little chasing!
"But it’ll all be worth it to find out more about a really fascinating team and one of the most iconic seasons in the history of a massive club.
"A few of them I know through work I’ve done with The Star but the chance to have a chat with the likes of Ron Atkinson, David Hirst, Roland Nilsson and Carlton Palmer is one I’m relishing - I love the inside stories of changing room larks and celebratory beers as much as any on-the-field successes. This lot had plenty of all three!
"What is absolutely clear is that there is a pressure on to get this right. Sheffield Wednesday fans I have spoken to have made it clear that this is the most iconic season in the club’s modern history and that they look back on it with the fondest of memories. I wasn’t around just yet - the League Cup final came a fortnight before my birth! - but I’m determined to do it justice and have some fun along the way."