David Hirst

David Hirst is a cult hero in one half of Sheffield, a player who scored 149 times for the Owls and who still holds the record for the fastest ever shot in the Premiership - a 114mph half-volley that slammed against the Arsenal bar at Highbury. 

  That shot seems to epitomise his career though: whilst unquestionably brilliant, it was millimetres away from actually grabbing the headlines. Instead another striker, Ian Wright, scored a hat-trick and his broad grin filled the back pages the following morning. 

  This afternoon it took me a while to recognise a portly Hirst sitting in the Match of the Day studio lamenting the relegation to League One of the team he played for and loved: Sheffield Wednesday. Their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace meant that the Eagles sent the Owls in this battle of the birds.

  In the 90s Wednesday were a far better side and even attracted the support of school-children who had never even visited Sheffield. They boasted the likes of England internationals Chris Woods, Des Walker and Chris Waddle in their side and under the management of Ron Atkinson won the League Cup in 1991. Hirst was the figurehead of this team, the bustling number nine whose eye for goal meant that the Owls were an established Premier League outfit at its formation in 1992. 

  At the same time England manager Graham Taylor was on the lookout for a new striker to take on Gary Lineker's mantle with the big-eared goal-getter close to retirement and Hirst's chance came in a friendly against France. It was Hirst's third cap and his opportunity to lay his claim to the coveted centre-forward spot for years to come. He was partnered in attack by another chancer hoping that this wouldn't be his only England cap: Alan Shearer. As half-time approached and with Lineker champing at the bit on the sideline, things were looking good for Hirst. He looked the part and Shearer was having little impact on the game, but with the whistle perched on the referee's lips the ball fell to Shearer and he did was he does best. Hirst was replaced by Lineker at half-time and never wore an England shirt again. Had the ball fallen to Hirst, perhaps he would have become the England legend that Shearer did, but it was not to be. Instead he was listed at 45th by The Daily Mail in the '50 Worst Players to Play for England' list. That's pretty harsh for a player who scored one goal in 135 minutes football for his country. That's actually a better return than both Shearer and Lineker if you'll accept that manipulation of the figures.

  Hirst had another opportunity to write himself into footballing history rather than just Sheffield Wednesday's history when Alex Ferguson came looking for a striker who would revitalise a United team that hadn't won the league in a quarter of a century. Six times Fergie put in an offer for Hirst and six times Wednesday denied him. He finally gave up and bought Eric Cantona instead. Manchester United finally landed the League title with Cantona in the team and have been doing so ever since.

  To label Hirst as a 'nearly man' is unfair though. He was a wonderfully complete striker who could score goals from distance, was a natural poacher and great in the air. He had skill, but also strength and determination. He is adored by Wednesday fans and whilst a Shearer misfire and less-determined Sheffield Wednesday board could have altered his career in an incredible way, he was a Yorkshire lad who scored goals for a Yorkshire team and was loved by Yorkshire people. What boy kicking a football around in a park wouldn't take that?