The club was initially a cricket team, with the football being established for the winter months to keep the team together. However, football soon took over as the club's main interest. They were originally known simply as The Wednesday, a name taken from the day on which they played. The Sheffield prefix was finally added in 1929.
The club turned professional in 1887, and joined the Football League in 1892. In 2003 they were relegated to the English 2nd Division. Their strip is blue and white striped shirts.
Wednesday's original nickname was "the Blades" (now the nickname of their rivals, Sheffield United F.C) but they were redubbed "the Owls" following a move to a new ground at Owlerton, Sheffield. They currently play at Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday won the FA Cup in 1896, 1907, and 1935. They won the Rumbelows Cup in 1991, and the First Division in 1903, 1904, 1929, and 1930.
The team have a strong rivalry with the other league team in Sheffield, Sheffield United F.C.