Wally meets... David Hirst

By Mike Walters

Published 22:30 16/04/10

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Back in an age before transfers were conducted by smoke and mirrors, David Hirst kept the fax machine at Old Trafford busy.

Six times Sir Alex Ferguson lodged bids for Hirst – and each time his attempt to sign the Sheffield Wednesday striker was rejected.

Fergie finally gave up his pursuit of the Hillsborough terrace hero and decided to pursue a cheaper option in ­Yorkshire. A bloke called Eric Cantona.

Some 18 years later, Hirst still wonders how different English football history might have been if Wednesday had let him escape.

“I tell Manchester United fans they have me to thank for all the trophies they have won,” said Hirst, whose 149 goals in 358 appearances proved ­handsome vindication of the Owls’ refusal to sell.

“Trevor Francis, who was our manager at the time, was adamant he didn’t want to let me go.

“But if I had gone to United instead of Cantona, they might still be waiting to win the title again.”

Now 42, he is still a matchday fixture at Hillsborough as a corporate hospitality host as the Owls flirt with relegation to the lower divisions.

Tomorrow’s Steel City derby against Sheffield United is arguably the clubs’ most momentous collision since the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in 1993, when Wednesday won the golden ticket to meet Arsenal.

Hirst scored in the final, which went to extra time before Gunners defender Andy Linighan scored a his last-gasp winner.

It seems unthinkable that Wednesday should be in such danger of dropping out of the Championship.

The optimism of Lee Strafford’s arrival as chairman, like the initial surge of good results when Alan Irvine replaced Brian Laws as manager, has evaporated inexplicably.

“There’s no denying a bad result would make it very difficult to stay up, and I’m sure the Blades would take great pleasure in hammering a nail into our coffin,” said Hirst.

“But our last game of the season is against Palace, which could settle all arguments."

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