Today’s #Fanzineoftheday (In case you were wondering, this usually means grabbed at random from the pile under my desk) is Sheffield Wednesday’s Half Day Closing, issue 1 from Septemberish 2000. Lovely cover, the club’s stripes, a price and sort of date and a new manager to crow about with a classic cheap fanzine gag.

The credit page is a classic, clearly defined credits, subs detail, printer (Juma, oh lovely lovely Juma) and a ‘legal’ disclaimer. Much to be familiar with, as is the name of the editor, we’ll come back to this later. BUT THERE IS MORE; They explain the name of the fanzine. Now I know this is just me being crabby decades on but why didn’t all fanzines do this in an early issue, so many mysteries solved, so much admiration for a great pun or the joy of the confirmation that you spotted a musical link. In this case of course the choice of the name would mean nothing to anyone under 30 so the explanation is even more welcome (not for me obvs) YES, many businesses in the country really did shut down for half a day mid week back then and it’s very pleasing to hear that since they added Sheffield to their name they haven’t won the league.

The editorial from an old stager like Graham is brilliant, packed with hope, gossip, bitter references to rivals, a terrible caricature and full of the joy of a new set of managerial stooges. Hard to believe now but of course Jewell was hot property at the time having kept Bradford City in the Premiership before falling out with the chairman so there was hope for great things at Wednesday… he was sacked after a dreadful 8 month tenure at the debt riddled club, though they did beat United (the Sheffield one) in the League cup that season, so Paul will always have that. Google AI claims that Paul has an affiliation with the University of Utah and his research interests are Earth Surface Processes and Surface Hydrology plus after dinner speaking about Wigan Athletic…I think there might be more than one Paul Jewell.

There is a great article about the club’s new sponsorship deal concluding after much hand wringing that it’s still better than sharing Sanderson with Southampton. Apparently there is a subset of 3-5 players called ‘Sons of Sanderson’ who played for both clubs in the “Sanderson years” and includes David Hirst, Jim Magilton and Carlton Palmer. My favourite thing about all of this nonsense though is that Viv Anderson played for Wednesday with “Sanderson” on the front and “Anderson” on the back.

There is a tremendously deranged piece written William “Winker” Banks, frozen in 1930 when Wednesday were champions and now revived but a millionaire due to monies accumulating interest in the Shalesmoor and Neepsend Building society. Though this means that unfortunately he is still 36, his wife is 92 and son Ellis 70. If you don’t know Sheffield you won’t know that Wincobank is an iron age fort near the city which would overlook Hillsborough if a couple of hills and the Northern General weren’t in the way. It once allowed stunning views of the majestic Don Valley stadium and to this day allows you to see Meadowhall and the massive Ikea all in one sweeping panorama. Ellis Rimmer was a very real footballer.

Finally there is a great piece about why Graham has come out of retirement and is a good marker for the struggles fanzines faced as the first digital wave swept over us in 2000. Worth the money for this article alone.

I know very little of Half Day Closing, “The fanzine for active wednesdayites.” I’ve only just managed to get hold of this copy and consider myself very lucky to have it. Another copy of issue 1 is available in the British Library St Pancras..but no more than that. Spitting Feathers was a tremendous publication and it looks like this was going to be the same. If anyone knows more or Graham himself, please get in touch, another name I’d like to speak to and make sure his words and thoughts are curated properly. Maybe he went back to the Costa Dorada with Shantelle and who could blame him?