Sheffield Wednesday scored a bullseye with £250k Barnsley FC transfer | OneFootball

The Owls’ capture of star striker David Hirst proved to be one of the best bargain buys in their history.

Throughout their long and illustrious history, Sheffield Wednesday have had a track record of being savvy in the transfer market, recruiting players who have gone on to make a huge impact at Hillsborough.

From uncovering hidden gems in the lower leagues to nurturing homegrown talent, the Owls have made some astute signings that have greatly exceeded expectations.

One of the most successful bargain buys in Sheffield Wednesday’s history was David Hirst, who became one of their most prolific forwards after signing from Barnsley.

An iconic player in these parts, Hirst's move remains one of Wednesday’s greatest ever successes in player recruitment, and the club will be hoping to uncover a similar talent to fire them towards the top end of the second tier.

David Hirst’s Sheffield Wednesday career

After netting nine times from 28 second division appearances for Barnsley, David Hirst switched to fellow Yorkshire outfit Sheffield Wednesday, teaming up with Owls boss Howard Wilkinson ahead of the 1986/87 season for a reported fee of £250,000.

On his Hillsborough debut in the first division against Everton, the now 57-year-old would score six minutes after coming off the substitutes bench. Establishing himself in the first-team set up, Hirst would go on to record six goals from 21 league games in his first season with the club.

Standing strong with excellent pace and a clinical eye in front of goal, Hirsts’ career would only grow when in a Sheffield Wednesday shirt, and by 1991, the star-studded forward would go on to become a cult hero by scoring 31 goals in a campaign, which was enough to take the Owls back into the first division.

With his goalscoring prowess there for all to see, the Barnsley-born striker would get called up to the England B international side against Switzerland, where he netted both goals in a 2-1 victory.

From this, Hirst would gain a first-ever call up to the England first team squad for their tour of Australasia.

From such a sharp rise in the English game, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson attempted six times to lure Hirst away to Old Trafford, specifically twice in 1992 when the Red Devils were suffering from a shortage of goals. After a saga that dragged on, United would eventually end their pursuit and sign French legend Eric Cantona.

In 1992, Hirst would suffer a broken ankle but still managed to muster 16 goals from 33 appearances in all competitions that season. In that term, Wednesday would go on to reach both domestic cup finals, but they would fall runners-up in both to Arsenal.

Through to 1997, Hirst would have a succession of injuries that would lead to his Owls career coming to an end, with manager David Pleat moving him on to the South Coast with Southampton.

In a glittering Sheffield Wednesday career, Hirst registered 106 league goals in 294 games during an 11-year stint.

Sheffield Wednesday hope to replicate David Hirst bargain transfer

The transfer of Hirst to Sheffield Wednesday for such a low sum of money was a sensational piece of business, with his regular goalscoring ability propelling him to be the club’s second-highest top scorer in history, as well as helping the club enjoy cup finals and success towards the top end of the First Division.

There’s no doubt in today’s market that the Owls will be seeking a similar piece of recruitment, but it has become increasingly difficult with the football landscape changing and the club working off a more restricted financial budget.

The club has routes to finding similar talent, however, with the youth academy an option, while identifying targets from the lower divisions and hoping they will adapt to second tier life immediately another.

The Wednesday faithful will continue to dream that such a successful goalscorer will step foot into Hillsborough once more, with such an arrival surely to push the club back towards a return to the Premier League if it can be achieved.