Seemingly biased answers I see. There are many ways to define the ‘best’ team in South Yorkshire. Best? There can be many definitions. The best history (as Wednesday fans like to dwell on that so much). The biggest crowds. The biggest achievements. Current league positions. Results against each other. All of these things have to be looked at relatively though and of course in comparison with one another, and for each one, like in everything, statistics are very easily manipulated. So lets take them one at a time.
The history, and lets start with the team that loves it so much.
Sheffield Wednesday, founded in 1867 they’ve been around for 137 years:
Titles (old format)
Division 1: 4
2: 5
Promotion (excluding titles): 4
Relegations: 11
Winning Cup Finals
FA: 3
League: 1
Losing cup finals
FA: 3
League: 1
Rotherham United, became United in 1925, have been United for 79 years.
Titles (old format)
Division 3: 2
Division 4: 1
Promotion (excluding titles): 4
Relegations: 6
Winning Cup Finals
Auto Windscreens Shield: 1
Losing cup finals
League: 1
Sheffield United, founded in 1889 they’ve been around for 115 years:
Titles (old format)
Division 1: 1
Division 2: 1
Division 4: 1
Titles (new format)
Promotion (excluding titles): 7
Relegations: 9
Winning Cup Finals
FA: 4
Losing cup finals
FA: 2
Barnsley, founded in 1887 they’ve been around for 117 years.
Titles (old format)
Division 3: 3
Promotion (excluding titles): 4
Relegations: 8
Winning Cup Finals
FA: 1
Losing cup finals
FA: 1
Doncaster Rovers, founded in 1891 they’ve been around for 113 years.
Titles (old format)
Division 3: 3
Division 4: 2
Promotion (excluding titles): 3
Relegations: 11
Whoever said that Chesterfield was in Derbyshire is correct, therefore it is impossible for them to be the best team in South Yorkshire.
Anyway, from this information I’ve compiled a success, or achievement ratio. It is compiled as follows:
(combined achievements - relegations)/number of years in existence.
Sheffield Wednesday = (10/137) = 0.073
Rotherham United = (3/79) = 0.038
Sheffield United = (7/115) = 0.061
Barnsley = (1/117) = 0.009
Doncaster Rovers = (-3/113) = -0.027
It doesn’t matter what the achievements were, they’re relative to the Club and their capabilities but the study of the achievements of the club at their own level brings out Sheffield Wednesday on top. I’m quite surprised actually, I came up with this idea on my way along and I didn’t expect us to come out top. Still, it confirms nothing and there are many other areas to look at.
So next up is the biggest crowds, well averages from this season;
Sheffield Wednesday = 22,227
Rotherham United = 6,888
Sheffield United = 21,785
Barnsley = 9,861
Doncaster Rovers = 6,493
So Wednesday win that one.
In relation to capacity:
Sheffield Wednesday = 56%
Rotherham United = 62%
Sheffield United = 70%
Barnsley = 43%
Doncaster Rovers = 87%
Stand up Donny Rovers.
In relation to population (the population of Sheffield will be halved):
Sheffield pop. 513234/2 = 256617
Sheffield Wednesday = (22227/256617)x100 = 9%
Rotherham United = (6888/248175)x100 = 3%
Sheffield United = (21785/256617)x100 = 8%
Barnsley = (9861/218063)x100 = 5%
Doncaster Rovers = (6493/286866)x100 = 2%
Sheffield Wednesday again.
Current league position obviously goes to Sheffield United.
Improvements over the last ten years (up until the end of last season);
Sheffield Wednesday = 7th in the Premiership to 22nd in Division 1
Rotherham United = 15th in Division 2 to 15th in Division 1
Sheffield United = 20th in the Premiership to 3rd in Division 1
Barnsley = 18th in Division 1 to 19th in Division 2
Doncaster Rovers = 15th in Division 3 to 3rd in the Conference
As the only improvers, Rotherham United come out top.
Current Form (League)
Sheffield Wednesday = WLDWLD 8 points
Rotherham United = WLDLLW 7 points
Sheffield United = LLLWDD 5 points
Barnsley = LDDWLD 6 points
Doncaster Rovers = WDWLWW 13 points
Doncaster win
So lets see
History: Sheffield Wednesday
Big crowds: Sheffield Wednesday
Capacity filled: Donny
Crowds in relation to pop.: Sheffield Wednesday
Current League position: Sheffield United
Improvement: Rotherham United
Current Form: Doncaster Rovers
See, it’s hard to decide isn’t it. If you’re going to do it seriously that is and not just plump for your own team ‘cuz u like um’. Personally, I’d go for Sheffield United, as I’d go for whoever was highest, even if it was Wednesday.