opener of the Los Angeles Angels series against the Chicago White Sox

It’s 20 years since Sheffield Wednesday topped the Premier League and 16 years since they were even in the top flight. But one player from that period is still lacing up his boots and PFA chairman Ritchie Humphreys is wondering where the time’s gone for the Owls… People always remember that first day of the 1996/97 season because David Beckham scored from the halfway line, Ritchie Humphreys tells Sky Sports. Thats a really iconic moment in Premier League history. But thats not why Humphreys remembers it.I also scored that day for Wednesday, he says. Its funny the way its coming around. When it gets to August, itll be 20 years since I first came on the scene. After winning those first four games, we were top of the Premier League. We did well that year. Humphreys in action against West Hams Scott Minto in January 1999 In the end, they finished seventh. Not that it was considered particularly out of the ordinary at the time. The Owls had won the League Cup in 1991, finished third in the top division in 1992 and then went to Wembley four times in a month the following year.Both cup finals were narrowly lost to Arsenal, the FA Cup after a replay, but the memory of a semi-final win over Sheffield United after extra-time has lingered long - particularly for a boyhood Blade in Humphreys.It was kind of weird for me because I had been released by Sheffield United, the team Id supported as a boy, he says. But to go to an FA Cup final at 15 was amazing. We got the opportunity to go down as part of the centre of excellence.Three years later, he was Wednesdays bright young thing, scoring in wins over Aston Villa and Leeds before netting a memorable Monday Night Football goal against Leicester - chipping Kasey Keller from long range.Absolutely brilliant, said former Owls boss Trevor Francis on co-commentary for Sky Sports. Absolute arrogance, replied Alan Parry in delight. Seen by some as the natural successor to Chris Waddle, Humphreys had arrived. It all started back then, he says. It will never leave me. I got an England Under-21 cap straight away off the back of those performances.He might not have hit the same heights since but its been a successful career spanning more than 700 appearances for seven clubs. At 38, hes looking to sign a new contract at Chesterfield and extend his stint as the PFAs chairman.I played in Chesterfields last reserve game, he recalls. We won 3-2 and I scored the first goal. Somebody pointed out that the first goalscorer - me - was older than the other two goalscorers put together. That did make me feel old. PFA chairman Humphreys is still playing for Chesterfield at the age of 38 Many of the Humphreys team-mates at Sheffield Wednesday are now in their fifties. They were seasoned internationals well before some of his current colleagues were born. They are the best players Ive played with, he admits.Chris Waddle, John Sheridan, Des Walker, Chris Woods, Dan Petrescu, Paolo Di Canio… What an upbringing for me? When we were YTS lads, pretty much the whole team were internationals. So you couldnt help but learn.There were also guys like Regi Blinker, Marc Degryse, Benito Carbone, Steve Nicol at the back end of his career. It doesnt seem that long ago but when you think of everything thats happened since… The richest game in football Sheffield Wednesday and Hull can expect an instant cash boost if they clinch promotion on Saturday. For Wednesday supporters if not Humphreys, much of whats followed has been a disappointment. Relegated from the Premier League in 2000 - top players had to leave because of the wages and stuff - the club dropped into the third tier by 2003.Id left by the time they went to League One but weve seen it happened to a few clubs in Yorkshire with Leeds and Bradford too, he adds. There was a play-off promotion in 2005 - against Humphreys Hartlepool - but the low point was yet to come.After dropping into League One again in 2010, the following season saw the lowest average attendance of the past 30 years - a still respectable 17,817 - as the team finished outside of the top 60 in the country. Now theyre one game away from returning to the games elite. Its been a long time. I hope they do it for the city. Ritchie Humphreys The prize is huge, worth an estimated £170m to the club. But its significance to Sheffield is more than mere money. Ive got friends in the city who are all Sheffield Wednesday and theyll all be there on Saturday, says Humphreys. Its a tremendous day.For a club of that size to be out of the top flight for as long as they have is a big deal. Its been a long time. I hope they do it for the city. Its got the fan base and its got the history. Hopefully theyll find their way back. Also See: The richest game in football How to win a play-off final JMon Moore Packers Jersey . -- ETwaun Moore had 14 points in 30 minutes, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 87-86 on Sunday night. JK Scott Jersey . -- Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will be out three to six weeks with a stress fracture of the third finger of his right hand. http://www.officialpackersteamgears.com/jimmy-graham-jersey/ . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Muhammad Wilkerson Jersey . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A. Custom Packers Jerseys . Josh Mazzola drove in five runs to lead the Goldeyes (20-12) past the Capitales 11-5 Friday night at Le Stade Municipal in Quebec City.CHICAGO - Mike Scioscia could sense the opener of the Los Angeles Angels series against the Chicago White Sox would be affected by the storm in the area Monday night. "Im sure were gonna be dealing with some rain at some point," Scioscia said about two hours before the scheduled first pitch. "Whether it impacts the game, I dont know. "I dont know if you ever know in Chicago, do you?" The game was postponed because of rain and rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 4:10 p.m. Angels right-hander Garrett Richards (8-2, 2.76) and Chicagos Hector Noesi (2-4, 4.18) — the scheduled starters Monday — will pitch Game 1, with Los Angeles Jered Weaver (8-6, 3.33) and Scott Carroll (2-4, 4.76) pitching the nightcap. The Angels had been undecided for the series finale on Wednesday, but named left-hander Tyler Skaggs (4-4, 4.34) to pitch that game following the postponement. Skaggs currently is on the disabled list since June 10 with a strained right hamstring. The White Sox will start left-hander John Danks (7-6, 4.26). With the addition of Skaggs, the Angels would have six starters, but Scioscia declined to say what move would be made from there. "Skaggs on Wednesday, and well let you know the rest," he said. "Well get through tomorrow and see where we are." The White Sox thought there would be a window to play Mondays game though the storm was expected to hit the ballpark around game time. It wasnt raining at 7:10, the time of the scheduled first pitch, but the rain bbegan a few minutes later.dddddddddddd The game surprisingly was called after just a 20-minute delay because the forecast changed and the rain was supposed to last longer. The extra time off was probably welcome for Albert Pujols, who is dealing with a groin injury, but was in the lineup Monday at first base. "He feels good," Scioscia said of Pujols. "Its not really anything thats muscular or anything were worried about being a pull. Its really just something . the way it was described our medical staff, its more of a lymph node or just a little infection that got a little irritated. "It shouldnt be anything thats gonna impact what he needs to do." Pujols was in Monday nights starting lineup set to hit third and play first base. NOTES: White Sox 1B Jose Abreu, tied for the MLB lead in homers with 25, has found himself at the centre of Home Run Derby speculation, but the rookie slugger remained mysterious on his possible participation. "Im more concentrated on helping the team right now," he said. ... RHP Fernando Salas (shoulder) threw 25 pitches during a bullpen session Sunday and could be activated as early as Wednesday. "Hes gonna throw a bullpen (Tuesday) and then be evaluated," Scioscia said. "He felt really good after his pen on Sunday." ... Asked before the game whether RHP Jason Grilli, acquired from Pittsburgh on Friday, would be his new closer, Scioscia said: "Well keep Joe Smith there until we get everything sorted out. Jason will be part of our back end and well see." 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