Barry Whitbread
Encyclopedia
Barry Whitbread is an English coach
who led the Singapore national football team
to the country's first ever international trophy in association football, the 1998 Tiger Cup
, now known as the AFF Suzuki Cup.
in the Northern Premier League
while a student at Lancaster University
. He scored a hat-trick
on his debut for the club, and scored their early goal in what became a 2–1 defeat to Football League opponents Notts County
in the first round proper of the 1972–73 FA Cup. Transferred nearer home for a fee of £250, Whitbread's 29 goals helped Runcorn to the Northern Premier League title in the 1975–76 season. After scoring 181 career goals for Runcorn, he joined Altrincham
in 1979 for a club record fee of £6,400. He helped the club reach the 1982 FA Trophy
final, in which he made his final appearance as a player, on the losing side.
level. He won six caps
, scoring twice, between 1979 and 1981.
, then manager of Runcorn
from 1988 to 1990, and also coached in the United States. He took the job as Singapore national football team
coach in 1996. Two years later, his team written off before it started, Whitbread led Singapore to victory in the 1998 Tiger Cup
(now known as the AFF Suzuki Cup), their first ever success in an international football competition.
On his return to England he worked at Liverpool
's Youth Academy, becoming head of recruitment, a post he held until 2007. He went on to act as chief scout
for clubs including Blackburn Rovers
and Bolton Wanderers
.
, born in Houston, Texas
, while Whitbread was working in the USA, became a professional footballer after developing in the Liverpool academy. Zak now plays for Norwich City.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
who led the Singapore national football team
Singapore national football team
The Singapore national football team is the national association football team of Singapore. The team comes under the organization of the Football Association of Singapore...
to the country's first ever international trophy in association football, the 1998 Tiger Cup
1998 Tiger Cup
The 1998 tournament was held in Vietnam. Group A's matches were played in Ho Chi Minh City with Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Philippines. Group B's matches were played in Hanoi with Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos.-Controversy:...
, now known as the AFF Suzuki Cup.
Playing career
Whitbread played football as a forward for Lancaster CityLancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
while a student at Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
. He scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
on his debut for the club, and scored their early goal in what became a 2–1 defeat to Football League opponents Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in the first round proper of the 1972–73 FA Cup. Transferred nearer home for a fee of £250, Whitbread's 29 goals helped Runcorn to the Northern Premier League title in the 1975–76 season. After scoring 181 career goals for Runcorn, he joined Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
in 1979 for a club record fee of £6,400. He helped the club reach the 1982 FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
final, in which he made his final appearance as a player, on the losing side.
International
Whitbread was a member of the first ever England team at semi-professionalSemi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
level. He won six caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, scoring twice, between 1979 and 1981.
Post-playing career
Whitbread trained as a teacher before moving into football management, having gained his coaching qualifications while still a player. He was assistant manager of Northwich VictoriaNorthwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, then manager of Runcorn
Runcorn FC Halton
Runcorn FC Halton was an English football club that played in Runcorn, Widnes and Prescot at various points during its existence.-History:The club was founded in 1918 as Highfield and Camden Tanneries Recreation Club. They became members of the Lancashire Combination in the same year, winning a cup...
from 1988 to 1990, and also coached in the United States. He took the job as Singapore national football team
Singapore national football team
The Singapore national football team is the national association football team of Singapore. The team comes under the organization of the Football Association of Singapore...
coach in 1996. Two years later, his team written off before it started, Whitbread led Singapore to victory in the 1998 Tiger Cup
1998 Tiger Cup
The 1998 tournament was held in Vietnam. Group A's matches were played in Ho Chi Minh City with Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Philippines. Group B's matches were played in Hanoi with Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos.-Controversy:...
(now known as the AFF Suzuki Cup), their first ever success in an international football competition.
On his return to England he worked at Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
's Youth Academy, becoming head of recruitment, a post he held until 2007. He went on to act as chief scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for clubs including Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Personal life
His son ZakZak Whitbread
Zak Benjamin Whitbread is an American soccer player who plays for English Premier League club Norwich City as a defender.-Early life:...
, born in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, while Whitbread was working in the USA, became a professional footballer after developing in the Liverpool academy. Zak now plays for Norwich City.
External links
- Profile at Runcorn Linnets F.C. website
- Legends (including Whitbread) at Lancaster City F.C. website