David White (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
David White is a former English
footballer
, best remembered for his eight-year spell at Manchester City
. He also played for Leeds and Sheffield United
, and was capped once by England
.
In his childhood White played for Salford Boys, before joining the youth system at Manchester City. He signed as an apprentice on his eighteenth birthday, and was a member of City's "golden generation" that won the FA Youth Cup
in 1986. White made his debut for Manchester City's first-team in September 1986, in a 1–0 defeat to Luton Town
. He soon became a regular in the side, alternating between the right-wing and striker positions, and missed just one game in the next two seasons. On 7 November 1987 he was one of three players (along with Tony Adcock
and Paul Stewart) to score a hat-trick
in a 10–1 victory over Huddersfield Town
. He later won several caps for the England Under-21
side.
He had been a first team regular in 1986-87
, playing 24 games in the First Division and scoring once, though he could not prevent relegation to the Second Division. His 13 goals in 1987-88
were not enough for promotion, but this was achieved in 1988-89
when he scored six goals as City finished runners-up.
White's best years were arguably in the early 1990s, when he was known for his pace and strength. He almost always played on the right wing in teams featuring two strikers, and was second top scorer for City in their first two seasons back in the First Division (eight goals in 1989–90 and 16 in 1990–91), and top scorer in the next two seasons. On 23 April 1991 he scored four times for City away to Aston Villa, becoming the first City player to score four goals in a league match since 1977. Shortly after he was capped at England "B" level.
As the top division became the Premier League in 1992 (White scored a personal best 18 goals in 1991-92
as City finished fifth for the second season running), White scored Manchester City's first goal in the Premier League after good build up play by Niall Quinn and Paul Lake. After seven goals in the first seven games of this season (1992–93), he made his full international debut in a friendly against Spain
, but missed a chance to score early on and lost confidence. White received strong press criticism, and lost form in the aftermath. In December 1993, White was signed by Leeds in an exchange for David Rocastle
valued at £1.2 million. He left Maine Road having played 343 first-team games for City, scoring 96 goals (79 in the league). He was also the scorer of City's first Premier League goal, finding the net in the 37th minute at home to Queen's Park Rangers in a 1-1 draw.
White never really lived up to expectations at Elland Road. He suffered a succession of injuries and was restricted to just 10 goals for Leeds in his two years at the club. In November 1995, he was loaned to Sheffield United, and a month later he signed a permanent contract after the two clubs agreed a £500,000 fee.
At Bramall Lane, White showed flashes of his old self, that had made him a star at Manchester City a few years before, but he was still bothered by injuries. He continued to suffer problems with his arthritic right ankle, making his final appearance in a League Cup
match against Wrexham
in 1997, before having to admit defeat and retire from the game.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, best remembered for his eight-year spell at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. He also played for Leeds and Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, and was capped once by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
In his childhood White played for Salford Boys, before joining the youth system at Manchester City. He signed as an apprentice on his eighteenth birthday, and was a member of City's "golden generation" that won the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
in 1986. White made his debut for Manchester City's first-team in September 1986, in a 1–0 defeat to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. He soon became a regular in the side, alternating between the right-wing and striker positions, and missed just one game in the next two seasons. On 7 November 1987 he was one of three players (along with Tony Adcock
Tony Adcock
Anthony "Tony" Charles Adcock is an English former professional footballer. He was born in Bethnal Green, London.-Career:...
and Paul Stewart) to score 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...
in a 10–1 victory over Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. He later won several caps for the England Under-21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
side.
He had been a first team regular in 1986-87
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
, playing 24 games in the First Division and scoring once, though he could not prevent relegation to the Second Division. His 13 goals in 1987-88
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
were not enough for promotion, but this was achieved in 1988-89
1988-89 in English football
The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital...
when he scored six goals as City finished runners-up.
White's best years were arguably in the early 1990s, when he was known for his pace and strength. He almost always played on the right wing in teams featuring two strikers, and was second top scorer for City in their first two seasons back in the First Division (eight goals in 1989–90 and 16 in 1990–91), and top scorer in the next two seasons. On 23 April 1991 he scored four times for City away to Aston Villa, becoming the first City player to score four goals in a league match since 1977. Shortly after he was capped at England "B" level.
As the top division became the Premier League in 1992 (White scored a personal best 18 goals in 1991-92
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
as City finished fifth for the second season running), White scored Manchester City's first goal in the Premier League after good build up play by Niall Quinn and Paul Lake. After seven goals in the first seven games of this season (1992–93), he made his full international debut in a friendly against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, but missed a chance to score early on and lost confidence. White received strong press criticism, and lost form in the aftermath. In December 1993, White was signed by Leeds in an exchange for David Rocastle
David Rocastle
David Carlyle Rocastle, nicknamed Rocky, was an English football player, who spent the majority of his career at Arsenal...
valued at £1.2 million. He left Maine Road having played 343 first-team games for City, scoring 96 goals (79 in the league). He was also the scorer of City's first Premier League goal, finding the net in the 37th minute at home to Queen's Park Rangers in a 1-1 draw.
White never really lived up to expectations at Elland Road. He suffered a succession of injuries and was restricted to just 10 goals for Leeds in his two years at the club. In November 1995, he was loaned to Sheffield United, and a month later he signed a permanent contract after the two clubs agreed a £500,000 fee.
At Bramall Lane, White showed flashes of his old self, that had made him a star at Manchester City a few years before, but he was still bothered by injuries. He continued to suffer problems with his arthritic right ankle, making his final appearance in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match against Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in 1997, before having to admit defeat and retire from the game.