Jeff Whitley
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey "Jeff" Whitley is a Zambia
n-born Northern Irish
former professional football. He twice won promotion to the Premiership with Manchester City
in 2000 and Sunderland
in 2005 and was an Northern Ireland
international. His brother, Jim
was also a professional footballer.
in the 1998–99 season. and in March 2002, having fallen out of favour at Manchester City, joined Notts County
on loan for the remainder of the 2001–02 season. He had a three-month loan spell at Notts County in the 2002–03 season, returning to Manchester City in January 2003 but was released by the club in March 2003 as he did not feature in manager Kevin Keegan
's plans.
After a trial and impressing in pre-season, he signed a contract with Sunderland
in August 2003. He made over 70 league and cup appearances for Sunderland, helping the club to the Football League Championship
play-offs at the end of the 2003–04 season and to the Football League Championship
title in 2005. In July 2005, he joined Cardiff City
on a free transfer and made 38 league and cup appearances for the club in the 2005–06 season, scoring once against Watford in the league. Whitley joined Stoke City
on loan in August 2006 but made only four appearances in an unsuccessful loan spell. Cardiff made him available for transfer but he did not take up offers to talk with Millwall
and Rotherham
and joined Wrexham
in February 2007 on loan for the remainder of the 2006–07 season. He scored the winning goal against Bristol Rovers
in a 1–0 away victory in March 2007. He was released by Cardiff and signed for Wrexham on non contract terms in January 2008 but was released by Wrexham in May 2008 following the club's relegation to the Football Conference
. He joined Northern Premier League Division One North
side Woodley Sports
in an effort to gain match fitness, before signing for Northwich Victoria
on 7 March 2009.
. As his father was born in Belfast
, he was also eligible to play for Northern Ireland
and made his debut for them in 1997.
after becoming addicted to alcohol
and drugs
. It affected him greatly and said "at times I would just be praying just to die".
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
n-born Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
former professional football. He twice won promotion to the Premiership with 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...
in 2000 and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 2005 and was an Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international. His brother, Jim
Jim Whitley
Jim Whitley is a Zambian-born Northern Irish former professional footballer. Although not officially retired, he has not played since 2006 after leaving Wrexham....
was also a professional footballer.
Club career
Whitley was a product of the Manchester City youth scheme which he joined as a ten year old and began his club career as a trainee in 1996, making over 120 league and cup appearances for the first-team. He had a two-month loan spell at WrexhamWrexham 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 the 1998–99 season. and in March 2002, having fallen out of favour at Manchester City, joined 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...
on loan for the remainder of the 2001–02 season. He had a three-month loan spell at Notts County in the 2002–03 season, returning to Manchester City in January 2003 but was released by the club in March 2003 as he did not feature in manager Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
's plans.
After a trial and impressing in pre-season, he signed a contract with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in August 2003. He made over 70 league and cup appearances for Sunderland, helping the club to the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
play-offs at the end of the 2003–04 season and to the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
title in 2005. In July 2005, he joined Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on a free transfer and made 38 league and cup appearances for the club in the 2005–06 season, scoring once against Watford in the league. Whitley joined Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on loan in August 2006 but made only four appearances in an unsuccessful loan spell. Cardiff made him available for transfer but he did not take up offers to talk with Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and Rotherham
Rotherham Town F.C.
Rotherham Town Football Club was the name of two English football clubs from Rotherham, Yorkshire. The first briefly played in the Football League, while the second became part of another Football League club, Rotherham United, who are still members of the League today...
and joined 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 February 2007 on loan for the remainder of the 2006–07 season. He scored the winning goal against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in a 1–0 away victory in March 2007. He was released by Cardiff and signed for Wrexham on non contract terms in January 2008 but was released by Wrexham in May 2008 following the club's relegation to the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. He joined Northern Premier League Division One North
Northern Premier League Division One North
Division One North is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at tier 4 of the National League System, tier 8 of the English football league system...
side Woodley Sports
Woodley Sports F.C.
Woodley Sports F.C. is a football club based in Woodley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They were established in 1970 as Woodley Athletic, and play at the Neil Rourke Memorial Stadium. In 1992, they became champions of the Manchester League Division One, and were promoted to the Manchester...
in an effort to gain match fitness, before signing for Northwich Victoria
Northwich 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...
on 7 March 2009.
International career
Despite being Zambian born, due to Whitley living in England since he was a child, he was eligible to, and played for the England under-17 teamEngland national under-17 football team
-Elite Qualifying Group 3:-Group stage:-Fifth place play-off:-FA International U17 Tournament:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round....
. As his father was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, he was also eligible to play for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
and made his debut for them in 1997.
Personal life
Whitley has spent time at the Sporting Chance clinicSporting Chance clinic
The Sporting Chance Clinic is a registered British based charity, first set up by former Arsenal and England football captain Tony Adams to provide a specialist addiction and recovery facility for sportsmen and women....
after becoming addicted to alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
. It affected him greatly and said "at times I would just be praying just to die".