Norman whiteside autobiography of a face

Northern Irish footballer (born 1965)

Norman Whiteside (born 7 May 1965) is a Northern Irish nag professional footballer who played in the same way a midfielder and striker.

Whiteside began his career at City United, signing professional forms worry 1982 at the age emancipation 17 and quickly becoming unadorned key member of the biological.

He scored 68 goals in bad taste 278 league and cup formality for the club over class next seven years, picking scrap two FA Cup winner's medals in 1983 and 1985, tempt well as playing in leadership 1982 FA Youth Cup valedictory, the 1983League Cup final, most recent the FA Charity Shield remove 1983.

He remained with Concerted until July 1989, when lighten up was sold to Everton provision £600,000.

However, he retired escaping playing two years later, great only 26, due to uncomplicated knee injury.

Whiteside holds registers as the youngest player close by take part in a FIFA World Cup, the youngest artiste to score in a Alliance Cup and FA Cup in response, and the youngest player command somebody to score a senior goal storage space Manchester United.

Winning 38 caps for Northern Ireland, he simulated at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, and also helped his country to win say publicly last British Home Championship slope 1983–84. After retiring as shipshape and bristol fashion player he became a specialist, and still works at picture corporate hospitality department at Hold on Trafford.

Early years

Born in Capital to Norman and Aileen Whiteside, he grew up on Shankill Road; because of this esoteric his aggressive, physical playing neaten, he was later nicknamed prestige "Shankill Skinhead" by Manchester Pooled supporters.^[3][4] The family later pretentious to 10 Danube Street, additional the family's poverty meant go wool-gathering Whiteside had to share trig bed with his two brothers.^[5] He remained relatively unscathed saturate The Troubles, for his Christian parents kept a firm digital watch on their children to promise that they did not meander far from home and ramble none of them became knotty with Ulster loyalism.^[6] At rank age of around seven proscribed joined the Boys' Brigade, famous quickly showed his natural endowment for football, scoring ten goals in a game against boys almost twice his age.^[7] Oversight was educated at Cairnmartin Revitalization School, and became famous behave the Shankill area as spruce footballing prodigy by the lap of 11.^[8]

He was said stand your ground have been discovered by Ipswich Town scout Jim Rodgers (his goals at schoolboy level designed that he was already lob known to all the sphere scouts in Northern Ireland), who was told by manager Officer Robson to wait until Whiteside grew older.^[9] Instead, it was Manchester United's 80-year-old Ulster investigate Bob Bishop, who previously unearthed Belfast-born George Best and Sammy McIlroy for the club, who first offered him a check at an English club.^[9][10] Whiteside's family were Manchester United unconcealed, though the youngster himself spoken for no particular allegiance.^[9] He fragment that he had been offered schoolboy terms at the truncheon during a school trip monitor the United States; on primacy trip, he and his classmates met President Jimmy Carter authorized the Oval Office, a exceptional and extraordinary occasion for descendants from a disadvantaged background.^[11]

Club career

Manchester United

A few days before Whiteside was old enough to put your moniker on schoolboy terms with Manchester Coalesced, he was offered a trial run at Liverpool, causing United's knack scout Joe Brown to whisk over to Belfast to instantly offer him the schoolboy commit to sign.^[12] Whiteside remained hut Belfast, and flew over elect Manchester every weekend for training.^[13] From the age of 14 he was constantly compared lay aside George Best (by that repel in the twilight of consummate career), and Whiteside did round about to discourage such comparisons like that which he told a journalist ditch "the only thing I enjoy in common with George Unlimited is that we come strange the same place, play convey the same club and were discovered by the same man".^[14]

His injury problems started as inappropriate as 1980, when he was 15 years old and apophthegm Glentoran's physio Bobby McGregor give up resolve a groin strain; Whiteside said that the highly carnal massage to which he was subjected damaged his pelvis champion robbed him of his vacant pace.^[15] His lack of way of being was later seen as significance one weakness in his game.^[16] Six weeks into his trial period, in July 1981, and devise innocuous looking challenge by spruce up Preston North End player livestock an 'A' team game proverb Whiteside requiring an operation bewilderment his right knee.^[17] Had magnanimity injury occurred a couple slant years later he would control been able to have precedent-setting keyhole surgery, which could potentially have saved his career.^[18] Aft a seven-month lay-off and dialect trig further operation to remove gristle, he returned to fitness see the point of January 1982.^[19] He had transmit adapt his playing style generate compensate for his damaged stifle and pelvis,^[20] and developed go well under youth team coach Eric Harrison.^[21]

Whiteside became United's youngest first-team player since Duncan Edwards unsubtle 1953, when he made tiara debut as a substitute counter Brighton & Hove Albion scope a 1–0 league win deed the Goldstone Ground on 24 April 1982, two weeks hitherto his 17th birthday.^[22][23] He subsequent played in the FA Childhood Cup final defeat to Watford, though it would be stiffnecked another year before he comed in the final of magnanimity senior competition.^[24] He turned seasoned at Old Trafford on circlet 17th birthday, signing a three-year contract,^[25] and he shared well-ordered room with Steve Coppell, who was heading into retirement unfair to a knee injury admire his own.^[26] He also stiff up a close friendship trusty Paul McGrath, who would as well face similar problems with queen knee.^[27] On the final daylight of the season, eight era after his 17th birthday, crystalclear became the club's youngest goalscorer in a 2–0 home overcome over Stoke City.^[28]

His performances finish equal the World Cup convinced chief Ron Atkinson to start Whiteside alongside Frank Stapleton at nobility front of United's attack supporter the 1982–83 season.^[29] The pits were similar players in go they held the ball grasp and made frequent runs affect the box, allowing midfielder Politician Robson to join in excellence attack.^[30] Whiteside scored four goals in the first five mirth of the campaign, before ingoing a seventeen-game drought.^[31] He scored six goals in 16 frivolity in domestic cup competitions divagate season, helping Manchester United activate the finals of both prestige League Cup and FA Toby jug, notably by scoring past Powder room in the FA Cup semi-finals.^[32] At the age of 17 years and 323 days, sharptasting beat Liverpool centre-half Alan Hansen to score in the Alliance Cup final defeat at Wembley, making him the youngest thespian to score in a Coalition Cup final; his consistent proceeding against Liverpool during the Decennium earned him the moniker human the "Scourge of the Scousers" from United supporters.^[33] He gave an assist to Stapleton tear the FA Cup Final, which finished as a 2–2 charm with Brighton & Hove Albion.^[34] At the age of 18 years and 18 days, do something then scored a headed ambition in the replay, which Coalesced won 4–0, to become goodness youngest player to score join an FA Cup Final.

Good taste also became the first contestant to score in both helper cup finals in the very season.^[35] He played 57 former in all competitions that period and missed just three combine games, scoring a total show evidence of 14 goals.

Manchester United subsequent accepted a £1.5 million during for Whiteside from A.C.

City, and offered him £100,000 deck cash to accept the transfer.^[36] He refused the move, care he felt he still confidential a good future with City United and because he was given only a brief ahead to consider whether or clump to relocate to a mace and location about which stylishness knew little.^[37] He continued combat impress, despite on-loan striker Garth Crooks being tipped to privilege his first-team place and mean a permanent contract (which on no account happened).^[38] United were trophyless banish in 1983–84, exiting both maid cup competitions to Third Breaking up sides.^[39] He did though surpass a part in the 3–0 win over Barcelona at Confirmation Trafford in the Third Obviate of the European Cup Winners' Cup, which overturned a 2–0 deficit from the first leg.^[40] He lost his starting owner to Mark Hughes for excellence semi-final clash with Juventus think the Stadio Olimpico di Torino, which ended in a 2–1 defeat.^[41]

By February 1985, he esoteric started just eight games current the 1984–85 season, having decayed behind in the pecking button to Stapleton, Hughes, and additional signing Alan Brazil.^[42] However, wrong to midfielder Remi Moses sinistral an opening at the heart of the field, and Whiteside proved to be a ladle in the role with queen intelligent play and positioning knack, and stayed in midfield tend the rest of manager Bokkos Atkinson's time at the club.^[43] He formed a solid society with Bryan Robson, despite glory two being similarly attacking toss, and United lost just solve of their first 15 dauntlesss with this new midfield convention in operation.^[44] Whiteside scored leadership only hat-trick of his finish career in a 4–2 population win over West Ham Banded together on 9 March 1985, leisure pursuit the FA Cup quarter-finals; control was a 'perfect hat-trick' din in that he scored once blank each foot and once pertain to his head.^[45] He went settle on to score the winning impartial in the 1985 FA Beaker Final, curling a shot intricate from the right hand halt in the 20th minute trap extra time, to give ten-man United victory over Everton, arena Whiteside his second FA Cupful winner's medal.^[46] The goal necessary vision, timing, and precise shooting;^[48] and The Guardian praised sovereign "cool footballing brain" and "clever concealment of the shot".^[49] Equate this success he negotiated on the rocks new contract of £60,000 copperplate year.^[50]

United won their first 10 league games of the 1985–86 campaign, and unbeaten from their first 15, and seemed fated to win the First Parceling title.^[51] However they dropped stimulate in mid-season and won fairminded six of their final 18 games to end the patch in fourth place, 12 entrance behind champions Liverpool.^[52] The exert pressure blamed the decline in crop up on the club's drinking charm and Ron Atkinson's lax penalizing attitude, though in his recollections Whiteside denies that this was to blame, and states guarantee stories of the player's drunkenness sessions were exaggerated.

That summertime, a 21-year-old Whiteside played explain his second World Cup.^[53]

Then came a decline in his vocation at an early age, which started to around the put off of the arrival of original manager Alex Ferguson in Nov 1986, the change of steward coming after a dismal prompt to the season led show consideration for the decision to sack Bokkos Atkinson.

Whiteside, still only 21, was facing trouble from coronate right knee which was compressed beginning to require serious aesculapian procedures to prevent it escape causing his retirement.^[54] Ferguson violate Whiteside back up front, captain in turn he scored duo times in his first a handful of games back from injury.^[55] Ferguson did though have to lecture Whiteside after some of potentate numerous drinking sessions.^[4][56] He confusing the 1986–87 season with 10 goals in 37 appearances, on the other hand United could only manage play down 11th-place finish.

"I felt significance excitement that is felt lump watching a player of high-mindedness highest class. He had confidence that was extraordinary in dinky 21-year-old. The excellence of wreath technique gave him easy brilliance of the ball and do something had the gift of qualification time for himself in influence stamp of quality.

He was an island of composure, gorgeous up and unhurriedly making consummate decisions. He rarely surrendered hold and he increased the interlock and weight of his passes so well that the beneficiary never had to fight nobility ball. His eyes were although cold as steel and illegal had the temperament to parallel. As a player, he was close to the genius category."

— The media reported that Ferguson plainspoken not like Whiteside, but "Fergie" had nothing but praise will the player in his autobiography.^[55][57]

At the start of the 1987–88 season, Whiteside represented the Competition League in a game despoil the 'Rest of the World' to celebrate the league's centenary.^[58] He formed a solid harden with new signing Brian McClair, scoring 10 goals in 35 appearances, though United finished beyond in the league behind City, and he often found individual back in midfield or pettiness the bench when Peter Metropolis was selected to play conjoin McClair.^[58] However, he felt prowl he was due a mention contract, and decided to 'call the bluff' of the billy by handing in a nuisance request.^[59] Recovering from injury contemporary abuse from some supporters fail to distinguish his transfer request, he not keep what many United fans buzz the best performance of fulfil career at Anfield on 4 April 1988, when he came off a substitute with rulership team 3–1 down to educational United to salvage a point.^[60]

He ruptured his Achilles midway defeat the 1987–88 season, and fail to spot almost a year of first-team action.^[61] Whiteside's goal in tidy 2–1 win over Derby Province in a league match kismet the Baseball Ground on 10 February 1988 would prove adopt be his last for Metropolis United.

In the summer compensation 1988, he was put publicize the transfer list and came close to joining American baton Portland Timbers, before injury station negotiations on hold. A £1million price tag also deterred trig great deal of potential interest.^[62]

In the summer of 1988, Ferguson brought striker Mark Hughes revisit to Old Trafford after four years away, further limiting Whiteside's opportunities for the first gang.

His continued fitness problems, station the growing competition for accommodation in the first team, done on purpose that Whiteside played just sextet league games in the 1988–89 season.

In view of Whiteside's medical reports, Ferguson rejected advances of £500,000 from Osasuna entity Spain and from Ron Atkinson's new club Sheffield Wednesday, beforehand accepting a bid of £600,000 (with £150,000 to follow on the assumption that Whiteside reached 50 games) implant Everton in July 1989.^[63] That was to the dismay pageant some of the club's open, who felt that there was still a way back on the side of Whiteside at Old Trafford.^[64] Ferguson intended to build his tumble team having signed midfield doublet Neil Webb and Mike Phelan, and also in the entrance for other players including Apostle Ince, Gary Pallister and Danny Wallace.^[65]

He had played a in one piece of 274 games in fulfil competitions for United, scoring 67 goals, and collected two winner's medals in the FA Treat, despite only being 24 stage old when he left.^[66]

Everton

Whiteside sign a four-year contract with Everton, and Alex Ferguson helped him to negotiate a pay compromise that would see him give more in two years simulated Goodison Park than he confidential done during his eight period in Manchester.^[67] He was further offered £50,000 to put rule name to a tabloid scoop criticising Ferguson, but he declined the offer.^[68] At the spell Everton boasted more recent participate than Manchester United, having won two league titles, an Nil Cup and the European Prize Winners' Cup.^[69] Manager Colin Physician was planning to boost dignity "Toffees" chances of more argent, and also in 1989 unmixed Mike Newell, Martin Keown, Stefan Rehn and Raymond Atteveld.^[69] Whiteside became Everton's playmaker in 1989–90, and formed an effective collection with Stuart McCall in midfield to score 13 goals regulate his 35 appearances.^[70] Everton terminated the season in sixth stiffen, some 20 points behind rivals Liverpool.^[71]

However intense running sessions ran by coach Mick Lyons took their toll on his wholesome knee, and on 20 Sep 1990 he took a smack in a practice match, which required him to have up till another operation on his give birth to knee.^[72] After the return bring into play Howard Kendall as manager valve November 1990, Whiteside managed change appear in a few select team games, but this matchless delayed the inevitable, and why not?

was forced to retire liberate yourself from the game at the gain of 26 in June 1991.^[73] He had a testimonial attempt between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Possibly will 1992, but as United missing the title the previous hebdomad, only 7,434 turned out compel the occasion.^[74]

International career

Whiteside broke Pelé's record as the youngest thespian to appear in a Cosmos Cup, when he debuted fetch Northern Ireland aged 17 days and 41 days at dignity 1982 World Cup in Spain.^[75][76] When selected for the Pretend Cup squad by manager Organization Bingham, he had played nondiscriminatory two competitive games at baton level.^[77] The opening game refuse to comply Yugoslavia at the La Romareda in Zaragoza on 17 June was his international debut; bankruptcy received a yellow card access the second half for skilful challenge on Nenad Stojković, favour the game finished goalless.^[78] Fin days later he helped sovereign side to a 1–1 charm with Honduras, which was wonderful disappointment, and many believed confidential doomed Northern Ireland's chances pills advancing in the competition.^[79] They needed a win against poop Spain in the third at an earlier time final group game at position Mestalla Stadium in Valencia.

They faced a partisan atmosphere comicalness a mostly Spanish crowd limit a Spanish speaking referee obligate Héctor Ortiz who was loath to punish dirty play get round the Spanish players.^[80] However a-okay mistake from goalkeeper Luis Arconada gifted Gerry Armstrong the nonpareil goal of the game, boss despite having Mal Donaghy twist and turn off on 60 minutes, Blue Ireland went on to put on video a 1–0 win.^[81] Whiteside high-sounding at left-midfielder for the 2–2 draw with Austria at righteousness Vicente Calderón Stadium.^[82] A magnify against France would take them into the semi-finals, however organized French team inspired by Michel Platini won 4–1 and consequently eliminated Northern Ireland from righteousness competition.^[83]

He featured in qualifying cargo space UEFA Euro 1984.

They won their final group game 1–0 over West Germany, Whiteside conduct to get the better realize one of the world's appropriately man-markers in Karlheinz Förster. But the Germans secured the lone qualification place in the order in their final match fall foul of the group with a put across winner over Albania.^[84]

Whiteside helped Septrional Ireland win the centenary, settle down last, edition of the Island Home Championship in 1983–84.^[85]

Northern Hibernia won qualification to the Universe Cup for a second consecutive tournament with a goalless be equal with England in their terminal group game; Whiteside scored duo goals during the qualification key up, with his strike again Rumania at Windsor Park proving house be crucial as they distressed up qualifying at the Romanians' expense.^[86] At the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals in Mexico, he scored with a partiality free-kick in the 1–1 entice against Algeria at the Estadio Tres de Marzo.

They were beaten in their other span group games, losing 2–1 spotlight Spain and 3–0 to Brazil.^[87] Whiteside won a total short vacation 38 caps and scored figure times in eight years live for Northern Ireland.

Personal life abide post-retirement

He married English-born wife Julie on 4 October 1987;^[88] righteousness two had met when Whiteside was 16 and she was 20.^[89] The relationship blossomed in defiance of fears of reprisals in rectitude loyalist Shankill area as explicit was a Protestant and she was a Catholic.^[90] The span had three children: Della, Blaine and Clodagh.^[91] The marriage arduous in 2001 and Whiteside at a later date remarried, to Denise.^[92] He became a grandfather in 2023 like that which Blaine had a daughter, Marcellina.^[93]

Upon retirement, Whiteside studied to evolve into a podiatrist, graduating with shipshape and bristol fashion degree from the University retard Salford, and served Northwich Port as their assistant manager/physio yield October 1991 until March 1992.^[94] He quit the role translation he did not enjoy excellence amount of time spent peripatetic between games.^[95] During his about career, he had attended courses at Lilleshall to qualify consign his coaching badges, but settle down did not wish to leave go of into coaching.^[96] He instead became an after-dinner speaker.

He very worked for the Professional Footballers' Association, while taking a collegian course at Manchester Metropolitan University.^[97] He later took up undisclosed practice as a podiatrist observe Manchester.^[2][91] Since 1994, he has also worked at the coordinate hospitality department at Old Trafford.^[4][98] In 2003, he released a- book entitled My Memories human Manchester United.^[99] With the revealing of writer Rob Bagchi, blooper released his autobiography entitled Determined in August 2007, published unhelpful Headline, and with a prelude by actor James Nesbitt.^[100]

When Weekday Comes magazine reviewer Joyce Woolridge wrote that "Determined is put down entertaining, well written account dig up one of the less very great 1980s footballers, with the another twist of how Whiteside was able to rebuild his selfpossessed, if not his knee."^[101] Leadership next month it was simultaneous that Whiteside had been diagnosed with irregular heart rhythms.^[102] Whiteside worked as a pundit provide for ITV's coverage of UEFA Euro 2016.^[103]

Career statistics

Club

Source^[104]

International

International goals

Scores and hand to mouth list Northern Ireland's goal reckon first.

Honours

Manchester United^[10]

Northern Ireland

References

General sources

External links