Alan Whittle

Alan Whittle (born 10 March 1950) is an English retired footballer who played as a forward or attacking midfielder. He made a total of 241 Football League appearances for Everton, Crystal Palace, Orient and Bournemouth, scoring 46 goals. He also spent a season with Iranian side Persepolis where he made 34 appearances and scored 16 goals.

For the rugby league footballer of the 1960s, and 1970s, see Alan Whittle (rugby league).

Alan Whittle
Whittle with Persepolis in 1977–78
Personal information
Full name Alan Whittle
Date of birth (1950-03-10) 10 March 1950
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Playing position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Youth career
1965–1967 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1972 Everton 74 (21)
1972–1976 Crystal Palace 108 (19)
1976 Sheffield United 0 (0)
1976–1977 Orient 33 (5)
1977–1978 Persepolis 34 (16)
1979–1980 Orient 17 (1)
1981 Bournemouth 9 (0)
1981–1982 Preston Makedonia 40 (4)
1982–19?? Gravesend & Northfleet ? (?)
Total 275 (55)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Whittle was a product of the Everton youth academy and debuted for the first-team in 1967 at the age of 17. In five years at Everton Whittle made 74 appearances scoring 21 goals, but found it difficult to establish himself in the first-team. Whittle's nickname was The Hustler at Everton, though he campaigned in The Toffees football in the community scheme. The highlight of his time at Everton was being part of the side that won the First Division in the 1969–70 season; making 15 appearances and scoring 11 goals in the process.[1]

In December 1972, Whittle was sold to Crystal Palace for a then large fee of £100,000.[2] Whittle spent four years of his career at Palace; however, his stay was dogged by injury and bad form, leading him to fall out of favour with then coach Malcolm Allison, Whittle did make a century of appearances for Palace and was a fan favourite. Palace fans would chant "We want Whittle" and "The Roker roar is no more, Whittle showed them how to score".

Whittle spent two one-season spells at Orient scoring six goals in 50 appearances for the club and coming second in the Anglo-Scottish Cup. Whittle surprised many by spending one season at Iranian club Persepolis F.C. in the 1977–78 season where he competed in the Takht Jamshid Cup, however because of the Iranian Revolution and collapse of the national league Whittle had no choice but to leave Iran. Whittle was the first English footballer ever to play in the Iranian football league system.[3]

Ultimately, Whittle ended his career at A.F.C. Bournemouth at the age of 30 making just nine appearances for the club. Towards the end of Whittle's career he made a move to Australia, where he played for a year before going to non-league side Gravesend & Northfleet in 1982 ending a career for Whittle who as a youngster had much promise but injury and poor form were to block the extent of his success.[4]

International career

In 1972, at the age of 22, he was called up by Sir Alf Ramsey, manager of the English national football team; however, he did not feature for the side.[5]

Honours

Personal life

Whittle is the uncle of current Everton player Tom Davies. Now retired, Whittle lives on The Wirral.

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References
  1. "1969-1970 Summary". evertonresults.com. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  2. "Thirty Years Ago December 1972". dial.pipex.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  3. Alan Whittle. takhtejamshidcup.com
  4. Alan Whittle. evertonfc.com
  5. All Players. englandstats.com
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