Chris Whyte

Christopher Anderson Whyte (born 2 September 1961) is an English former footballer who played as a central defender and made nearly 400 appearances in the Football League and Premier League. He had lengthy spells with Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United – where he was a pivotal part of their 1991–92 title-winning team – and Birmingham City, and also played for numerous other clubs in England and abroad. Whyte was capped by England at under-21 level.

For the Scottish poet and literary critic, see Christopher Whyte.

Chris Whyte
Personal information
Full name Christopher Anderson Whyte[1]
Date of birth (1961-09-02) 2 September 1961[1]
Place of birth London, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1986 Arsenal 90 (8)
1984–1985 → Crystal Palace (loan) 13 (0)
1986–1987 New York Express (indoor) 26 (11)
1987–1988 Los Angeles Lazers (indoor) 77 (27)
1988–1990 West Bromwich Albion 84 (7)
1990–1993 Leeds United 113 (5)
1993–1996 Birmingham City 68 (1)
1995 → Coventry City (loan) 1 (0)
1996 → West Ham United (loan) 0 (0)
1996 Charlton Athletic 11 (1)
1996 Detroit Neon (indoor) 4 (0)
1997 Detroit Safari (indoor) 12 (1)
1997 Leyton Orient 1 (0)
1997 Oxford United 10 (0)
1997–1999 Rushden & Diamonds 53 (1)
1999 Raleigh Express 7 (0)
1999–2000 Harlow Town 34 (0)
2000 HyPS 10 (0)
Total 614 (62)
National team
1982 England U21 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Whyte was born in Islington, London, and started his career as a youth player at Arsenal,[1] turning professional in September 1978. A defender who played at centre half (but also less often at full back), he made his Arsenal first-team debut as a substitute against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Cup on 30 September 1981. He made his first appearance in the Football League against Manchester City on 17 October, and went on to start all but one of Arsenal's remaining league matches that season, partnering David O'Leary in central defence.[2] Whyte stood out with his coolness and confidence, as well as his timing and good judgement of the game. The following season, Whyte continued as a regular for Arsenal as the team reached the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions,[3] and took his tally of England under-21 caps to four.[4]

However, after Arsenal's shock League Cup loss to Walsall in November 1983 and the subsequent dismissal of Terry Neill, Whyte was dropped from the side in favour of new signing Tommy Caton.[2][5] The emergence of Tony Adams forced Whyte further down the pecking order at Highbury.[3] He made no appearances for Arsenal during 1984–85,[2] instead being loaned out to Crystal Palace,[1] and although he had a brief run as an emergency striker in 1985–86,[2][6] he was given a free transfer at the end of that season. In all he played 113 matches for Arsenal, scoring eight goals.[3]

No domestic club offered Whyte a contract, and disenchanted, he left for the United States and played for two years in the Major Indoor Soccer League for New York Express and Los Angeles Lazers. In the summer of 1988, Whyte was offered a return to England by Second Division West Bromwich Albion.[7] Whyte made his Albion debut in a League Cup tie against Peterborough United in September 1988, and ended the 1988–89 season as the club's Player of the Year.[8]

Whyte returned to the top flight in 1990, when he was signed for £450,000 by Howard Wilkinson's Leeds United.[7] He was nearly ever-present for the next three seasons, putting in 146 appearances as Leeds won the 1991–92 First Division title. In 1993, he moved to Birmingham City, winning the 1994–95 Second Division title with the Blues.[7] After a brief spell at Coventry City on loan, Whyte left Birmingham in 1996, and subsequently played for Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient, Oxford United and Rushden & Diamonds.[1][9]

He then returned to the United States for a spell with the Raleigh Express in the A-League before returning to England to play under former Arsenal teammate Ian Allinson, manager of Harlow Town of Rymans League Division One.[9] In 2000, he played for Finnish third-tier club HyPS.

International career

Whyte was capped four times for the England under-21 team.[10] His first two appearances were in the semi-finals of the 1982 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in April 1982, but he did not play in the final. His third and fourth appearances were later that year, in qualifiers for the next edition of the championships.[4]

Honours

Club

Leeds United

Birmingham City

Individual
  • West Bromwich Albion Player of the Year: 1989[8]
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References
Infobox statistics
  • English Football League clubs: "Chris Whyte". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  • New York Express, Los Angeles Lazers: "Major Indoor Soccer League Players: Chris Whyte". NASL Jerseys. Dave Morrison. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  • Detroit Neon/Safari: "Chris Whyte". Detroit Safari. Archived from the original on 14 February 1998.
  • Rushden & Diamonds: "Chris Whyte". rdfc1992.com. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
General
  1. "Chris Whyte". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  2. "Arsenal first team line ups". thearsenalhistory.com. Andy Kelly. Retrieved 27 February 2017. Select season required from bottom navbar.
  3. "Chris Whyte". Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  4. Courtney, Barrie (10 January 2004). "England – U-21 International Results 1976–1985 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  5. Lacey, David (29 December 1983). "The day the marble halls cracked under pressure". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  6. Tomas, Jason (6 October 1985). "Football Focus: Reading win record race". Sunday Times. London – via Academic OneFile.
  7. Wobschall, Leon (8 January 2012). "Leeds United: My Whites playing days – Chris Whyte interview". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  8. Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion. Breedon Books. p. 244. ISBN 1-85983-474-4.
  9. Tufft, Richard. "Arsenal old boys, 1986/87 – present". ArseWeb. Rupert Ward. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  10. "Ex-O in Legends Tournament". Leyton Orient F.C. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  11. Lovejoy, Joe (10 August 1992). "Football / Charity Shield: Cantona lifts the occasion: Champions flourish on French flair in a Wembley spectacle which outshone its modest promise". The Independent. London. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
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