Steve White (footballer)

Steve White (born 2 January 1959 in Chipping Sodbury) is a retired professional football forward and manager.

Steve White
Personal information
Full name Stephen James White
Date of birth (1959-01-02) 2 January 1959 (age 65)
Place of birth Chipping Sodbury, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1977 Mangotsfield United ? (?)
1977–1979 Bristol Rovers 46 (20)
1979–1982 Luton Town 63 (25)
1982–1983 Charlton Athletic 29 (12)
1983Lincoln City (loan) 2 (0)
1983Luton Town (loan) 4 (0)
1983–1986 Bristol Rovers 89 (24)
1986–1994 Swindon Town 200 (83)
1994–1996 Hereford United 76 (44)
1996–1998 Cardiff City 45 (17)
1998Cwmbran Town (loan) 6 (4)
1998–2001 Bath City
Managerial career
2003–2005 Chippenham Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

White's career spanned over 500 appearances for nine league clubs, including Bristol Rovers, Luton Town, Swindon Town and Cardiff City. He helped Swindon in several promotion campaigns and played a crucial role in the 1993 play-off victory over Leicester City at Wembley Stadium when he came off the bench to win a penalty.[2] White is still held in great affection at the County Ground. His time at the club was notable for frequently straying offside, pulling his shorts up high and invariably scoring many goals. He was a very awkward player to play against for opposition centre halves. The esteem for White was demonstrated when he returned to Swindon with Hereford for a cup tie. His goal for the visitors was cheered equally heartily by home fans as away. White came second in the BBC Football Focus Swindon Cult Heroes poll behind Don Rogers Swindon Town's cult heroes

In August 1994 he signed for Hereford United and quickly became a fan favourite ("Chalky" White) at Edgar Street by scoring 44 goals in 76 league appearances. 1995–96 was arguably his best playing season when his prolific strike rate propelled Hereford from 19th to 6th in two months. His 29 league goals made him top goalscorer in the top four English divisions. After failing to gain promotion via the play-offs, he left Hereford and signed for Cardiff City. Whilst at Cardiff he played 6 games on Loan at Cwmbran Town scoring 4 goals in the time he was there.

He was initially in the frame for Bath City's managerial post but instead joined as player assistant to Paul Bodin in June 1998. He scored 12 times in his first season at Twerton Park showing even at 40 years of age he had lost little of his skill in front of goal. White reduced his appearances during the next two years to an occasional outing and left the club in February 2001 in an attempt to return to the professional game in a coaching capacity.[3]

He became director of football at Southampton's academy,[4] and became manager of Chippenham Town in November 2003.[4] He resigned in June 2005 after applying for the vacant managerial post at Bath City.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 360. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ "My favourite game: Swindon reach the promised land – thank Hod". The Guardian. 20 May 2020. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Past Players – W". Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Chippenham turn to White". NonLeagueDaily. 23 November 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  5. ^ "White ready for comeback". NonLeagueDaily. 16 September 2005. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2009.

External links edit