|
 |
NORMAN WHITESIDE |
|
|
|
|
Full
Name
|
Norman
Whiteside
|
|
Date
of Birth
|
7th
May 1965
|
|
Place
of Birth
|
Belfast
|
|
Position
|
Forward/Midfielder
|
|
Height
|
6ft
2
|
|
United debut
|
24/4/1982
vs Brighton (A)
|
.....
|
Whiteside's
United Record 1982-1989
|
| |
Appearances |
Goals |
| League |
193 (13) |
47 |
| FA
Cup |
24 |
10 |
| League
Cup |
26 (3) |
9 |
| Europe |
11 (2) |
1 |
| Other games |
2 |
0 |
| Total |
256 (18) |
67 |
Whiteside's
International Record
1982-1989
|
38 Caps for N Ireland - 9 Goals
..
1983
F.A. Cup
1985
F.A. Cup
|
Norman
Whiteside will always be remembered
for being the youngest at everything.
At 17 he was the youngest United
player to play for the first team
since Duncan Edwards, the youngest
player to score in an FA Cup Final
and the youngest player ever to
appear in the World Cup Finals,
for Northern Ireland in 1982. Big
Norman was pure class, powerful
and strong, he was lethal in the
air and could shoot with both power
and accuracy. He was also never
afraid to try something different
or unexpected, making him a constant
threat to opposing defences.
His strength frequently allowed
him to turn defenders and steal
a yard of space, for his only flaw
was a lack of pace. Alex Ferguson
said "If Norman had a yard more
pace he would have been one of the
greatest players ever produced in
British football".
The Press called him "The Shankill
Skinhead" for he was often a physical
player who loved to get stuck in,
although never overly malicious
or dirty. In fact the fans loved
him all the more for it, as it showed
his drive and commitment. Alex
Ferguson remembering a game against
Arsenal in 1986, laughed "Big Norman
Whiteside kicked everybody up and
down the pitch for 90 minutes and
didn't even get booked!" Norman
made up for that though, he was
a player capable of scoring goals
that only the most gifted of players
could score. His 1985 Cup Final
winner and 1982 League Cup Final
goals are prime examples of his
goal scoring ability. |
Born
in North Belfast, Norman was spotted
by United's legendary Ulster scout
Bob Bishop, the man also responsible
for bringing George Best and Sammy
McILroy to Old Trafford. He made
his United debut in the Spring of
1982 against Brighton before making
history in the World Cup with Northern
Ireland. It was during those finals
in which Norman first became famous,
as he helped the Ulstermen surprise
and delight everyone by reaching
the Quarter-finals. The following
season United reached the 1983 League
Cup final, in which he scored another
"youngest ever" goal and then again month later
when he scored in the FA Cup Final replay 4-0 win against
Brighton.
The next few years were the high
point of his career both for United
and Northern Ireland. His most famous
moment came in 1985 when United
played the then champions Everton
in the FA Cup Final. At 0-0 in extra
time, reduced to ten men, United
were up against it and an Everton
winner seemed likely. Then, Big
Norman went on a run down the right
wing and curled in a superb bending
shot from 20 yards to beat Everton
keeper Southall. It won goal of
the season and sealed undoubtedly
United's greatest FA Cup Final win.
The following seasons saw Whiteside
adopt a more deeper position in
midfield, he would captain both
United (in Robson's absence) and
Northern Ireland. Sadly, injuries
and suspensions saw his career take
a down-turn around 1988 and Alex
Ferguson began reshaping his team.
An unhappy Norman did not seem to
figure in the managers plans, hampered
by a recurring knee injury he was
sold to Everton in 1989 for £600,000.
After two years with the blues the
knee trouble got worse and he was
forced to retire at 27. Not the
sort of man for self-pity he went
back to University were he built
a career as a specialist in sports
injuries to the feet.
Norman Whiteside still remains an
all-time United hero to this day.
A beacon of hope in what was a decade
of under-achievement, a highly gifted
player who captured the hearts and
imaginations of the United fans,
he is fondly remembered and appreciated
for what he did at Manchester United.
Back
to United Legends
Back
to Home
|
|
|
