David White (English footballer)

English footballer

David White (born 30 October 1967) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward from 1985 to 1998. He is best remembered for his eight year spell at Manchester City, where he played in the inaugural Premier League season. He switched to Leeds United in 1993 before finishing his career in the Football League with a three year spell at Sheffield United. He was capped once by England and had previously appeared at England U21 and England B team level.

In his childhood White played for Salford Boys, before joining the youth system at Manchester City. He signed as an apprentice on his eighteenth birthday, He soon became a regular in the side, alternating between the right wing and striker positions, and missed just one game in the next two seasons. As the top division became the Premier League in 1992 (White scored a personal best 18 goals in 1991–92 as City finished fifth for the second season running), White scored Manchester City's first goal in the Premier League after good build up play by Niall Quinn and Paul Lake. After seven goals in the first seven games of this season (1992–93) he made his full international debut.

In December 1993, White was signed by Leeds in an exchange for David Rocastle valued at £1.2 million. White never really lived up to expectations at Elland Road. He suffered a succession of injuries and was restricted to just 10 goals for Leeds in his two years at the club.

In November 1995, he was loaned to Sheffield United, and a month later he signed a permanent contract after the two clubs agreed a £500,000 fee. At Bramall Lane, White showed flashes of his old self, that had made him a star at Manchester City a few years before, but he was still bothered by injuries. He continued to suffer problems with his arthritic right ankle, making his final appearance in a League Cup match against Wrexham in 1997, before having to admit defeat and retire from the game.

In 1987, he won several caps for the England Under 21 side. He made his full international debut in a friendly against Spain, but missed a chance to score early on and lost confidence. White received strong press criticism, and lost form in the aftermath.

After his retirement from the game he became managing director of his own recycling and waste management company "White Recycling". The company went into receivership in 2015. In November 2016, White revealed that he had been a victim of sexual abuse by football coach Barry Bennell in the late 1970s and early 1980s, while playing for Whitehill F. C. junior team in Manchester.