Devon White (footballer)
Devon White (born 2 March 1964) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker for seven different Football League clubs.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Devon White | ||
| Date of birth | 2 March 1964 | ||
| Place of birth | Nottingham, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1984 | Arnold Kingswell | ||
| 1984–1986 | Lincoln City | 29 | (4) |
| 1985–1986 | →Boston United (loan) | 7 | (2) |
| 1985–1986 | →Naxxar Lions (loan) | 1 | (3) |
| 1986–1987 | Boston United | 12 | (2) |
| 1986–1987 | Shepshed Charterhouse | ||
| 1987–1988 | Grantham | 0 | (0) |
| 1987–1992 | Bristol Rovers | 202 | (53) |
| 1992–1993 | Cambridge United | 22 | (4) |
| 1993–1994 | Queens Park Rangers | 26 | (9) |
| 1994–1996 | Notts County | 44 | (16) |
| 1996–1997 | Watford | 38 | (6) |
| 1997 | Notts County | 15 | (2) |
| 1997–1999 | Shrewsbury Town | 45 | (10) |
| 1999–? | Ilkeston Town | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Playing career
White began his career in the non-league ranks whilst training as an electrician. In 1984 his talents were spotted by Lincoln City and he moved into the professional game. He spent two seasons with Lincoln, from where he was loaned to Maltese club Naxxar Lions,[2] before dropping back into the non-league ranks with first Boston United and then Shepshed Charterhouse. At the beginning of the 1987–1988 season he appeared in a Lincolnshire Senior Cup tie for Grantham before surprisingly rejoining the pro ranks at Bristol Rovers. He also had a short stint at non league Oxhey jets, scoring one goal in five matches.
The move occurred following the appointment of Gerry Francis as manager at Bristol Rovers. Francis was looking for a strong physical striker and remembered a performance White had given for Lincoln against Rovers and contacted Lincoln to enquire about signing White. He was somewhat surprised to discover White had drifted back into non-league football and it took some detective work to track him down. He grasped his second chance at the professional game and went on to enjoy a long career.
Post-playing career
At the culmination of his professional career, White returned to his initial trade as an electrician and now runs his own company in Nottingham. In December 2006, he returned to non-league football circuit as temporary first-team coach at Gedling Town, a role he occupied until the completion of the 2006–07 season.
In 2011, he was the victim of an impostor who posted comments on Facebook containing racist remarks, as well as references to drug use and serious sexual offences while claiming to be White. White reported the matter to the police and to Facebook.[3]
References
- Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- Jay, Mike; Byrne, Stephen (1994). Pirates in Profile: A Who's Who of Bristol Rovers Players. Bristol: Potten, Baber & Murray. ISBN 0-9524835-0-5.
- "Bristol Rovers legend Devon White falls victim to a web of deceit". This is Bristol. Bristol Evening Post. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2011.