Maybe the Chronicle will unfold a plethora of signings on Friday like they did when Mel Machin was here.Was it 5 or 6 at once.I remember John Pearson being one,who were the others?
If on Friday there's a photo anywhere of LJ with John O'Sullivan, Ben Pearson, Ryan Williams and Izale McLeod next to him having all signed up, that'd be nice.
I always thought I'd mis remembered the days when the chronicle used to announce almost every signing. Now with Twitter and other online sources we almost always know before the club announces.
No. He signed for us during the 1989/90 season, as did Gerry Taggart & Gary Fleming who were mentioned earlier in the thread. The signings of Pearson, Davis et al were all made during the close season of 1991.
Didnt he have a broken armwhen we signedhim ? great thing for a keeper , most have got two good arms !!
I vaguely recall something along those lines. He was a bit of a tinker was our Mel. He converted Robinson & Archdeacon from average wingers into excellent wing backs, Gary Fleming from a full back to a sweeper, Brendan O'Connell from a striker to a goalscoring midfielder. His predecessor, Allan Clarke, did the same with Steve Agnew from a striker to a midfielder, John Beresford from a midfielder to a full back and Stuart Gray from a midfielder to both a full back and centre half. What a pair of muggles. Everyone knows that a player must be restricted to one position and not be played in any other!
OK, I'll bow to your superior memory! I was convinced that they were both signed at the same time as potential replacements for Clive Baker, with Whitehead starting the season and having a total shocker. He was dropped after being caught hopelessly out of position and lobbed in the last minute at home to Brighton, and Butler went on to make the shirt his own. Maybe I've made all of this up!?!
Whitehead was the back up 'keeper for Baker for the 1990/91 season, at the end of which Baker left on a free transfer. Everyone expected Butler automatically to be the first choice goalie for the 1991/92 campaign, but Whitehead got it instead. We lost the first three games of the season, 2-1 at Plymouth, 3-0 at home to Sunderland and 2-1 at home to Brighton, when Whitehead was lobbed by Mark Barham in the last seconds. Butler was then put in the team and Whitehead didn't make the starting eleven again for eighteen months.
Ah, ok. That makes sense. I remember it was Mark Barham who lobbed Whitehead, and I also remember the Sunderland debacle, so I've not completely lost it! Whitehead reappeared unexpectedly as Butler was injured and Watson was on international duty IIRC. We were all absolutely bricking it, but from what I recall he came in and did really well.
You've got that spot on, my old friend. I recall going to one away game (a victory at Watford, I think!) when Whitehead had an absolute blinder and the opposition fans we talked to after the game were gobsmacked he was our third choice goalie!
