756 Neil Whitworth

Biography

Centre back Neil Anthony Whitworth joined the Tigers in July 1998 as manager Mark Hateley attempted to build a squad capable of challenging at the top end of League Division 3. Alas early season poor form – just 3 wins in 22 league and cup games – saw Hateley removed from post and Whitworth’s form was not great during that period. He scored two goals at Boothferry Park, both in home defeats to Darlington in August 1998 and Brentford in September. When Warren Joyce took the manager’s hot seat in November 1998, Whitworth was unavailable due to an achilles injury that kept him out of action for nearly 18 months. Whitworth made a single appearance in his second season – in Brian Little’s first match in charge following Joyce’s sacking – and left the club in the 2000 close season.

Born in Ince-in-Makerfield on the southern fringes of Wigan, Whitworth – whose father was a rugby league player – spent his youth at local club Wigan Athletic, making his senior debut against Leyton Orient in February 1990. After only two first team appearances for the Latics, Whitworth joined Manchester United in June 1990 for a £45,000 fee. Neil spent four years learning his trade at Old Trafford, enjoying several loan spells and playing for the Red Devils’ first team only once, a March 1991 1-1 draw in the First Division at Southampton. Hungry for first team action, Whitworth joined Scottish side Kilmarnock in the 1994 close season. He spent four season at Rugby Park, the first two as a first team regular and the last two as a fringe player following a bout of tuberculosis in 1997 that reduced his fitness considerably. He returned to Wigan Athletic on loan in early 1998 but was soon lured to Boothferry Park by Mark Hateley’s considerable reputation as a football figure, if not as a successful Hull City manager.

Whitworth left City in June 2000 and spent three seasons at Exeter City. His time at St James’s Park mirrored his years at Kilmarnock – at first a first team regular, later a squad player. He spent 2003/04 season at non-league clubs Southport and Radcliffe Borough before calling time on his playing career in the 2004 close season. A return to playing at Fleetwood in 2006 was short lived. Whitworth returned to the Wigan area when his playing days were over.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 12 April 1972, Ince-in-Makerfield
Hull City First Game: 8 August 1998, Rotherham United A (League Division 3), 26 years, 118 days old
Hull City Final Game: 29 April 2000, Plymouth Argyle A (League Division 3), 28 years, 17 days old

Clubs

Wigan Athletic (1988-1990), Manchester United (1990-1994), Preston North End (1992, loan), Barnsley (1992, loan), Rotherham United (1993, loan), Blackpool (1993, loan), Kilmarnock (1994-1998), Wigan Athletic (1998, loan), Hull City (1998-2000), Exeter City (2000-2003), Southport (2003-2004), Radcliffe Borough (2004, loan), Fleetwood Town (2006)

Hull City Record

Career: 24 apps, 2 goals

Neil Whitworth
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1998/9918 (0)21 (0)04 (0)0----
1999/000 (1)0--------

1 thought on “756 Neil Whitworth”

  1. He came into Spiders once, oddly. Paid for a vodka and coke (45p) with a £20 note when I had little change in the till. I’ve never quite forgiven him.

    Reply

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