Whitham Mick Image 1 Sheffield United 1896

Description

Ecclesfield, Sheffield born right back Mick Whitham began his football career with Atlas Rovers in 1884 and played for Thorpe Hesley in 1885, Rawmarsh in 1886, Ecclesfield and Lockwood Brothers in 1887, before joining Sheffield Wednesday in 1888, where he made a single appearance, playing for Rotherham Swifts later the same year. He joined Sheffield United in 1890, a year after its foundation, when they were playing in the Midland Counties League.

Whitham first played an unofficial England international when England beat the Canadian-Americans 6-1 at The Kennington Oval in December 1891, and won his only England cap when, playing at left half, he was selected for a 2-0 victory over Ireland at Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast in March 1892.

Sheffield United joined the Second Division on its formation in 1892 and Whitham made his Football League debut against Lincoln City in The Blades’ inaugural League fixture that September, playing 25 games in the season as they won promotion through the Test Match (where they beat Accrington at The Town Ground, Nottingham), having finished as Second Division runners up, Whitham sometimes played in the half back line, as required, but was normally employed at full back.

He scored his only career goal when playing at centre half in a 5-0 win against Bolton Wanderers in April 1895, but he lost his place in the first team in January 1897 and made only one further appearance in 1897-98 before his retirement after 96 League and Cup appearances during their Football League era.

After retiring from playing, Whitham held several appointments as club trainer, these included two spells at Gainsborough Trinity, Rotherham County in 1908-09, Huddersfield Town, where he also was their manager during the 1912-13 season, and prior to his death in 1924 at Brentford.

His younger brother Mitcham played League football for Rotherham Town.