Eric Winston White (born 26 October 1958) is an English former footballer who made 529 league appearances with 13 different clubs in a 17-year career in the Football League.
He began his career with Leicester City before signing with Hereford United three years later. In 1983, he ended up at Bury following brief stays at Hong Kong Rangers, Chesterfield, Port Vale and Stockport County. He helped the "Shakers" to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1984–85. Loaned out to Rochdale, he was allowed to sign with Colchester United on a free transfer in March 1987. He was sold to Burnley for £17,500 in October 1988, before he joined West Bromwich Albion for a £35,000 fee in 1991. He was released from his contract in October 1992. Then he had brief spells with Bury, Doncaster Rovers, Carlisle United, and Wigan Athletic.
Career White began his career at Leicester City, who finished 11th in the First Division in 1976–77 under Jimmy Bloomfield's stewardship. The "Foxes" were relegated in last place in 1977–78 under Frank McLintock, before finishing just three places and three points above the Second Division relegation zone in 1978–79 under Jock Wallace Jr. White then left Filbert Street for Hereford United for a fee of £15,000 in March 1979. He played a total of 208 league and cup games for the "Bulls", scoring 24 goals. In 1979, he played in a benefit match for West Bromwich Albion's Len Cantello, that saw a team of white players play against a team of black players.
Manager Frank Lord failed to take the club out of the Fourth Division re-election zone in 1979–80 or 1980–81, though the Edgar Street club did reach tenth in 1981–82, before finishing bottom of the Football League in 1982–83 under Tommy Hughes. White left Hereford in 1983, moving to Hong Kong to turn out for Hong Kong Rangers of the Hong Kong First Division League. After returning to his native England he had trials with Chesterfield and Port Vale, appearing as a substitute for the "Valiants" in a 2–1 Third Division defeat at Newport County on 29 October 1983, before leaving Vale Park two days later. He moved on to Bury via Stockport County, both of whom were in the Fourth Division. The "Shakers" finished 15th in 1983–84 under Jim Iley, before clinching the fourth automatic promotion place in 1984–85 under Martin Dobson. White left Gigg Lane for a loan spell at Rochdale, who were struggling back in the Fourth Division. Bury held on to their Third Division status in 1985–86 and 1986–87.
White signed with Colchester United on a free transfer in March 1987. He made 78 appearances in all competitions, including 50 in 1987–88, before joining Burnley for a fee of £17,500 in October 1988. During his time at Layer Road the club slipped down the Fourth Division, as Mike Walker was replaced by Roger Brown and then Steve Foley. He scored twice against Colchester on 10 February 1989, hitting six goals in 39 games for the "Clarets" in 1988–89; the Lancashire Telegraph ran with the headline "Winston turns on the black magic". Manager Brian Miller had left Turf Moor the previous month, and the club improved under new boss Frank Casper. White scored nine goals (including six penalties) in 50 appearances in 1989–90. He then hit six goals in 40 games in 1990–91, helping the club to the play-offs, where they were beaten by Torquay United. Before the play-offs came, he was signed by West Bromwich Albion for a £35,000 fee.
The "Baggies" slipped out of the Second Division in 1990–91, and missed out on the Third Division play-offs by one place and three points in 1991–92 under Bobby Gould. White was released from his contract at The Hawthorns by new boss Osvaldo Ardiles in October 1992. He returned to former club Bury, who were managed by his former boss Mike Walsh and saw the 1992–93 season out with brief spells at Doncaster Rovers, Carlisle United and Wigan Athletic. He scored two goals in ten games during the 1992–93 season as Wigan were relegated from the Second Division.
Style of play White was a crowd pleaser who "played football with a smile on his face, and terrorised teams with his tricky wing play."
Post-retirement After retiring from football, White co-owned a restaurant in Padiham and was later appointed Regional Sales Manager at Life Fitness. After gaining a bachelor's degree in Business and also studying for an MBA he now works with a worldwide soccer agency and also runs a health and fitness consultancy business.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeicester City1976–77First Division400000401977–78First Division610000611978–79Second Division20000020Total1210000121Hereford United1978–79Fourth Division15300001531979–80Fourth Division34220213831980–81Fourth Division43520004551981–82Fourth Division46850205381982–83Fourth Division3731020403Total175211006119122Chesterfield1983–84Fourth Division10000010Port Vale1983–84Third Division10000010Stockport County1983–84Fourth Division40100050Bury1983–84Fourth Division29100213121984–85Fourth Division46510405151985–86Third Division43560505451986–87Third Division71002091Total125127013114513Rochdale (loan)1986–87Fourth Division40000040Colchester United1986–87Fourth Division14100201611987–88Fourth Division417306450111988–89Fourth Division1000020120Total658301047812Burnley1988–89Fourth Division35510213861989–90Fourth Division40761415091990–91Fourth Division2923282406Total1041410314412821West Bromwich Albion1990–91Second Division610000611991–92Third Division1002020140Total1612020201Bury1992–93Third Division20000020Doncaster Rovers1992–93Third Division42001052Carlisle United1992–93Third Division60000060Wigan Athletic1992–93Second Division1020000102Career total52961333461060874
Honours Bury Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1984–85
References