{{Short description|Northern Irish footballer (born 1979)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jeff Whitley | image = | fullname = Jeffrey Whitley | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|1|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Ndola, Zambia | height = 5 ft 8 in<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/skysportsfootbal0000unse_l8c8 |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2005–2006 |date=2005 |publisher=Headline |isbn=978-0-7553-1384-6 |editor-last=Rollin |editor-first=Glenda |location=London |pages=545 |editor-last2=Rollin |editor-first2=Jack}}</ref> | youthyears1 = 1989–1996 | youthclubs1 = Manchester City | position = Midfielder | years1 = 1996–2003 | clubs1 = Manchester City | caps1 = 116 | goals1 = 6 | years2 = 1999 | clubs2 = → Wrexham (loan) | caps2 = 9 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2002 | clubs3 = → Notts County (loan) | caps3 = 6 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2002–2003 | clubs4 = → Notts County (loan) | caps4 = 12 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2003–2005 | clubs5 = Sunderland | caps5 = 68 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 2005–2007 | clubs6 = Cardiff City | caps6 = 34 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2006 | clubs7 = → Stoke City (loan) | caps7 = 3 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2007 | clubs8 = → Wrexham (loan) | caps8 = 11 | goals8 = 1 | years9 = 2008 | clubs9 = Wrexham | caps9 = 11 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2009 | clubs10 = Woodley Sports | caps10 = 7 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2009–2010 | clubs11 = Northwich Victoria | caps11 = 2 | goals11 = 0 | totalcaps = 279 | totalgoals = 12 | nationalyears1 = 1998–2000 | nationalyears2 = 1997–2005 | nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U21 | nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland | nationalcaps1 = 17 | nationalcaps2 = 20 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 3 | club-update = 11:40, 8 April 2009 (UTC) | ntupdate = 22:35, 8 August 2008 (UTC) }} '''Jeffrey Whitley''' (born 28 January 1979) is a former professional footballer who now works for the Professional Footballers Association as a player wellbeing executive.
As a player he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Manchester City. He also played in the Football League for Wrexham, Notts County, Cardiff City, Stoke City and Sunderland, as well as for non-league sides Woodley Sports, Northwich Victoria and Droylsden. Born in Zambia, he was the first black player to represent Northern Ireland, earning 20 caps.
==Club career== Whitley was a product of the Manchester City youth scheme<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article5780357.ece Manchester City save best till last]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> which he joined as a ten-year-old and began his club career as a trainee in 1996, making over 120 league and cup appearances for the first-team.<ref name="sbase">{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=9762|title=Jeff Whitley |work=Soccerbase|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> He had a two-month loan spell at Wrexham in the 1998–99 season.<ref name="sbase" /> and in March 2002, having fallen out of favour at Manchester City, joined Notts County on loan for the remainder of the 2001–02 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/1884047.stm|title=Whitley joins Notts County|date=20 March 2002|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> He had a three-month loan spell at Notts County in the 2002–03 season, returning to Manchester City in January 2003<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/2679207.stm|title=Whitley returns to City|date=21 January 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> but was released by the club in March 2003 as he did not feature in manager Kevin Keegan's plans.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2830973.stm|title=Whitley leaves Maine Road|date=7 March 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref>
After a trial<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/2885639.stm|title=Whitley wants Black cats deal|date=25 March 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> and impressing in pre-season, he signed a contract with Sunderland in August 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/3122981.stm|title=Whitley joins Sunderland|date=4 August 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> He made over 70 league and cup appearances for Sunderland,<ref name="sbase" /> helping the club to the Football League Championship play-offs at the end of the 2003–04 season. In the play-off semi final against Crystal Palace, Whitley attempted a Panenka during the penalty shootout which was saved. Crystal Palace converted the following spot kick to defeat Sunderland and reach the play-off final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists/arid-20198746.html/|title=The man behind the dinked penalty|website=www.irishexaminer.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/3816211.stm|title=Whitley signs new contract|date=17 June 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> Whitley later helped Sunderland to the Football League Championship title in 2005.<ref name="Cardiff">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/4119326.stm|title=Whitley completes Cardiff switch|date=1 July 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> In July 2005, he joined Cardiff City on a free transfer<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/4119326.stm| title=Whitley completes Cardiff switch|date=1 July 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 June 2008}}</ref> and made 38 league and cup appearances for the club in the 2005–06 season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=9762&season_id=135|title=Games played by Jeff Whitley in 2005/2006|work=Soccerbase|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=11 June 2008}}</ref> scoring once against Watford in the league.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4727104.stm |title=Watford 2–1 Cardiff |publisher=BBC |date=25 February 2006 |access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> Whitley joined Stoke City on loan in August 2006<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/5262844.stm |title=Whitley joins Stoke in loan deal |date=18 August 2006|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> but made only four appearances<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=9762&season_id=136|title=Games played by Jeff Whitley in 2006/2007|work=Soccerbase|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=11 June 2008}}</ref> in an unsuccessful loan spell.<ref name="Fret">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6339763.stm|title=Cardiff fret over missing Whitley |date=27 February 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 June 2008}}</ref> Cardiff made him available for transfer but he did not take up offers to talk with Millwall and Rotherham<ref name="Fret" /> and joined Wrexham in February 2007 on loan for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.<ref name="Wrexham">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/6368109.stm|title=Whitley makes Wrexham loan move |date=16 February 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> He scored the winning goal against Bristol Rovers in a 1–0 away victory in March 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/6461715.stm|title=Bristol Rovers 0–1 Wrexham |date=24 March 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 June 2008}}</ref> He was released by Cardiff and signed for Wrexham on non-contract terms in January 2008<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/7195476.stm|title=Quartet join Wrexham with one out |date=18 January 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> but was released by Wrexham in May 2008 following the club's relegation to the Football Conference.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/7367679.stm |title=Roberts and Llewellyn leave Reds |date=6 May 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 May 2008}}</ref> He joined Northern Premier League Division One North side Woodley Sports in an effort to gain match fitness, before signing for Northwich Victoria on 7 March 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/northwich_victoria/7930284.stm|title=Northwich complete double signing |date=7 March 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 March 2009}}</ref>
==International career== Despite being Zambian born, due to Whitley living in England since he was a child, he was eligible to, and played for the England under-17 team. As his father was born in Belfast, he was also eligible to play for Northern Ireland and made his debut for them in 1997,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/130/senior/jeff-whitley-midfielder/|title=Jeff Whitley|work=Squad Profiles – Legends of the Game|publisher=Irish Football Association|accessdate=10 June 2008|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204043/http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/130/senior/jeff-whitley-midfielder/|url-status=dead}}</ref> becoming the first black player to play for Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeff's Irish ambition |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jeffs-irish-ambition-1605270 |website=Evening Chronicle |access-date=16 August 2023 |date=1 February 2004}}</ref>
==Personal life== His brother, Jim was also a professional footballer, with both brothers playing for Manchester City at the same time; Jeff wore his full name on the back of his shirt for a time to differentiate between the two, who also shared the same initials.
Whitley has spent time at the Sporting Chance clinic after becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs. It affected him greatly and said "at times I would just be praying just to die".<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Man City player Jeff Whitley reveals drug battle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15274757|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=24 November 2011|date=12 October 2011}}</ref> Whitley previously worked as a car salesman in the Stockport area whilst training to become a qualified Counsellor. He now works for the Professional Footballers' Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/meet-the-team|title=Meet the Team}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== *Source:<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other{{ref label|Other|A|}} !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="7"|Manchester City |1996–97 |First Division |23||1||0||0||1||0||0||0||24||1 |- |1997–98 |First Division |17||1||1||0||0||0||0||0||18||1 |- |1998–99 |Second Division |8||0||0||0||1||0||4||0||13||0 |- |1999–2000 |First Division |42||4||2||0||2||0||0||0||46||4 |- |2000–01 |Premier League |31||1||1||0||5||0||0||0||37||1 |- |2001–02 |First Division |2||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !116!!6!!4!!0!!9!!0!!4!!0!!133!!6 |- |Wrexham (loan) |1998–99 |Second Division |9||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||2 |- |rowspan="3"|Notts County (loan) |2001–02 |Second Division |6||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||0 |- |2002–03 |Second Division |12||0||1||0||0||0||1||0||14||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !18!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!20!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|Sunderland |2003–04 |First Division |33||2||5||0||2||0||2||0||42||2 |- |2004–05 |Championship |34||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||34||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !67!!4!!6!!0!!2!!0!!2!!0!!76!!4 |- |rowspan="3"|Cardiff City |2005–06 |Championship |34||1||1||0||3||0||0||0||38||1 |- |2006–07 |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !34!!1!!1!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!38!!1 |- |Stoke City (loan) |2006–07 |Championship |3||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||4||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Wrexham |2006–07 |League Two |11||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||11||1 |- |2007–08 |League Two |11||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||11||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !22!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!22!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career Total !269!!14!!11!!0!!15!!0!!7!!0!!302!!14 |}
{{refbegin}} :A. {{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy and Football League play-offs. {{refend}}
===International=== Source:<ref>{{NFT player |id=4902}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center" |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=8|Northern Ireland |1997||2||0 |- |1998||1||0 |- |1999||1||1 |- |2000||2||0 |- |2001||1||0 |- |2003||1||0 |- |2004||8||1 |- |2005||4||0 |- !colspan=2|Total!!20!!2 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *[http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/130/senior/jeff-whitley-midfielder/ IFA profile with photo and information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204043/http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/130/senior/jeff-whitley-midfielder/ |date=27 September 2007 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitley, Jeff}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Ndola Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland Category:21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland Category:Northern Ireland men's international footballers Category:Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers Category:Zambian men's footballers Category:People from Northern Ireland of Zambian descent Category:Zambian people of Northern Ireland descent Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Manchester City F.C. players Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players Category:Notts County F.C. players Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:Stoke City F.C. players Category:Stockport Sports F.C. players Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players Category:Zambian emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:Sportspeople of Irish descent