Norman WHITESIDE

 Norman Whiteside signed for Manchester United as an Associate Schoolboy in September 1978. He made his debut at the end of Ron Atkinsonís first season in charge in a 1-0 away win against Brighton on 24th April 1982 at the age of 16. His second appearance, the final game of that season, brought his first goal in a 2-0 win against Stoke City at Old Trafford. In only two appearances, Whiteside showed enough of his natural talent to force a way into the first team by the start of the following season. Norman repaid that faith and missed only three of United's sixty games in the 1982/83 season. He also demonstrated his ability to shine on the big occasion. United reached both domestic cup finals with Whiteside scoring a spectacular goal in the FA Cup Semi-Final victory over Arsenal.

He scored in both finals as United lost the League Cup 2-1 to Liverpool and beat Brighton 4-0 in the FA Cup in a replay. As United continued to play, at best, second fiddle to Liverpool in the league, most of their success, at that time, came in cup competition. Whiteside again came to the fore. Though his goal in the 1983/84 European Cup Winners' Cup Semi-Final against Juventus wasn't enough to take United to the final, the one he scored a year later in the FA Cup Final is the stuff of legend. With United down to ten men and locked at 0-0 with treble chasing Everton the game went into extra-time. Whiteside picked up the ball on the right, brought it to the corner of the penalty area and unleashed a sweet, curling left foot drive into the far corner of Neville Southall's goal. It proved to be the only goal and it earned him the 'Goal of the Season' award. It also earned him a place in Manchester United folklore forever. (Steve Drabble).

United began the 1985/86 campaign in record fashion. They kicked off with 10 consecutive league wins and remained unbeaten for the first 15, the first loss to Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth month of the season. However, injuries to key players cost the team heavily and, what at one stage looked inevitable, ended in disappointment as United finished 4th. In November 1986, Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed. United lay second from bottom after 15 games with only 10 points. Whiteside featured quite heavily under his initial stewardship and captained the side in Bryan Robson's absence as they finished 2nd in the league in his first full year in charge. However, injuries, in particular a recurrent knee problem, kept him out of the team for over a year from March 1987.

He made his return in April 1989 in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal. By then Ferguson had begun ringing the changes and Whiteside no longer appeared to feature. His last game was in a 2-1 defeat to Southampton on 6th May 1989. In August 1989, he was sold to Everton for £600, 000 having made 273 appearances and scored on 66 occasions, the last of those against Derby County in February 1988. Though injury shortened his career, Whiteside's place in all levels of footballing history is firmly cemented. At 16, he was United's youngest player since Duncan Edwards in the 1950s. At 17 and 18, he is the youngest to score in both the League Cup and FA Cup Finals respectively. He also overtook Pele's record when appearing for Northern Ireland in the 1982 World Cup. A well-built man, with a taste for the tackle, he could play in midfield or attack. Good in the air, he had an eye for a goal and laid on more than his fair share for colleagues with his cultured left foot. (Steve Drabble).