David White ⭑ From A-Z since '92
David White was a first class midfielder in the prime of his careers, who rather than find a new, positive path at Elland Road wandered, frustratingly, further away. But there was more to his story.
This is part of my (eight year long, it'll fly by) attempt to write about every Leeds United player since 1992. For more about why I'm doing this, go back to Aapo Halme, and to read all the players so far, browse the archive here.
I had been thinking, a few months before I first wrote this back in 2016, that I might like to write something about David White.
Because David White had been a slightly forgotten figure at Leeds United, despite existing at the intersection of several points of great importance to fans; the sensitive matter of the no.4 shirt (something Uwe Rosler never understood with Scott Wootton), controversial sales of popular players (how in quick succession, after the title win, we lost first Eric Cantona then David Batty), and the old question of how Batty was replaced (or not, depending on your view of Carlton Palmer).
The sale of David Batty was, in retrospect, a clue to just how skint it was possible for a club to be while still recent champions of England. A new, magnificent East Stand was built. A new, magnificent Lee Chapman was bought for £2.7m, in the shape of Brian Deane, and photographed in swish new Asics kits with David Batty. Paying for the new, magnificent East Stand became a bit of an issue, so the not so new but still magnificent David Batty was sold to Blackburn for £2.75m. The midfield became a bit of an issue, and Carlton Palmer was signed for £2.6m and took the no.4 shirt. The midfield remained a bit of an issue.
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