Norman Whiteside - United legend

Oscar Bonavena

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Inspired by the Bruno thread.

I'm too young to have seen him play in his prime, but I was always aware of Whiteside's legendary status amongst United fans for being a prodigiously gifted young talent and:

- youngest player to score in an FA Cup final v Brighton 1982
- youngest player to play and score in a World Cup, 1982
- scored brilliant winner v 10 man United v Everton, FA Cup final 1985

But like Bruno, he played for United at a time when the club was not considered a serious title challenger, and only achieved the (relatively) moderate success of two FA Cup wins. He scored 68 goals in 278 league and cup appearances for the club over seven years from 82 to 89, but his United career was hampered by injury and he was sold to Everton at just 24, before eventually retiring from the game altogether at 26.

From United fans that saw him play in his prime, what makes Norman a pretty much undisputed United legend, whereas Bruno's status as a United legend seems to be very much up for debate?
 
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Only 34 when we won the treble. Feels like a totally different era.
 
Loved Norman, he was living all our dreams on the pitch. He would run through walls and scousers for us, gave everything when he pulled our shirt on. That tackle on McMahon was a thing of beauty . I was devastated when we sold him , terrible he never played longer and won more accolades.
 
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If Whiteside had have had pace (and not had dodgy knees) he would have been talked about as a generational talent. Even when he was only 17 or 18 he looked like he had played top level football for years, similar to Rooney in that he was so strong for his age.
 
I was fortunate enough to have seen Whiteside playing at OT. He was a beast of a player, huge frame and alongside Mcgrath, Hughes and a few others would always give 100% on the pitch. Such a shame injuries blighted his career
 
fecking Norm. Absolute lej.

Remember watching him in youth games at OT playing lw. Man among boys. Was superb, weaving in and out before slotting another winner. Got big. That core of McGrath, Remi, Norm, Robbo, Hughes… deserved a title.

Had some good times under big Ron.
 
The size and physicality of him at 17 was ridiculous. Rooney mentioned above who has similarities but he was just physical “for a kid”, Whiteside was bigger, putting down full grown men and making experienced players look silly.

Talented as well as physical - you tend to see average “units” or talented small teens. He had both which made him quite unique and when you added his confidence… very unique.

His goal v Arsenal in the FA Cup semi was lovely… bouncing ball, SMASH! but his cup winner v Everton will always be in my top ten. As my poster description says, I was right behind the post and watched it curl in (past one of the greatest goalies I’ve ever seen). He epitomizes United… ability, total effort, could play or fight as needed and didn’t give in. Without his knee problems, he’d probably be viewed in the second tier of United legends (behind Trinity, Duncan, couple of others).

A force of nature.
 
Coppell was my first favourite player, then it was Norman. The Scousebuster.

Absolutely love big Norm. Was behind Southall's goal at Wembley in 85 when Norman curled the ball around him.

Was gutted when he left for Everton but he wasn't the only legend that Fergie got rid of.

Had the good fortune to have a drink with the great man in NYC in 96. He had his 85 winners medal with him, which i got to hold.
 
Top player on his day, but the type who'd we despise had he played (seriously) for someone else.

Could be a nasty, snide piece of work.

I love him.
 
My favourite United player of all time, if he'd had some pace we'd be talking about him in the same terms as some of the greatest of all time.

Like others I was behind the goal at Wembley in '85 though I was about half way up, I was at virtually every game he ever played at OT and a fair number of away games as well
 
Some great accounts of Norman's time at the club. I always understood that as well as a great player, he was a tough nut who could handle himself on a football pitch, which always endears players to fans in a way that Bruno's often melodramatic antics don't.

But was he a better player than Bruno or was he more important to the team? Statistically they look similar, Bruno's probably better esp with assists, and same amount of honours.
 
Oscar Bonavena said:
Some great accounts of Norman's time at the club. I always understood that as well as a great player, he was a tough nut who could handle himself on a football pitch, which always endears players to fans in a way that Bruno's often melodramatic antics don't.

But was he a better player than Bruno or was he more important to the team? Statistically they look similar, Bruno's probably better esp with assists, and same amount of honours.
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Completely different types of player but I’d choose Whiteside all day, every day. He really had it all in his locker. Could many up front or midfield. Shame injuries did him
 
I was up behind the goal at Villa Park when he hit that volley against Arsenal in 1983. Some goal that. He was scared of nobody and was one of the few players of that day who took on Souness at his own dirty game. Great player.
 
Was a hero of mine, but caught in the drinking culture of the time. Would have a had a much longer career if not, but we're all a product of our time and circumstances.

I think he portrayed the 'united spirit', being with us from a young age and putting his body on the line every time he played. Spirit of the Busby Babes and all that. That goal against Everton pretty much made him immortal.

It's sad seeing the likes of Norm and Robbo on the speaking circuit now, every time I've seen them they've been plastered early doors.

This is not a criticism of them or saying they're bad people. They're lovely with us mortals when introduced.

Different times, different culture.
 
I was only very young when Whiteside was playing - I'd have only been 10/11 when he left. But my favourite players from that 80's era were Whiteside, Olsen and Blackmore.

As others have said, but for injuries (and maybe some extra pace) he would have gone on to achieve so much more in the game. As it was, with starting so early, he still had a very good United career despite leaving at 24.

Such fond memories of him as a player but, like with so many whose careers are ended prematurely due to injury, they're also tinged with sadness and a whole lot of 'if only's'.
 
Herschel Krustofsky said:
Was a hero of mine, but caught in the drinking culture of the time. Would have a had a much longer career if not, but we're all a product of our time and circumstances.

I think he portrayed the 'united spirit', being with us from a young age and putting his body on the line every time he played. Spirit of the Busby Babes and all that. That goal against Everton pretty much made him immortal.

It's sad seeing the likes of Norm and Robbo on the speaking circuit now, every time I've seen them they've been plastered early doors.

This is not a criticism of them or saying they're bad people. They're lovely with us mortals when introduced.

Different times, different culture.
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He probably wouldn't have been as big a drinker were it not for the injuries, I don't tthink that affected the length of his career, I suspect he knew the injuries he got as a teenager and later meant he was not going to have a long career, that would be pretty depressing TBH
 
Probably my first memory of football that stuck with me as a young Utd fan when Kevin Moran got red carded in the 85 FA cup final and then the wonder goal from Whiteside.

Can picture that goal to this day
 
Oscar Bonavena said:
Inspired by the Bruno thread.

I'm too young to have seen him play in his prime, but I was always aware of Whiteside's legendary status amongst United fans for being a prodigiously gifted young talent and:

- youngest player to score in an FA Cup final v Brighton 1982
- youngest player to play and score in a World Cup, 1982
- scored brilliant winner v 10 man United v Everton, FA Cup final 1985

But like Bruno, he played for United at a time when the club was not considered a serious title challenger, and only achieved the (relatively) moderate success of two FA Cup wins. He scored 68 goals in 278 league and cup appearances for the club over seven years from 82 to 89, but his United career was hampered by injury and he was sold to Everton at just 24, before eventually retiring from the game altogether at 26.

From United fans that saw him play in his prime, what makes Norman a pretty much undisputed United legend, whereas Bruno's status as a United legend seems to be very much up for debate?
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Norman, coming uo from the youths at 17, had maybe more in common with Marcus Rashford than Bruno. ‘luckily’ for him, after his carreer started to dive, he was sold (by Fergie) to quickly to manage to get much of a dent in his image, and of course this was before SM. He was probably a lot more unprofessional off the pitch, but in fairness everyone but Robbo - who might be more of a comparison to Bruno - was far behind today’s players in terms of drinking, smoking, restitution, nutrition, avvoiding bad publicity etc.

He was injured, didn’t really take care of his body, drank in restitution periods, etc. He was probably played through a lot of phases were he should have been rested, just like Marcus. He was compared to Georgie Best when he was a teenager, which probs did him no favors, and maybe contributed to his turning off from football at such an early age as well when his levels were affected by his injuries.

If he’d had every pint he drank put out on twitter by some ‘fan’, he might have fared even worse, then again, he’d likely have hired a crew of advisers to take care of his entourage and releasing bland statements that would make everyone look at him as some false politician rather than some working class lad who wrecked his carreer for a few years of fame and money (much less money back then, but still much for a lad from the skids).

All this is conjecture, though. His goal against Everton in the FA Cup final made me even more happy than Marcus Rashfords winner against PSG.
 
Red in STL said:
He probably wouldn't have been as big a drinker were it not for the injuries, I don't tthink that affected the length of his career, I suspect he knew the injuries he got as a teenager and later meant he was not going to have a long career, that would be pretty depressing TBH
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That’s definitely a factor, agree.

The culture at the time won’t have helped either!
 
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