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Players Index Page Last Updated
7 June 2023
 
 

Mick Whitham

Sheffield United FC

1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 2: A 0
100% successful
1892

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  Michael Whitham
Birth Wednesday, 6 November 1867 in Ecclesfield, Wortley, West Riding of Yorkshire
  registered in Wortley October-December 1867
Baptism 1868 in St. Mary's Church, Ecclesfield
 

According to the 1871 census, Michael is the third of four sons to George and Emma (née Oxley). His father is a file cutter and with one servant, they all live in Ecclesfield, near the Greyhound Inn.
(His father died in 1874).
 

According to the 1881 census, Michael has three more younger siblings, and along with his two older sisters and younger brother, they live with his widowed mother in Ecclesfield, near the George & Dragon Inn. His mother is a charwoman, while Michael is a papermaker's apprentice.
 

According to the 1891 census, Michael is a lodger in the Taylor household. He is a file cutter and he lives at 11 Wilton Lane in Kimberworth, Rotherham.
First marriage to Laura Taylor, on 27 December 1900, in Kimberworth, Rotherham
  registered in Rotherham October-December 1900
 

According to the 1901 census, Michael, a stone grinder, is married to Laura, and they are boarding with Emily Hoult at 118 Psalters Lane in Rotherham.
(Laura died on 11 September 1901).
"A REMARKABLE FEAT—Buried Knife Found by 'Telepathy'.
"Mr. Carlton, the comedy card manipulator and conjurer, who is appearing at the Rotherham Theatre this week, was yesterday the cause of considerable excitement in the streets of Rotherham. He had accepted a challenge of 'Mick' Whitham, the trainer of the Rotherham Town Football Club, to perform the feat which recently created a surprise at Brentford. According to the terms of the challenge, Mr. Whitham was to hide any article he liked within a mile of the Theatre Royal. Mr. Carlton's eyes were padded with cotton wool and securely bandaged to the satisfaction of a select committee, consisting of Dr. Rowthern, and Messrs. Tom Heath, of the Oddfellow Arms, J. H. Fletcher, Monad Hotel, and T. Howard of the Turf Hotel. Mr. Carlton started his search for the treasure 'by the aid of telepathy, guided mentally only by the thoughts of the person who has secreted the article, he not being in personal contact with him.' Mr. Carlton's only stipulation was that the person should walk about six paces behind and concentrate his mind upon the hidden treasure. Mr. Carlton, on leaving the theatre, was accompanied by a big crowd of spectators, who watched his movements with interest. Superintendent Gower and Inspector Altoft were on duty in charge of the police arrangements. Mr. Carlton passed along Howard street, along Effingham street, through College yard and College street, to Wellgate. The hidden treasure proved to be a knife hidden by Mr. Whitham underground near one of the goalposts on the Clifton lane Football Ground, where Mr. Carlton was successful in finding it. Mr. Whitham had placed it near the goalpost at one o'clock in the morning. Mr. Carlton occupied 35 minutes in his performance."
  - The Sheffield Daily Independent, Saturday, 26 September 1908.
Second marriage to Florence Leech, on 24 February 1909 at Kimberworth Parish Church in Rotherham
  registered in Rotherham January-March 1909
Children Mick and Florrie Whitham have three sons together. George (b.3 August 1910), Michael William (b.9 August 1913) and Sam (b.7 June 1916).
 

According to the 1911 census, Michael is now married to Florence and they have one child, George. He is a Gainsborough Trinity FC Football Trainer, and along with Clifford Jones, one of his players, they live at 9 Tower Street in Gainsborough.
(George died on 15 January 1916 in St. Bartholomew's hospital, London)
  "The many friends both in Sheffield, Rotherham, and the surrounding districts, of Mick Whitham, a one-time member of Sheffield United Club, also football trainer to Rotherham Town, Gainsborough Trinity, and Huddersfield, will be sorry to hear that he has fallen on evil times. 'Mick' is now residing at Brentford, where he is sorely in need of financial assistance, owing to having broken down in health, and some of his more intimate friends in Rotherham have taken the matter in hand. Mr. Percy Saul, the old Liverpool full-back, is at the head of affairs and a subscription list has been opened, and he will be pleased to receive any monetary assistance for the old United player. All donations may be sent to Mr. Saul, 98, Wilton Lane, Kimberworth, Rotherham." - The Green 'Un, Saturday, 30 September 1916.
"THE MICK WHITHAM FUND.
"The fund in aid of Mick Whitham is now closed, and Mr. P. Saul, who came to the rescue of the old trainer has sent us a list of the subscriptions. The total is £9. 18s." - The Green 'Un, Saturday, 11 November 1916.
 

According to the 1921 census, Michael is still married to Florie, and they have two more sons, Mickey and Sam. He is now a Brentford FC Football Trainer, and they live at 18 Brook Lane in Brentford.
 

According to London Electoral Registers, Michael and Florence are living at 18 Brook Lane North (Layton Road) in Brentford between 1920 and 1923.
Death Monday, 5 May 1924 in Brentford, Middlesex
At some point following WW1, Whitham lost three years from his age, as both the 1921 census and his death registration were both three years too young.
aged 56 years 181 days registered in Brentford April-June 1924

Obituary
"DEATH OF A FOOTBALLER AT BRENTFORD.
"Mick Whitham, an English International, of Sheffield United, died at Brentford on Monday last. In addition to playing several years for Sheffield United, Whitham also put in long terms with Rotherham County and Gainsborough Trinity, and became trainer to Huddersfield Town and Brentford, being with the latter club for eight years. He leaves a widow and two little boys in straitened circumstances, and a subscription list has been organised to relieve their immediate needs by Mr. F. Eggleton, Princess Royal Hotel, Brentford, who will be pleased to receive and hand over any contributions."
  - The West London Observer, Friday, 9 May 1924..
  Florence Whitham died on 13 April 1935 in the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Began his junior career at Atlas Rovers FC and Thorpe Hesley FC. Turning out for Rawmarsh FC in 1886 and Ecclesfield FC a year later. A single appearance for Wednesday FC followed in 1888 and he joined Rotherham Swifts FC as a professional for a year. Played with Sheffield United FC on 24 March 1890 against Halliwell FC, as United were a couple of players hort. He was signed on by the United club before the following August. until 1898.
League History
86 appearances, 1 goal		 Sheffield United FC 1892-97 86 appearances, one goal.
debut (division two): 3 September 1892 Sheffield United FC 4 Lincoln City FC 2.
last: 4 October 1897 Sheffield United FC 5 Blackburn Rovers FC 2.
Club honours Football League Division Two runners-up 1892-93 (22ᵃ), Division One runners-up 1896-97 (14ᵃ), Champions 1897-98 (1ᵃ).
Individual honours Sheffield FA (two appearances against against Glasgow and London).
Distinctions Whitham's Benefit match was played between Sheffield United FC and Newton Heath FC on 11 April 1898. Heath won 4-1.
Height/Weight not known

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 185th players (186) to appear for England.
Position(s) Left-half (Right-back for club)
Only match No. 44, 5 March 1892, Ireland 0 England 2, a British Championship match at Cliftonville Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast, aged 24 years 120 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1891-92;
Team honours British Championship winners 1891-92;
Individual honours The Whites (one appearance, February 1892)
Distinctions The first player from Sheffield United to represent England. His match in Belfast against Ireland kicked off two minutes before the Wales match in Wrexham, featuring Harry Lilley.

Beyond England
After retiring from playing, Whitham held several appointments as club trainer, these included two spells at Gainsborough Trinity FC, Rotherham County FC in 1908-09 (he received a benefit match on 29 April 1909 in a friendly match against Liverpool FC), Huddersfield Town FC, where he also managed during the 1912-13 season, and prior to his death, at Brentford FC (where he received another benefit match on 11 April 1921). - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.267.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
1 1 1 90 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2 0 100 +1
His only match was in the British Championship and played at an away venue

Competition Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1891-92 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2 0 100 +1

Match History

 Club: Sheffield United F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. International Selection Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 24
u/o 19 December 1891 - England 6 North America 1, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington Fr HW withdrew

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 29 February 1892;

1 44 5 March 1892 - Ireland 0 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   lh
  

one of five who became the 185th player (186) to appear for England
the first ever Sheffield United FC player to represent England - by two minutes

    

 
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