Number 11 in our countdown brings us to a forward whose cleverness and balance made him one of the most watchable inside forwards ever to play at Sincil Bank.
Ernie Whittle remains a key figure in the rise of Bill Anderson’s Lincoln City sides, a schemer who knitted attacks together with instinctive passing and sharp finishing, returning 0.43 goals per game across five and a half influential seasons in red and white.
Ernie Whittle (0.43)
Ernie Whittle was born in 1924 and came through the footballing ranks in the North East before earning a chance with Newcastle United. He never broke through at St James’ Park but his natural two-footed skill and quick feet caught the attention of Bill Anderson, who signed him from West Stanley in January 1950 for £300. Anderson immediately knew what he had. Tony Emery, the great half-back, would later describe Whittle as the best two-footed player he had ever seen.
Whittle made his debut in a 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers in front of 20,306 supporters, and his first goal followed two weeks later against Chester. He added a brace versus Barrow and finished the 1949-50 campaign with 4 goals from 12 appearances. Crowds regularly pushed past 11,000, and Whittle quickly became part of the creative fabric of a side that was beginning to grow in confidence.
The 1950-51 season brought further progress. Lincoln finished fourth for the second year in a row, with the Andy Graver and Johnny Garvie partnership beginning to emerge around him. Whittle provided guile in the middle, drifting into pockets and linking attacks. He finished the season with 14 goals in 31 appearances, including a remarkable four-goal display against Stockport in a 6-0 win. More than 16,800 watched the derby against Scunthorpe and over 14,700 saw Rotherham’s visit as Sincil Bank crowds continued to rise.
Whittle reached new heights in the 1951-52 title-winning campaign. Ever present throughout the season, he scored 19 league goals and 1 in the FA Cup as City hit 121 goals in all competitions. His hat trick in a 7-0 demolition of Workington and a brace against Chesterfield were among many highlights, and he enjoyed a six-match scoring run during a period when Lincoln surged to the top of Division Three North and never looked back. Sincil Bank was packed almost weekly. More than 21,700 watched the FA Cup win over Grimsby and 21,501 witnessed the decisive home victory against Stockport.
Whittle handled the step up to Division Two with impressive ease. He scored 14 goals in 1952-53 as Lincoln finished 15th and his creativity was central to the team’s ability to adapt. The Bank saw some of its largest ever gates, including 22,029 against Huddersfield, and Whittle’s calmness in tight spaces gave City a foothold in matches against stronger, more physical opponents. The following season, he added 12 goals, including a hat trick in a thrilling 4-3 win over Rotherham, before injuries interrupted his rhythm as Lincoln secured 16th place. Crowds remained huge, with 23,027 attending the FA Cup tie against Preston and more than 17,900 watching the win over Leeds.
By 1954-55, the trio of Whittle, Garvie and Graver had contributed 42 goals in all competitions, but Anderson accepted an offer from Workington that March. Bill Shankly had just been appointed and identified Whittle as the player to save them from another re-election battle. It proved inspiring. Whittle scored 44 goals in 110 appearances across two seasons, firing 21 in 1955-56 before moving to Chesterfield, where he scored four league goals. Later spells at Bradford Park Avenue and Scarborough followed, top scoring in both of his seasons at the latter before retiring in 1960.
Whittle settled in Lincoln after his playing career and returned to Sincil Bank in 1966 as a coach for the club’s A team. His footballing lineage continued with both his son Kennie and grandson Simon spending time on the club’s books.
Ernie Whittle died on 8 May 1998 at the age of 72. His Lincoln City record stands at 145 appearances and 62 goals, a return worthy of recognition among the most prolific and influential forwards in the club’s post war history.
You must be logged in to post a comment.