The Ugly: Devon White
Devon White cost us £2,000 in December 1984 and scored four goals in 29 league appearances. A tall, awkward centre-forward, he gave little indication that he would eventually play in the Premier League, even missing a game against Reading in March 1985 as he didn’t turn up for the coach. After loans at Boston United and Naxxar Lions in Malta, he rejected the terms offered in June 1986 and returned to working as an electrician, continuing his football in non-league.
“I’m surprised White rejected our terms,” said manager George Kerr. “I’m disappointed because I was prepared to give him another chance to prove himself.” He didn’t need it.
Spells at Boston, Shepshed Charterhouse and Grantham followed before Gerry Francis tracked him down for Bristol Rovers. Francis remembered a performance White had given against Rovers and offered him another chance in full-time football. White seized it, scoring more than 50 league goals and helping them win the Third Division title in 1990.
Cambridge United came next, followed by a £100,000 move to QPR in 1993, where he scored nine Premier League goals in 26 appearances. White had turned down our offer, so his departure was more complicated than simply being shown the door. Even so, seeing a striker who had barely made an impression here go on to that level leaves you wondering how much more we might have got from him.
Leave a Reply