Danny Whitaker

Danny Whitaker

Whitaker (in green) playing for Oldham Athletic
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Phillip Whitaker
Date of birth	14 November 1980
Place of birth	Wilmslow, England[1]
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Macclesfield Town
Number	23
Youth career
	Manchester United
	Macclesfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2001–2006	Macclesfield Town	172	(23)
2006–2008	Port Vale	86	(13)
2008–2010	Oldham Athletic	80	(8)
2010–2013	Chesterfield	106	(21)
2013–	Macclesfield Town	117	(17)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 1 May 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Daniel Phillip "Danny" Whitaker (born 14 November 1980) is an English football midfielder for Conference Premier club Macclesfield Town.

A former Manchester United Academy player, he turned professional with Macclesfield Town in 2001. He spent five years with the club, and made over 200 appearances in all competitions, before he switched to Port Vale in June 2006. He played over 100 games for the Vale in two seasons, before he signed for Oldham Athletic in June 2008. Again a first team regular, he left after two seasons to join Chesterfield in May 2010. He helped the club to the League Two title in 2010–11, and also won himself a place on the division's PFA Team of the Year. He also helped the club to the Football League Trophy title in 2012. He returned to Macclesfield Town in August 2013.

Career

Macclesfield Town

Whitaker was a Manchester United junior,^[2] though he switched Moss Lane for Moss Rose, signing with Macclesfield Town. He scored on his Football League debut; during a 2–1 home defeat to Exeter City on 2 February 2002. He went on to make another 15 Third Division appearances that season, earning a fresh contract upon the season's end.^[3]

A regular in the 2002–03 season, he scored a hat-trick in the League Cup 4–1 triumph over Barnsley on 11 September. In most unusual fashion all three goals came in the second period of extra time. With ten goals before the winter break he was linked to both Oldham Athletic and Preston North End. However manager David Moss was highly dismissive of such speculation, saying: "Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of reading about players who have just signed two-year contracts but want to get away. Danny Whitaker will be going nowhere except Macclesfield reserves if he doesn't improve."^[4] The club insisted that Whitaker was too valuable a player to let go.^[5] This transfer talk came despite him having recently signed a contract to keep him with the "Silkmen" until June 2005.^[6]

Rated as a star player before the start of the 2003–04 season,^[7] he had a rather quiet season with just six goals, going 22 games without a goal from November to the season's finish. He scored just four goals in the 2004–05 season, though manager Brian Horton was still keen to hold on to him, despite nine others being deemed unworthy of a new deal.^[8] Six goals in 45 appearances followed in 2005–06. However, despite having been established in the heart of the Macclesfield midfield for the past four years and winning the club's player of the year award, he was released at the end of the season.^[9]

Port Vale

Now a free agent, Whitaker moved up to League One with Port Vale in June 2006.^[10] He played 51 games in his first season at Vale Park. At the end of the 2007–08 season, where Whitaker again played 40+ games, he was offered a new contract along with three other Port Vale players. But in May he rejected the contract and was told he could look for another club.^[11] However, Lee Sinnott told Whitaker that he would get back to him with a better offer if chairman Bill Bratt could raise some more money, the wage bill having been cut due to relegation. In June he was offered an improved deal.^[12] Whilst mulling over the offer he was given a deadline.^[13][14] On 20 June 2008, he turned down the chance to stay at Vale, and instead opted to join Oldham Athletic, still in League One.^[15]

Oldham Athletic

Whitaker scored eight goals in 42 appearances for the "Latics" during the 2008–09 season. He was released at the end of the 2009–10 season, despite missing only a handful of games during his spell at the club.

Chesterfield

Whitaker was signed by Chesterfield in May 2010, linking up with his old boss John Sheridan.^[16] He started the 2010–11 campaign with three goals in as many league games, having bagged a hat-trick against Hereford United. Playing in every one of the club's league games, scoring fifteen goals in the process, Chesterfield won promotion as champions of League Two. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year, along with teammates Craig Davies and Tommy Lee. The following season, 2011–12, the "Spireites" struggled at the bottom of League One, and Whittaker lost his first team place in the new year. He was an unused substitute as Chesterfield beat Swindon Town in the final of the Football League Trophy at Wembley Stadium.^[17] He was offered a new one-year contract by the club in May 2012.^[18] He made 34 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign, and was not offered a new contract by manager Paul Cook.^[19]

Return to Macclesfield

Whitaker re-signed with Conference Premier club Macclesfield Town in August 2013.^[20] He made 49 appearances for the "Silkmen" across the 2013–14 campaign. He agreed to a new one-year deal in July 2014.^[21] He scored six goals in 30 games in the 2014–15 season. He scored eight goals in 50 appearances in the 2015–16 campaign as Macclesfield finished in tenth position.

Career statistics

As of 1 May 2016.

Season	Club	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[22]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2001–02[23]	Macclesfield Town	Third Division	16	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	2
2002–03[24]			41	10	3	1	2	3	1	0	47	14
2003–04[25]			36	5	4	0	1	1	1	0	42	6
2004–05[26]		League Two	38	2	3	1	1	0	3	1	45	4
2005–06[27]			41	4	2	0	2	1	6	1	51	6
Total			172	23	12	2	6	5	11	2	201	32
2006–07[28]	Port Vale	League One	45	6	2	1	4	1	2	0	53	8
2007–08[29]			41	7	3	0	1	0	0	0	45	7
Total			86	13	5	1	5	1	2	0	98	15
2008–09[30]	Oldham Athletic	League One	39	6	1	1	2	0	1	1	43	8
2009–10[31]			41	2	1	0	1	0	1	1	44	3
Total			80	8	2	1	3	0	2	2	87	11
2010–11[32]	Chesterfield	League Two	46	15	2	0	1	0	2	0	51	15
2011–12[33]		League One	30	5	1	0	1	2	3	1	35	8
2012–13[34]		League Two	30	1	2	0	1	0	1	1	34	2
Total			106	21	5	0	4	2	6	2	120	25
2013–14[35][36]	Macclesfield Town	Conference Premier	44	4	5	1	0	0	0	0	49	5
2014–15[36][37]			29	6	0	0	0	0	1	0	30	6
2015–16[36]		National League	44	7	2	0	0	0	4	1	50	8
Total			117	17	7	1	0	0	5	1	79	19
Career total			573	82	31	5	17	8	26	7	585	102

Honours

Chesterfield

• Football League Two: 2010–11
• Football League Trophy: 2011–12

Individual

• Macclesfield Town F.C. Player of the Year: 2005–06
• Football League Two PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11

References

1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 456. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
2. "Port Vale 3–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
3. "Silkmen hand trio contracts". BBC Sport. 12 March 2002. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
4. "Moss warns Whitaker". BBC Sport. 22 January 2003. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
5. "Silkmen say Whitaker stays". BBC Sport. 4 February 2003. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
6. Oliver, Pete (13 January 2003). "Moss builds for the future". BBC Sport Online. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
7. "Macclesfield season preview". BBC Sport. 5 August 2003. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
8. "Nine released by Macc boss Horton". BBC Sport. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
9. "Macclesfield release five players". BBC Sport. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
10. "Vale snap up Miles and Whitaker". BBC Sport. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
11. "Whitaker rejects Vale contract". BBC Sport. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
12. "Whitaker offered improved deal". BBC Sport. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
13. "Whitaker faces contract deadline". BBC Sport. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
14. "Whitaker faces deadline on future". BBC Sport. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
15. "Whitaker chooses Latics over Vale". BBC Sport. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
16. "Midfielder Danny Whittaker agrees to join Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
17. Chapman, Caroline (25 March 2012). "Chesterfield enjoyed Wembley glory for the first time as they beat Swindon to lift the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
18. "Spireites issue retained list". Chesterfield FC. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
19. "Chesterfield release seven players as Tommy Wright leaves". BBC Sport. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
20. "Macclesfield sign Danny Whitaker, Danny Rowe & Scott Kay". BBC Sport. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
21. "Macclesfield Town keep Chris Holroyd and Danny Whitaker". BBC Sport. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
22. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
23. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
24. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
25. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
26. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
27. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
28. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
29. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
30. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
31. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
32. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
33. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
34. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
35. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
36. Danny Whitaker profile at Soccerway
37. "Games played by Dan Whitaker in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2012.

External links

• Danny Whitaker career statistics at Soccerbase