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"Huggy" became a firm favorite with the Leeds crowd during his stay
at Elland Road, and with Chris Fairclough alongside him, formed the
defensive wall that proved to be so solid during the Championship
season of 1991-92. A great tackler, he would dominate the opposing
strikers, and his long experience was put to good effect in his great
judgement of tackles, blocks and knowing when it was safe to foul his
opponent. After starting out at Arsenal, he spent a couple of years in
the USA with Los Angeles - and he returned to the States over 10 years
later, playing for Detroit Neon between Charlton and Leyton
Orient. His later career took him to a variety of clubs, and he
received a great welcome at Elland Road when he came on for Rushden
and Diamonds for the last two minutes of the FA Cup replay in
1999.
Jeff Davis says: I met Chris Whyte in a night club, I was under the
impression that he's not visited Leeds for a long time, he feels he
had a great time at Leeds United, and felt the fans were great, I told
he was a great player for Leeds he agreed. I remembered a few years
ago me and 2 friends went to Menorca with our Leeds United top people
believe my mate was Chris Whyte, I told chris this last night 10.12.01
he said did we pull the chicks with his good looks, I just burst out
laughing. By the way chris was in the Bel-Air golf club night club,
he was not drinking beer.
Stig says: I met Chris at a nightclub in Norway after a pre season
friendly in 92. He came across as a really likeable, quiet lad. Took
his time and talked to the fans while some of the "bigger" stars
couldnt` be arsed.
Giggs says: Well, I not only met Chris, but I can help complete
your timeline. I was working for a team in North Carolina, USA in 1999
and we signed Chris mid/late season. The team was struggling, Chris
showed interest, and played a few games for us in the twilight of his
career. Though even for a second division U.S. team he was too
slow. But what a great guy -- soft spoken and friendly. We brought in
John Harkes, not to play but to do a couple clinics and attract fans
(you might best know him as the Yankee on Sheffield Wednesday in the
early '90s) and he was surprised to see Chris. John spoke very highly
of Chris' days with Leeds.
Lee Rose says: Chris is a great guy.I know him when I was a little
boy growing up in Highbury(home of the Gunners)and I always remember
him because even though he was becoming a star at Arsenal he always
came to watch us little guys and always had words of encouragement.I'm
now 33 years old and i have never forgotten Chris.
Michael Perukangas says: I interviewed Chris for a Finnish magazine
Veikkaaja in autumn 2001 (I think). By that time he was about to play
for a lowly Finnish club of HYPS (Hyvinkään Palloseura; The
Ball Club of Hyvinkää it might be in English). I didn't know
what he looked like, but his gigantic frame and not-so-Finnish looks
distinguished him from the others in the press room of a hotel (hotel
was called Sveitsi, Switzerland it means, if my memory doesn't fail
me). Chris was very a sympathetic gentleman, who told he remembered
Eric Cantona very well (by the time Eric played for Leeds he didn't
supposedly speak so much English). I think his career in Finland was
somewhat prematurely ended; the player-manager of the Finnish second
division club was an Englishman called Michael Belfield, by the way.
"Just a player who scored despite him marking" says: Chris was
overpaid in HyPs if compare he's games so that's why he "sacked" from
Finland
Colin says: I shall be playing 5 a side football against Chris
Whyte tomorrow night Thurs 15th April 2004 at the Brentwood Centre in
Essex 8.00pm He is now working for Tescos (accounts / finannce - not
trolley wally) and turns out for them
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