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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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