David Whyte

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For the former tennis player see David Whyte (tennis).

David Whyte (Footballer) (born April 20, 1971 in Greenwich, London) is an English former footballer.

He signed his first professional contract with Crystal Palace FC in 1989 and moved to Charlton Athletic (on a full time basis) in 1994. He is foundly remembered by Charlton fans, having been the club's top scorer during the 1994/95 season with 19 goals. Charlton Athletic were still deeply in debt at this time due to their continued battle to return to and develop The Valley. During the 1994/95 season it was widely reported the then Premier League Coventry City, offered £1.5 million for his services the fact that the Charlton Athletic board turned it down, showed the regard they had for him and the genuine potential he showed that season.

After a series of injuries and loss of form David hung up his boots in 1999 after a short spell at Southend United. Another factor in his decline can be seen in Gary Nelson's book Left Foot Forward. On the journey back from an away match Charlton stop to buy some fish and chips. Charlton Athletic were a financially tightly run club at this time, and the players were asked to pay for the fish and chips themselves. David Whyte refused and demanded the club pay for his, whilst all other players chipped in. This caused some consternation within the team, and eventually the board paid for his fish and chips. Gary Nelson's description of this incident hints at what the squad and more importantly Alan Curbishley thought of the player, talented but difficult and not a team player. Once David Whyte suffered his loss of form, his contribution to the team was negligible and his work ethic more apparent. An exceptionally talented player, who even when the goals and form dried up offered some excitement for the Charlton fans in a period of anemic attack for the Athletic.