All at Cray Wanderers are saddened to learn of the recent passing of Alan Whitehead, a member of the 1980-81 Kent League Championship winning side for whom he was top scorer and former Cray Wanderers manager. Our thoughts go with the Whitehead family and friends at this time.
Please see here a piece from Cray Wanderers historian Pete Goringe reflecting on Alan’s footballing career.
Alan Whitehead – the pocket battleship!
We were sorry to hear the news over the summer that Alan Whitehead has died. Alan served Cray Wanderers with distinction both as a player and manager.
Having represented Erith & Belvedere and Tooting & Mitcham in the Athenian andIsthmian Leagues, and Bexley United in the Southern League, Alan joined the Wands in 1979, one of a host of impressive signings made by new manager, Harry Richardson. Alan played a big part in two tremendously successful seasons for Cray, as the Wands reached the F.A. Vase quarter-finals in 1979-80 and won the Kent League title for the first time in nearly 80 years the following year, having been runners-up 12 months earlier.
Alan was top scorer for Cray in both seasons, notching 46 goals in 89 appearances, a tremendous strike rate. I remember him as a “fox in a box”, not particularly tall but strongand powerful, and a tremendous finisher. Harry famously referred to Alan as his “pocket battleship” after he scored twice in an F.A. Vase game at Southall. His partnership with fellow striker Kevin Walsh was a key feature of a very exciting period in the club’s history.
Alan played for the Wands again in 1982-83, under Alan Payne’s management. He madea total of 115 appearances for the club.
Alan was later a manager and built a good side at Crockenhill in the early ‘90s. In 1994,
Cray’s brand new Chairman, Gary Hillman, enticed him to move across to Oxford Road.
Alan brought some of the Crocks’ players with him, including the Twiner brothers, Paul and
Mark, and Gary Wilders, and the Wands’ fortunes gradually improved.
The following season, 1995-96, saw Alan sign prolific strikers Peter Coupland and Phil
Collins for the Wands. Cray had their best season for five years, finishing 12 th, with some high-scoring wins. He stepped down at the end of that campaign, after 66 games in charge, and his assistant Glen Cooper took over as boss.
We extend our condolences to Alan’s family and friends. He was a much-admired Wanderer.
PG
