Yes, the photo appeared briefly at the start of the minute, and it was announced before the game that we would be having the tribute at ten minutes, the Watford fans joined in, so they must have heard it. i assumed the blank screen for the minute was a tribute to David, but I may be wrong. Well observed by all, with most on their feet.
I was surprised by the number of people who seemed completely unaware, two guys in front of me turned round after the tenth minute applause and singing and said "what was that all about". I suppose in this social media age I just assumed everyone would have known.
I suppose the saddest thing is through judging the responses, David never probably got to appreciate the scope of his impact / affection by CAFC supporters once he'd moved on.
This has been eating at me for a few days now. As great as a thread like this is for his family, and any resulting gesture at The Valley (which I completely support) is, I just feel that we are, in some way, being 'cheated' out of being able to show the man, himself, how much he was appreciated long after he's gone (left the club), and at a time when he would not have expected it but might have been really grateful for it.
It makes me wonder if the club or the fans should do more to recognise former players - especially those that might, for what ever reason, not realise how highly respected they were, and still are.
As David was born a couple of months after me it feels more 'close to home' as he could (under different circumstances) have been in my class at school.
I don't want to say that threads like this are too little to late because they are not! However, I do wonder if there is anything we can do to recognise former players while they are able to benefit from it directly?
Apart from the goals, I remember him for having nice touches and fantastic ball control. He wasn't just a goal scorer, he was a great footballer, and at the time he was a stand out player in our team.
RIP
Perhaps each home match of the season could be dedicated to a great former player. In the week up to the game people could post their memories of the player on Charlton Life, they could show some footage of the player on the big screen and if possible the player could be presented to the crowd. Would be good if it tied into the anniversary of a great goal/performance/achievement and/or the opposition was in some way relevant.
I was surprised by the number of people who seemed completely unaware, two guys in front of me turned round after the tenth minute applause and singing and said "what was that all about". I suppose in this social media age I just assumed everyone would have known.
There was an announcement before the match but it wasn't very audible so I think quite a few missed it.
I was surprised by the number of people who seemed completely unaware, two guys in front of me turned round after the tenth minute applause and singing and said "what was that all about". I suppose in this social media age I just assumed everyone would have known.
There was an announcement before the match but it wasn't very audible so I think quite a few missed it.
Yes , i saw BDL making the announcement but the volume was very low yesterday ( in the east stand anyway) so i doubt many heard it.
R.I.P David Whyte. Some fantastic moving family photos there. Never forget your quality goals and your beaming smile after you scored for us. Thanks for the exciting and top class memories David! xx
Hard to pick a favourite goal, he only seemed to score spectacular ones.
Free kick at home to Brentford in the FA Cup would probably be my pick. 2-2, running out of time, trip to Anfield at stake. Whytey off the bench to the rescue yet again, Covered End exploded. Lovely stuff. Think that was the first 4-sided sellout after the East Stand was completed a couple of years earlier.
His last ever for us was a stunner as well. Away to Reading at Elm Park, outside the box, near the corner flag, somehow got it into the top corner past the wig-wearing Bulgarian keeper.
Loved him. One of my favourite players ever. If only he'd had a decent midfield behind him in 94-95, and more importantly, not got injured/had a row with Curbs the year after. I think him hardly playing that year, and seeming disinterested when he did, stopped us going up.
Am I right in saying that we got David Whyte AND Paul Mortimer AND some money in return for Darren Pitcher? That's like swapping a Nissan Micra for a Rolls Royce, a BMW and a box of £50 notes.
That one off the bar against Millwall as well, miles out, think he hit it first time - if only....
The best sound....David Whyte,Whyte,Whyte, David Whyte, Whyte, Whyte..... Best goal was it against Leicester at Upton Park? Are there any videos in existence? Gone but definitely not forgotten.
The best sound....David Whyte,Whyte,Whyte, David Whyte, Whyte, Whyte..... Best goal was it against Leicester at Upton Park? Are there any videos in existence? Gone but definitely not forgotten.
That goal's on the first page of this thread mate.
I travelled down for the midweek Cup game against Brentford, took a couple of days off work for it. It was so worth it when he put that freekick away. Definitely one of my favourite Covered End moments, the stand erupted! Also was there for Leicester at Upton Park, was I think the season I started to make the trip regularly. Awesome. On his day David Whyte was one of the most exciting players I ever witnessed in a Charlton shirt.
Saw him in the reserves near the end of his time with us when he was very much out of favour. Looked overweight and utterly bored, but a moment of utter genius when he trapped the ball, swivelled and fired in from 15 yards, almost all in one movement. That served, for me, to underline what a wonderful player he could have been given different circumstances. I loved watching him play ...
Saw him in the reserves near the end of his time with us when he was very much out of favour. Looked overweight and utterly bored, but a moment of utter genius when he trapped the ball, swivelled and fired in from 15 yards, almost all in one movement. That served, for me, to underline what a wonderful player he could have been given different circumstances. I loved watching him play ...
Such a sad waste of his talent, when he had his head right he was such a good player
Scored both goals in a 2.0 win I think it was against port vale but not totally sure. A great talent capable of playing at higher level if he could have sorted out his personal problems Taken at a much to early age, thanks for the memories RIP David
looking at his stats on wikipedia, he had his most prolific spell for us. Didn't really do it anywhere else, so maybe not remembered as fondly by other clubs.
For me it was the first real goalscorer I remember as I started following in 88/89 so Paul Williams (although good) didn't get 20 at the top level, plus dear old carl leaburn was not a goalscorer.
That 94/95 season and his goals I remember well as I was 12 going on 13. Football is all you're into at that age so when we got him and he started banging them in, I loved it.
The Watford home goal for me when we won 3-0 and he scored that lob, absolute peach. He was part of my childhood
looking at his stats on wikipedia, he had his most prolific spell for us. Didn't really do it anywhere else, so maybe not remembered as fondly by other clubs.
For me it was the first real goalscorer I remember as I started following in 88/89 so Paul Williams (although good) didn't get 20 at the top level, plus dear old carl leaburn was not a goalscorer.
That 94/95 season and his goals I remember well as I was 12 going on 13. Football is all you're into at that age so when we got him and he started banging them in, I loved it.
The Watford home goal for me when we won 3-0 and he scored that lob, absolute peach. He was part of my childhood
This (even the ages). I'd been going to the odd game for a bit longer than that, but 88/89 was the first season I went to most matches my old man did, and of course a relegation soon followed! Willow was my first love, but as you say he wasn't properly prolific. Even now, we've had only a handful of 'proper' goalscorers in my time.
Whyte Mendonca Hunt Bent BWP
Five in nearly 30 years. Bit rubbish that. Makes you love players like Whytey all the more though.
The best sound....David Whyte,Whyte,Whyte, David Whyte, Whyte, Whyte..... Best goal was it against Leicester at Upton Park? Are there any videos in existence? Gone but definitely not forgotten.
That goal's on the first page of this thread mate.
Saw him in the reserves near the end of his time with us when he was very much out of favour. Looked overweight and utterly bored, but a moment of utter genius when he trapped the ball, swivelled and fired in from 15 yards, almost all in one movement. That served, for me, to underline what a wonderful player he could have been given different circumstances. I loved watching him play ...
May have been the same one I remember in 1994 or 95, bunking off school one afternoon to watch a reserve game at the Valley where despite looking half-interested at most he banged in a hat-trick and looked a class above everybody else on the pitch
Comments
Farewell David.
RIP David. 2 years today
Free kick at home to Brentford in the FA Cup would probably be my pick. 2-2, running out of time, trip to Anfield at stake. Whytey off the bench to the rescue yet again, Covered End exploded. Lovely stuff. Think that was the first 4-sided sellout after the East Stand was completed a couple of years earlier.
His last ever for us was a stunner as well. Away to Reading at Elm Park, outside the box, near the corner flag, somehow got it into the top corner past the wig-wearing Bulgarian keeper.
Genius.
That one off the bar against Millwall as well, miles out, think he hit it first time - if only....
Best goal was it against Leicester at Upton Park? Are there any videos in existence? Gone but definitely not forgotten.
RIP
Also was there for Leicester at Upton Park, was I think the season I started to make the trip regularly. Awesome.
On his day David Whyte was one of the most exciting players I ever witnessed in a Charlton shirt.
Gone but will NEVER be forgotten.
I think it was against port vale but not totally sure.
A great talent capable of playing at higher level if he could have sorted out his personal problems
Taken at a much to early age, thanks for the memories
RIP David
For me it was the first real goalscorer I remember as I started following in 88/89 so Paul Williams (although good) didn't get 20 at the top level, plus dear old carl leaburn was not a goalscorer.
That 94/95 season and his goals I remember well as I was 12 going on 13. Football is all you're into at that age so when we got him and he started banging them in, I loved it.
The Watford home goal for me when we won 3-0 and he scored that lob, absolute peach. He was part of my childhood
Whyte
Mendonca
Hunt
Bent
BWP
Five in nearly 30 years. Bit rubbish that. Makes you love players like Whytey all the more though.