Len White (1952/53 to 1961/62)

Len White spent almost exactly nine years on Tyneside and with 153 goals is the third top scorer in the club’s history. He joined from Rotherham in February 1953 and was sold to Huddersfield in February 1962, much to the dismay of the supporters.

Although Len was an important member of the squad in his first five seasons, fame and acclaim would come relatively late. His career on Tyneside only really took off in the 1957/58 season from when he became a true Gallowgate hero.

During the fifties United liked to play with contrasting wingers and with Bobby “dazzler” Mitchell on the left they usually had a direct, speed-merchant on the right. With excellent speed off the mark, the ability to challenge and beat opponents and an old-fashioned efficiency to cross long balls, Len fitted the brief perfectly.

He had played outside-right at Rotherham and in his first five seasons on Tyneside this was the position he was usually used in, although he also turned out at centre-forward, inside-right and outside-left.

Enthusiasm, high-speed and opportunism were his watchwords. A whole-hearted player who was quick to seize an opening and put plenty of punch into his work. Len exhibited excellent close-control and could pass the ball with great skill.

He was a versatile forward, terrier like and endowed with any amount of fighting spirit and although he was only 5’ 7” he was stocky and determined.

Possessing a cracking shot in both feet, he had the sharpness, composure and strength to score from short or long distance. An effortless finisher, his goal per game ratio was decent in those first five seasons.

At the time the directors would continually swop both players and their positions and Len, although normally at outside-right, was used in all the forward slots except inside-left.

As a result Len, like many others at the time, struggled to retain his place in the side. Not surprisingly this impacted his confidence and at one time he had a tendency to withdraw into his shell if he was struggling.

He did make the side for the FA Cup Final in 1955 when Reg Davies dropped out with laryngitis and it was his corner that Milburn headed in for United’s quick-fire opener. The winner’s medal satisfied Len’s first career ambition.

As the decade wore on Len began to be used more and more as a centre-forward and adapted his style accordingly. His ball control and distribution were excellent and he led the line brilliantly. A roaming centre, Jackie Milburn once noted that “his foraging and wandering into open spaces makes it easy for his team mates to find him”.

And, despite his small size, Len had a tremendous leap and strong neck muscles which enabled him to beat a big man and head for goal. A significant number of his goals on Tyneside were headers.

1957/58 was the first season in which Len was used primarily as a centre-forward and it proved to be the turning point in his career. After a poor start in which he scored only 2 goals in 13 games he appeared to be lacking in spirit and confidence. Len was dropped for one match at Leeds in mid-December, but when he returned against West Brom he scored twice, hit the woodwork three times and had a goal disallowed in a sensational display.

This match kick-started his season and as his confidence grew he became a Tyneside hero, a hard-working, alert spearhead with explosive pace and a tremendous goal-getting record.

His performances subsumed the best of his wing style into his centre-forward play using his speed, balance and dribbling skill, allied with a deceptive body swerve.

Len would like to sit relatively deep and make spectacular, long, mazy runs through the middle, invoking the Gallowgate roar once reserved for Jackie Milburn’s dashes. Add in drives of dynamite and dynamic leaps in the air and you had performances of dazzle, thunder and flash.

Bob Stokoe said at the time that: “I have always said that Len would be a great player if he would only believe in himself”. The fans certainly did, with favourable comparisons being made to United greats Albert Shepherd and Hughie Gallacher.

In the home game against Manchester City in 1957/58 he scored an incredible goal. He set off on a solo dribble from 15-yards inside his own half, beat four players who were deceived by the pace of his movement and slammed the ball past the advancing Trautmann. Reporter Ken McKenzie called it “a goal of a lifetime” and suggested it was “one which Jackie Milburn, even the late Hughie Gallacher could have envied.”

Not surprisingly because of his size his ability to snap up openings was most evident when he received good supply along the ground. Inside-right George Eastham, who had a flair for prodding quick passes through the middle just to his liking, was a great help. And when Welsh international inside-left Ivor Allchurch joined United had a triumvirate of players who dovetailed together brilliantly.

On his day many judged him to be the most effective centre-forward in the land and he appeared twice for the Football League against the Irish and Scottish League teams.

Len was selected ahead of Brian Clough when Nat Lofthose pulled out due to injury for the game against the Irish League in 1957/58. Manager Mitten said: “It is great news and a well deserved award and all the lads at Gallowgate are delighted. We all know he will be an outstanding success. This is just the opportunity he has wanted.”

And Len certainly lived up to his billing, scoring a stunning seven-minute hat-trick in front of the Kop in a 5-2 victory. ITV received a lot of criticism for only broadcasting part of the game using their telefilm facilities, capturing only two goals and none of Len’s.

But although Len was often strongly tipped for a full international cap, the call-up never came and he didn’t achieve his second career ambition. It was said at the time that Len was one of the best uncapped centre-forwards in the game, with Milburn claiming he was the best.

His lack of height was probably a factor as it made him more reliant on good service from the inside-forwards. Some believed he was too much of an individualist who was at his best in quick breaks which gave him the space and opportunity to utilise his brilliant ball play. Perhaps lack of confidence was also a factor and he unfortunately tended to have poor games when he was watched by England manager Walter Winterbottom.

In 1960/61 Len recovered from a slow start and was scoring so regularly that he had every chance of surpassing Hughie Gallacher record number of League goals scored in a season. But in the last seconds of the match at leaders Tottenham on the 22nd March hard-man Dave Mackay’s heavy challenge badly tore the ligaments in his left ankle.

Although he had hoped to be fit for the new season, his ankle was still sore after a practice game and it was revealed that he was not expected to return until October and would receive “electrical treatment.” Miraculously, within days, he was deemed fit enough to play.

Len was not happy about being rushed back and struggled to regain his form. Clubs started to make bids for him and although United kept rebuffing them, journalist Stan Bell claimed they were prepared to sell. In February United signed centre-forward Barrie Thomas and Len was used in part-exchange for Huddersfield inside-forward Jimmy Kerray.

Although Jackie Milburn once said “Len is one of those fellows who doesn’t say much, he prefers to go on the field to do things”, George Eastham later referred to him as “the joker” at the club.

At Rotherham he worked down the pit and when he joined United he became employed as a platelayer at Burradon Colliery where he continued to work until March 1956. Shortly after he joined Newcastle United he received a notice about National Service and had to tell the Labour Exchange that he was employed in the mines.

Len's hobbies were golf and cricket and his favourite sportsman was Peter May.