Billy Whitehurst

Whitehurst was born in Thurnscoe, West Riding of Yorkshire and started his career playing for a number of semi-professional teams in South Yorkshire, Retford Town, Bridlington Trinity and Mexborough Town, whilst also working for the local council as a bricklayer. Whitehurst ended his professional career at Doncaster Rovers during which time he also played on loan for Crewe Alexandra. Whitehurst ended his playing days abroad, playing in Northern Ireland, Australia and in Hong Kong with South China (1992–93) before a long-standing knee injury caused his retirement in 1993. ==Personal life and post-retirement==

He supported Manchester United as a child and George Best was his favorite player. He said that Keith Mincher and Chris Chilton had the greatest influences on his career and said that Keith made him believe in himself while Chris had taught him positions to take up in the box. He was a bricklayer before turning pro. He cited a 1984 game between Hull and Burnley as his biggest disappointment as the team needed 3 goals to get promoted to the next division, but only scored two goals. His hobbies include gardening, reading and greyhound racing. He cited Spitting Image and Taxi as his favorite shows and Bruce Springsteen and Nat King Cole as his favorite musicians. He is married with two children. Since leaving the game Whitehurst has trained greyhounds, ran several public houses in his native South Yorkshire and worked in the building trade and in the stores at BP Saltend and Drax Power Station. In 2008, he was found guilty of benefit fraud and given a suspended prison sentence. ==Career statistics==

; Hull City • Football League Fourth Division runner-up: 1982–83 • Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1984–85 ; Sheffield United • Football League Second Division runner-up: 1989–90 ==References==