David Wheater
Encyclopedia
David James Wheater is an English
footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers
. He is a centre back
, although he is capable of playing at right back as well.
youth system
, and was promoted to the first team at the age of 17 for the 2004–05 season after tasting success in the FA Youth Cup
. He and teammates Andrew Taylor
, Matthew Bates
and Adam Johnson were part of the team that won the 2004 FA Youth Cup and also played the previous season's final with Bates and Taylor but lost out to Manchester United
.
He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three month loan in September 2006. However, he returned to Middlesbrough on 15 November, after making just one first team appearance.
He has also had loan spells at Doncaster Rovers
(scoring once against Gillingham
) and Darlington. During 2007–08 pre-season Jonathan Woodgate
suffered an injury that allowed Wheater to start in his place during pre-season. Wheater's form in pre-season earned him a starting XI place for the opening day Premier League fixture – his form then continued, which triggered the transfer of Woodgate to Tottenham Hotspur as Wheater became the first name on the 'Boro team sheet. Wheater was named in an understrength Middlesbrough side away to Bristol City
in the FA Cup
third round, when he saved his team with a goal as he burst forward from the back and scored the winner in a 2–1 at Ashton Gate
. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract extension in February 2008 which tied him to Middlesbrough until June 2011.
Wheater experienced his best season of football during the 2007–08 season, starting as a regular for Gareth Southgate's side and becoming an imposing force at the back. Wheater scored four goals in all competitions during his breakthrough season of 2007–08. At the end of the year, he won the North East Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards for his exploits. Unfortunately Boro were relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season, but Wheater decided to stay to try to help the club regain promotion.
Despite being only 22, Wheater was appointed captain for the 2009–10 season. He experienced his first taste of league captaincy against Bristol City in a 2–1 loss, but new manager Gordon Strachan
was appointed, Strachan decided to hand the captain's armband to the more experienced Gary O'Neil
, in order to let Wheater concentrate more on developing his game. He scored his first league goal in 18 months on 6 February against Ipswich Town
to rescue a draw.
He scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season against Reading
to make the scoreline 3–1 and help Boro secure back to back home wins in the same week. His last appearance in a Boro shirt was against Bristol City
on 15 January 2011 where he played the full 90 minutes. Middlesbrough won 4-0. His last goal in a Boro shirt was on New Years Day against Leeds United
which ended in a 1-1 draw.
on a three-and-a-half year contract following a few weeks of negotiations for an undisclosed fee, and made his debut on 29 January in the FA Cup
game at home to Wigan Athletic. He made his league debut when coming on as a first half substitute for the injured Zat Knight
in the 2-0 home win over Everton
on 13 February. On 24 September, in his first league start of the 2011-12 season replacing the ill Gary Cahill
, Wheater received a red card for holding back Theo Walcott
during Bolton's game at Arsenal
. Two months later on 26 November he received his second dismissal of the season when challenging Everton
winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
in a challenge which was deemed a red card by the referee Michael Oliver.
and earned his debut under-21 call-up in August 2007 along with the uncapped Adam Johnson after impressing while on loan at Darlington. He was a regular in the 2009 U21 European Championship qualifying
, mostly as a substitute. In October 2008 he scored the equalizer against Wales in the first leg of the play-offs and England went on to win 3–2 and 5–4 on aggregate to qualify. He was supposed to be in the squad for the tournament but withdrew after sustaining an injury.
On 20 March 2008, Wheater was called up to the England squad by boss Fabio Capello
, however he was not included in the Capello's final 23.
On 15 October 2008, Wheater was called up into the England senior team as a replacement for John Terry
when the England Captain withdrew due to an injury picked up playing for Chelsea. Wheater's first real taste of senior international football came when he was named as a substitute for the games against France & Trinidad and Tobago
in 2008 but did not leave the bench on both occasions.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He is a centre back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, although he is capable of playing at right back as well.
Middlesbrough
Wheater is a product of the MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
, and was promoted to the first team at the age of 17 for the 2004–05 season after tasting success in the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
. He and teammates Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor (footballer born 1986)
Andrew Derek Taylor is an English footballer who plays for Cardiff City as a left wingback. He has previously played for Middlesbrough, Bradford City and Watford on loan.-Club career:Taylor was born in Hartlepool, County Durham...
, Matthew Bates
Matthew Bates
Matthew David Bates is an English professional football player and captain of Middlesbrough. He plays in central defence, however is equally adept at playing right-back or defensive midfield.-Career:...
and Adam Johnson were part of the team that won the 2004 FA Youth Cup and also played the previous season's final with Bates and Taylor but lost out to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three month loan in September 2006. However, he returned to Middlesbrough on 15 November, after making just one first team appearance.
He has also had loan spells at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
(scoring once against Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
) and Darlington. During 2007–08 pre-season Jonathan Woodgate
Jonathan Woodgate
Jonathan Simon Woodgate is an English footballer who plays for Stoke City in the Premier League.Woodgate started his football career at Leeds United where he established himself in the starting eleven. However, Woodgate was sold to Newcastle United for £9 million in January 2003. He impressed...
suffered an injury that allowed Wheater to start in his place during pre-season. Wheater's form in pre-season earned him a starting XI place for the opening day Premier League fixture – his form then continued, which triggered the transfer of Woodgate to Tottenham Hotspur as Wheater became the first name on the 'Boro team sheet. Wheater was named in an understrength Middlesbrough side away to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round, when he saved his team with a goal as he burst forward from the back and scored the winner in a 2–1 at Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract extension in February 2008 which tied him to Middlesbrough until June 2011.
Wheater experienced his best season of football during the 2007–08 season, starting as a regular for Gareth Southgate's side and becoming an imposing force at the back. Wheater scored four goals in all competitions during his breakthrough season of 2007–08. At the end of the year, he won the North East Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards for his exploits. Unfortunately Boro were relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season, but Wheater decided to stay to try to help the club regain promotion.
Despite being only 22, Wheater was appointed captain for the 2009–10 season. He experienced his first taste of league captaincy against Bristol City in a 2–1 loss, but new manager Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
was appointed, Strachan decided to hand the captain's armband to the more experienced Gary O'Neil
Gary O'Neil
Gary Paul O'Neil is an English footballer who currently plays for West Ham United.-Portsmouth:Tony Pulis gave O'Neil his Portsmouth debut as a 16-year-old on 29 January 2000 at home to Barnsley in the First Division, but kept him out of the spotlight for the rest of the season...
, in order to let Wheater concentrate more on developing his game. He scored his first league goal in 18 months on 6 February against Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
to rescue a draw.
He scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
to make the scoreline 3–1 and help Boro secure back to back home wins in the same week. His last appearance in a Boro shirt was against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on 15 January 2011 where he played the full 90 minutes. Middlesbrough won 4-0. His last goal in a Boro shirt was on New Years Day against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bolton Wanderers
On 20 January 2011, he completed a move to Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
on a three-and-a-half year contract following a few weeks of negotiations for an undisclosed fee, and made his debut on 29 January in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
game at home to Wigan Athletic. He made his league debut when coming on as a first half substitute for the injured Zat Knight
Zat Knight
Zatyiah "Zat" Knight is an English footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League. Knight has two caps for England.-Club career:-Fulham:Fulham signed Knight from Rushall Olympic on a free transfer in 1999...
in the 2-0 home win over Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
on 13 February. On 24 September, in his first league start of the 2011-12 season replacing the ill Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill
Gary James Cahill is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team.-Club career:...
, Wheater received a red card for holding back Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott
Theo James Walcott is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. Walcott is a product of the Southampton F.C. Academy. He is a striker who is usually deployed on the right wing as a wide forward to exploit his speed...
during Bolton's game at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Two months later on 26 November he received his second dismissal of the season when challenging Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
Diniyar Rinatovich Bilyaletdinov -Lokomotiv Moscow:A native of Moscow, Bilyaletdinov began his career in the Lokomotiv Moscow youth teams. After making his debut in 2004, he became a first team regular. In his first season the club won the Russian Premier League and was named the league's Young...
in a challenge which was deemed a red card by the referee Michael Oliver.
International career
Wheater has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and most recently under-21 level. He played at the 2004 U17 European Championships2004 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Semifinals:-----Third Place Playoff:-Final:-References:**...
and earned his debut under-21 call-up in August 2007 along with the uncapped Adam Johnson after impressing while on loan at Darlington. He was a regular in the 2009 U21 European Championship qualifying
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started on 31 May 2007 with a qualifying competition and finishes on 15 October 2008, before the final tournament on 15–23 June 2009....
, mostly as a substitute. In October 2008 he scored the equalizer against Wales in the first leg of the play-offs and England went on to win 3–2 and 5–4 on aggregate to qualify. He was supposed to be in the squad for the tournament but withdrew after sustaining an injury.
On 20 March 2008, Wheater was called up to the England squad by boss Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the manager of the England national football team.Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has coached throughout his career...
, however he was not included in the Capello's final 23.
On 15 October 2008, Wheater was called up into the England senior team as a replacement for John Terry
John Terry
John George Terry is an English professional footballer. Terry plays in a centre back position and is the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League...
when the England Captain withdrew due to an injury picked up playing for Chelsea. Wheater's first real taste of senior international football came when he was named as a substitute for the games against France & Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
in 2008 but did not leave the bench on both occasions.
Honours
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
: 2003–04
External links
- David Wheater profile on the Middlesbrough website
- Premier League profile