Former Player Remembers: Mike Whitlow

Amongst other highlights, Mike discussed his four Wembley Play-Off Finals, winning the League Cup in 1997 and playing in the Premier League.
Brian Little signed Mike from Leeds United in March 1992. Eight games later he was playing at Wembley against Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn Rovers for a place in the Premier League.
“I didn’t give signing for Leicester a second thought. Tony Dorigo had arrived at Leeds and he was playing for England. I just wanted to play football. In the Play-Off Final against Blackburn, because of all the adrenalin and excitement, I felt as if I was wearing miners’ boots with a 400 pound pack on my back. We were underdogs but we did ourselves proud. Our team had some great characters. I’d come from a changing room with big stars at Leeds to a group of lads that was tight-knit, with nobody different from anybody else. We’d come a long way in a short period."
Blackburn won the Final with a controversial penalty but twelve months later Mike was back at Wembley for the Play-Off Final against Glenn Hoddle’s Swindon Town.
“Hoddle was scary! He was pinging the ball everywhere! He ran the show. He was awesome. I was thinking, 'he is brilliant'. They ripped us to shreds. We went 3-0 down. We needed one goal back to get in the game. When Steve Thompson equalised we thought ‘we’re going to win this’ and then Pooley (goalkeeper Kevin Poole), had a mad rush of blood and conceded a penalty. He still claims he never touched him! He must have a different set of eyes! We were thinking ’Not again! Not another penalty!’ That was heartbreaking, because we had more expectation that year.”
Mike was back at Wembley for a third consecutive Play-Off Final against Derby County the following year.
“We mugged Derby and it was nice! They had some good players but we were more direct and physical and we bullied them. Gary Coatsworth was the hardest man ever in football who would give you everything. To turn Derby over with the good team they had was nice. Hard work paid off. Today, most of us would have been sent off! I probably wouldn’t last in today’s game because you could tackle then. Newspaper reports would say I was hard working and would give one hundred percent. I wish they had said I that I had silky skills, control the ball on a sixpence and pass it wherever he wanted! I always felt that I had to work more than anyone else. I didn’t want to lose the chance I’d been given.”
Leicester’s season in the Premier League was tough.
“Brian Little was the most chilled-out manager I ever worked under. He worked very well with (coaches) Alan Evans and John Gregory. Alan was the serious one. John was a bit more relaxed. When we went into the Premiership in 1994, we were an honest, very hard working group of players but it was a big learning curve. In the Premiership you need quality players who are absolutely gifted. Hard work is great but it will only get you so far. It was a massive eye-opener. The standard was fantastic. You make one mistake and it’s a goal. We knew we weren’t quite there. One of my best moments in football was scoring against Manchester United (in November 1994) at Old Trafford that season. My mates were in the Stretford End. Manchester United were smashing everyone that year. They had only conceded two goals at Old Trafford up until then. I scored the ugliest, worst goal you have ever seen in your life, but it’s a great memory because my mates were sitting in row 11 where I used to sit with them. (United keeper) Gary Walsh came out for the ball. He flapped. I tapped it in with my right(!) leg. It was the simplest goal I’d ever scored in my life."
Leicester were relegated at the end of the season. Half way through that season Brian Little left to manage Aston Villa and was replaced by Mark McGhee.
“I won’t have a word said against Brian. He gave me my opportunity. Mark McGhee played me so I was alright with him. He brought in Colin Lee, one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. He was relaxed like Brian. He taught me a great deal in a short time. His sessions were impeccable. Like Brian, he could talk to you and explain things. His sessions were really good. He’s a book of knowledge. He was too nice to be a manager. He didn’t have a ruthless streak. Brian wanted to sign me for Aston Villa, but Mark told me about his plans for Leicester and I signed a new contract. Three days later Mark left for Wolves! After all the things he’d been talking about, he jumped ship! I was happy to stay though. We’d got some good players here and the Club was progressing. Martin (O’Neill) came in. I loved him to bits. I could sit and listen to him all day. You cut him in half and he’s all football. He’s a raving nutter at the side of the pitch. In his head he is still out there. Initially people didn’t take to him. He kept the letters people wrote calling for him to be sacked. After a bad start under him, we had an unbelievable run to get to the Play-Offs at the end of the season.
"We beat Crystal Palace at Wembley and got back into the Premier League. Steve Claridge’s famous shinned goal four seconds from the end of extra time won the game. Of course he shinned it! It was one of his best touches! The ball came across, it bobbled, he shinned it from the edge of the box and it went in. We knew then we were going up! Steve is a really nice bloke. If I had to pick a team of all the players I’d played with, Steve would be on my team sheet because he would give you absolutely everything. He would turn up for training already changed with his socks round his ankles. He never wore shin pads and he’d often do nothing, then all of a sudden he would score. One day he would be running around everywhere, the next he wouldn’t but on a matchday you could put your life on him. I was fortunate to play my fifth game for Leicester at Wembley in the 1997 League Cup Final against Middlesbrough. I’d been out injured. Leicester had signed Steve Guppy, but he was cup-tied. Pontus (Kaamark) and I had both been out injured. Martin told us to get fit. My first game back was at Wembley. I’ve got a great picture of me nose-to-nose with Ravanelli in the Final. What a player! Pontus did a great man marking job on Juninho. He was so focused. He wasn’t interested in looking good for himself. Pontus followed him everywhere! I don’t think Juninho had more than about four kicks!”
Early the following season, Mike signed for Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers.
“Coming back from the UEFA Cup game at Atletico Madrid, Martin said to me ‘Can you tell me how you know you’re going to Bolton before I know about it?’ It was the first I’d heard of it! We had a good chat. He wanted me to stay as a centre-half but I wanted to play at left back. Steve Guppy was on fire so I went to Bolton, but I’ve great memories from my time at Leicester!”
Images:

1. Mike Whitlow and Blackburn’s Alan Shearer.
2. Mike Whitlow and Everton’s Duncan Ferguson
3. Mike Whitlow and Arsenal’s Lee Dixon
4. Mike Whitlow and Fabrizio Ravanelli in the 1997 League Cup Final.