WRIGHT WAY FOR WHITEHEAD (From Warrington Guardian)

WRIGHT WAY FOR WHITEHEAD

WARRINGTON Town hitman Damien Whitehead has common ground with his idol Ian Wright, the former England striker.

Whitehead says: "I'd say Ian Wright is my idol because, like myself when I was younger, he got told he was too small for the pro game.

"But he just kept on banging them in each week and I looked it up on the internet the other week that he was only 26 when he got signed."

Wright's pro career with Crystal Palace, Arsenal, England and now West Ham is well known but Whitehead is hoping his turn will come now that he has been offered a chance to shine.

He says: "I'm not 20 until tomorrow so compared to Ian I still have time on my side but I've just got to keep scoring the goals."

Today, Friday, is the final day of Whitehead's two-week trial with Macclesfield Town where he has been aiming to impress manager Sammy McElroy in a bid to winning a contract with the Nationwide League Club for the 1999/2000 season.

Tranmere Rovers have also been in touch this week as former Liverpool strike ace John Aldridge would like him at his club for a trial.

Whitehead says: "Macclesfield is the first trial I have ever had and hopefully I will progress from now.

"My first week went all right and they asked me back for a second week. Hopefully if all has gone well they might just sign me."

Whitehead felt comfortable with the higher training level.

He says: "I was training with the first team in my first week and I felt up to them. I'm not being big headed but I didn't feel out of my depth. I was knocking the goals in during training."

In between his fortnight's trial, Whitehead played a starring role for Town in the 8-0 thrashing of Bacup Borough.

Whitehead was delighted that his hat-trick goal, his 50th of the season, came in front of his Cantilever Park fans.

He says: "Earlier in the year when I said my target for the season was 50 goals, I think a few people scoffed but I've shown them.

"I think if I'd been playing from the start of the season I might have reached 70. With three games to go I think that might just be beyond reach but 60 might be on the cards.

"I couldn't have reached 50 without my teammates, who have been fantastic. It's not just me putting in the work, it's the others around me.

"But it was great to get my 50th goal at home, it was a thank you to the fans who have been so good to me and the team this year.

"Now, my main concern is just to win the last three games, get the nine points and hopefully it will get Warrington Town the promotion that they deserve."

Tomorrow, Saturday, Town travel to Colne and play at Darwen on Tuesday.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.