Alex Whitmore

Alex Whitmore

Personal information
Full name	Alexander James Whitmore
Date of birth	(1995-09-07) 7 September 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [1]
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Solihull Moors
Youth career
	Wallsend Boys Club
2012–2015	Burnley
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Burnley	0	(0)
2015	→ Chester (loan)	5	(0)
2016	→ Gateshead (loan)	19	(2)
2016–2017	→ Morecambe (loan)	15	(0)
2017	→ Morecambe (loan)	20	(0)
2017–2018	→ Bury (loan)	8	(0)
2018	Chesterfield	15	(1)
2018–2019	Grimsby Town	31	(1)
2019–2023	AFC Fylde	120	(8)
2023–	Solihull Moors	15	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:07, 10 March 2024 (UTC)

Alexander James Whitmore ^[2] (born 7 September 1995) ^[3] is an English professional footballer who plays as a central defender for National League club Solihull Moors.

After playing youth football with Wallsend Boys Club, Whitmore turned professional with Burnley in 2014, and had spells at Chester, Gateshead, Morecambe, Bury and Chesterfield. He signed for Grimsby Town in May 2018 and joined AFC Fylde in June 2019. Whitmore signed for Solihull Moors for an undisclosed fee in November 2023.

Career

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Whitmore started his career with local youth side Wallsend Boys Club, where he played until the age of sixteen. ^[4] In July 2012, he joined Burnley on a two-year scholarship deal. ^[4] He progressed through the youth side and was named as captain in his second season at the club, signing his first professional contract in March 2014. ^[5] He was moved into the development squad and remained there for one season before he signed a new one-year contract extension in April 2015. ^[6] He received a place in the first team squad for the pre-season tour of Scotland in the summer of 2015. ^[7]

In November 2015, he joined National League side Chester on a one-month youth loan deal. ^[8] He made his senior debut in the 1–1 league draw with Dover Athletic, playing the full ninety minutes. ^[9] He made five appearances during his month at the Deva Stadium, however, he turned down the option to extend his loan despite interest from Chester manager Steve Burr. ^[10]

In January 2016, he instead chose to join National League rivals Gateshead on a loan deal until the end of the season, preferring to move closer to his North East roots. ^{[10] [11]} He was a first team regular for the club and made twenty-three appearances in all competitions, scoring twice. ^[9] His performances during the spell convinced Burnley to extend his contract for a further year. ^[12]

In July 2016, he joined League Two side Morecambe on a loan deal until January 2017. ^[13] He made his debut in August 2016, in the opening day 2–0 defeat to Grimsby Town. ^[9] He made 23 appearances for Morecambe during his loan spell, playing regularly despite missing seven games due to suspension after receiving two red cards. ^[14] Later in January 2017, Whitmore returned to Morecambe until the end of the season on loan after their transfer embargo was lifted. ^[15]

On 31 July 2017, Whitmore signed for Football League One side Bury on loan until January 2018. ^[16] He made a total of eleven appearances in all competitions before returning to Burnley having found it difficult to hold down a first team place. ^[17]

On 18 January 2018, Whitmore signed for Football League Two side Chesterfield on a 2+1⁄2-year deal. ^{[18] [19]}

On 30 May 2018, Whitmore signed a one-year contract with League Two side Grimsby Town on a free transfer. ^{[20] [21]}

In June 2019, he signed for AFC Fylde. ^[22] He captained the club to the National League North title in the 2022–23 season, ^[23] subsequently being named in the division's team of the season. ^[24]

He signed for Solihull Moors in November 2023. ^[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 October 2021

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Burnley	2015–16 [26]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2016–17 [27]	Premier League	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
	2017–18 [28]	Premier League	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Chester (loan)	2015–16 [9]	National League	5	0	—		—		0	0	5	0
Gateshead (loan)	2015–16 [9]	National League	19	2	—		—		4	0	23	2
Morecambe (loan)	2016–17 [27]	League Two	35	0	2	0	2	0	4	0	43	0
Bury (loan)	2017–18 [28]	League One	8	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	11	0
Chesterfield	2017–18 [28]	League Two	15	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	1
Grimsby Town	2018–19 [29]	League Two	31	1	0	0	1	0	3	0	35	1
AFC Fylde	2019–20 [9]	National League	34	1	4	0	—		4	0	42	1
	2020–21 [9]	National League North	15	1	4	0	—		2	0	21	1
	2021–22 [9]	National League North	9	2	2	0	—		0	0	11	2
	Total		58	4	10	0	—		6	0	74	4
Career total			171	8	12	0	4	0	19	0	206	8

Honours

AFC Fylde

• National League North: 2022–23 ^[23]

Solihull Moors

• FA Trophy runner-up: 2023–24 ^[30]

Individual

• National League North Team of the Year: 2022–23 ^[24]

External links

• Alex Whitmore profile at the Grimsby Town F.C. website

References

1. "Profile". Morecambe F.C. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
2. "Retained List 2015-16" (PDF). English Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
3. "Profile". 11v11. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
4. "Burnley sign up nine new scholars". Lancashire Telegraph. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
5. "Meet The New Professionals". Burnley F.C. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
6. "New Deals For Clarets Starlets". Burnley F.C. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
7. "Development Squad profiles". Burnley F.C. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
8. Jim Green (24 November 2015). "Chester FC: Burnley defender Alex Whitmore arrives on loan". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
9. Alex Whitmore at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
10. "Chester FC: Alex Whitmore explains decision to choose Gateshead over Blues". Chester Chronicle. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
11. Jim Green (2 January 2016). "Burnley youngster Alex Whitmore has joined Gateshead on a youth loan deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
12. "Young Burnley trio offered new deals". Eurosport. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
13. "Alex Whitmore: Burnley centre-back joins Morecambe on loan". BBC Sport. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
14. "Whitmore is latest returning loan player". Up The Clarets. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
15. "Alex Whitmore Return". Morecambe F.C. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
16. "CONFIRMED: Clarets Alex Whitmore joins Bury on loan". www.buryfc.co.uk.
17. "Whitmore Loan Finishes". Bury F.C. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
18. "Spireites Sign Burnley Defender". www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk.
19. "Alex Whitmore: Chesterfield sign Burnley defender on free transfer". BBC Sport. 18 January 2018.
20. Liam Wood (30 May 2018). "Grimsby Town complete first summer signing with arrival of defender Alex Whitmore". Grimsbylive. Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
21. "Alex Whitmore: Grimsby Town sign Chesterfield defender for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 30 May 2018.
22. DEFENDER WHITMORE SIGNS FOR AFC FYLDE, afcfylde.co.uk, 17 June 2019
23. "AFC Fylde: Coasters clinch promotion to National League". BBC Sport. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
24. "The National League North Big Winners Are Announced". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
25. "Alex Whitmore signs for Moors on permanent deal! | Solihull Moors FC". www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk.
26. "Games played by Alex Whitmore in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
27. "Games played by Alex Whitmore in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
28. "Games played by Alex Whitmore in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
29. "Games played by Alex Whitmore in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
30. "FA Trophy final: Gateshead 2–2 Solihull Moors (5–4 on pens) - Lineups". BBC Sport. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.