David Wetherall
{{Short description|British footballer (born 1971)}}
{{About|the footballer|the engineer|David James Wetherall|the medic|David Weatherall}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = David Wetherall
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = David Wetherall{{Hugman|20831|access-date=6 September 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|3|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sheffield, England
| currentclub =
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| position = Defender
| years1 = 1989–1991
| clubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1991–1999
| clubs2 = Leeds United
| caps2 = 202
| goals2 = 12
| years3 = 1999–2008
| clubs3 = Bradford City
| caps3 = 304
| goals3 = 18
| totalcaps = 506
| totalgoals = 30
| manageryears1 = 2003
| managerclubs1 = Bradford City (player-manager)
| manageryears2 = 2007
| managerclubs2 = Bradford City (caretaker)
}}
David Wetherall (born 14 March 1971) is an English football coach and former professional defender, who is an academy strategic advisor at Huddersfield Town.
As a player, he played most of his career in the Premier League for Leeds United and Bradford City. He started his playing career with Sheffield Wednesday but failed to make an appearance, then left for Leeds and made more than 200 appearances. Afterwards, he joined Bradford City for a then club-record fee of £1.4 million and played every minute of every match in his first season for the club and scored the decisive goal that kept the Bantams in the Premier League on the final day of the season. Wetherall became the team captain, later finishing his playing career at the end of the 2007–08 season.
He had two spells as caretaker manager of Bradford City and was an integral part of the club's coaching staff following his retirement as a player. He left Bradford in June 2011 after 12 years with the club to take up a position with the Football League and was inducted into Show Racism The Red Card's hall of fame for his involvement in their anti-racism campaign.
Playing career
=Early life and career=
Wetherall was born in Sheffield, he supported Sheffield Wednesday as a child, He was capped by England at schoolboy level, and in 1989, when he left school, he signed for Wednesday under the management of Howard Wilkinson. Wetherall had attended Rotherham sixth form college where he achieved four A-levels at grade A,{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F92A9AFDD8FB196&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Wetherall in a class of his own |newspaper=The Sunday Times |location=London |first=Louise |last=Taylor |date=12 March 2000 |access-date=12 October 2009 |via=NewsBank}} and chose to study for his BSc in chemistry at the University of Sheffield, so that he could live at home with his parents and combine his education with playing for Sheffield Wednesday's reserve team.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/wetheralls-empirical-progress-to-be-tested-1578104.html |title=Wetherall's empirical progress to be tested |access-date=12 October 2009 |date=17 October 1995 |newspaper=The Independent |last=Shaw |first=Phil | location=London}} He graduated with a first-class honours degree in 1992, becoming the first Premier League player to achieve such a qualification.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/duncan-watmore-sunderland-footballer-earns-first-class-degree-from-newcastle-university-a6768781.html |title=Duncan Watmore: Sunderland footballer earns first-class degree from Newcastle University |first=Katie |last=Grant |newspaper=The Independent | location=London |date=10 December 2015 |access-date=6 September 2017}} In 1990, he was part of a British squad which travelled to Italy for the world student five-a-side football championship,{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F925B1E95BD9A12&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Organised exodus to Midlands – Student Sport |newspaper=The Times |location=London |first=Mark |last=Herbert |date=1 September 1990 |access-date=12 October 2009 |via=NewsBank}} and represented Great Britain as they won the association football bronze medal at the 1991 World Student Games hosted in Sheffield.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/port-vale-hopes-hang-on-talent-of-wings-1320190.html |title=Port Vale hopes hang on talent of wings |access-date=12 October 2009 |date=21 February 1996 |newspaper=The Independent |last=Lansley |first=Peter | location=London}}
=Leeds United=
Wilkinson, by then Leeds United manager, returned to his former club in July 1991 to sign two young centre-backs, Jon Newsome first and Wetherall a few days later, for a combined fee of £275,000.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/LEEDS-UNITED-Where-are-they.4673275.jp?articlepage=3 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505105320/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/LEEDS-UNITED-Where-are-they.4673275.jp?articlepage=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |title=Kids are Jon's driving force now |first=Leon |last=Wobschall |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |date=8 November 2008 |access-date=12 October 2009 }} The 20-year-old Wetherall's first season at Leeds was the final year of his degree course, so he played for the reserves while training part-time. He made a brief debut in the First Division, on 3 September 1991 at Elland Road as a late substitute against Arsenal; Leeds went on to win the 1991–92 league title.{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F91EEB24A35CE1B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Champions lose lead but show promising signs |newspaper=The Times |location=London |first=Ian |last=Ross |date=4 September 1991 |access-date=12 October 2009 |via=NewsBank}} He remembers it as "With 20 minutes to go, we were 2–1 down and I was on the touchline ready to go on, then Lee Chapman scored and the gaffer (Howard Wilkinson) told me to sit down again. But he threw me on for the last two minutes. I always tell people that made the difference in winning the title!" As his teammates took the league trophy on a celebratory open top bus tour, Wetherall chose to revise for his examinations, a decision he came to regret, because "those experiences don't come around that often". Though the revision bore fruit: he graduated with first-class honours.
Wetherall made his first start for Leeds in the newly formed Premier League in September 1992 against Southampton, scored his first goal for the club the following March to secure a draw at home to Chelsea and finished the 1992–93 season with 13 league appearances.{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1297123,00.html |title=David Wetherall – Not just a Bradford City legend |publisher=Bradford City A.F.C. |access-date=12 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227103453/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10266~1297123%2C00.html |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead}} He "noticed a massive difference in [his] fitness coming in full-time after just having two blasts a week." In the 1993–94 season, he established himself as a regular first-team player.{{cite web |url=http://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/463.html |title=Leeds United Player Profile: David Wetherall |access-date=17 October 2009 |publisher=Leeds-fans.org.uk}} The following season, he scored in a 2–1 defeat of defending champions Manchester United,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-leeds-dent-uniteds-resolve-champions-late-rally-not-enough-to-save-13year-record--dane-restores-faith-at-ibrox--cagliari-the-levellers-1448394.html |title=Leeds dent United's resolve: Champions' late rally not enough to save 13-year record |access-date=12 October 2009 |date=12 September 1994 |newspaper=The Independent |last=Moore |first=Glenn | location=London}} and continued his knack of scoring vital goals with a last-minute equaliser to avoid an embarrassing defeat by Walsall of Division Three in the 1995 FA Cup. In the replay, he scored for both Leeds and Walsall, the own goal taking the match into extra time.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-masinga-treble-brings-relief-for-laboured-leeds-1568627.html |title=Masinga treble brings relief for laboured Leeds |access-date=12 October 2009 |date=18 January 1995 |newspaper=The Independent |last=Shaw |first=Phil | location=London}} Leeds finished in fifth place in the league, and Wetherall was chosen manager Wilkinson's player of the season. Wilkinson also singled him out for praise for his performance in a 3–0 UEFA Cup first-round win against AS Monaco in Monaco in September 1995, though they were heavily defeated by PSV Eindhoven in the next round.{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/greatestgames/yeboahyeboahyeboah-20060925_2249404_902673 |title=Yeboah... Yeboah... Yeboah... |publisher=Leeds United A.F.C |access-date=12 October 2009 |first=Don |last=Warters |date=25 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905112238/http://www.leedsunited.com/greatestgames/20060925/yeboahyeboahyeboah_2249404_902673 |archive-date=5 September 2012}} Wetherall played in the League Cup Final in 1996, his first major final, but Leeds were outclassed, beaten 3–0 by Aston Villa.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/milosevic-gives-villa-a-touch-of-magic-1343925.html |title=Milosevic gives Villa a touch of magic |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=25 March 1996 |access-date=3 March 2011}}
In the 1996–97 season, Wetherall played less regularly as new manager George Graham experimented with defensive combinations, though by the following season he had re-established himself in the starting eleven,{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article576393.ece |title=Man for all seasons |access-date=12 October 2009 |date=9 October 2005 |newspaper=The Sunday Times |last=Rae |first=Richard |location=London}}{{cbignore}}{{dead link|date=March 2016}} sometimes acting as captain, and signed a new five-year contract.{{cn|date=August 2021}} On 27 September 1997, he scored in the 1–0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United when Roy Keane's knee was badly injured in the act of fouling Alfie Haaland, who then accused Keane of feigning injury.{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2819379.ece |title=The soul of Leeds in 50 moments |access-date=8 October 2009 |date=6 November 2007 |work=Times Online |last=Broadbent |first=Rick | location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903105607/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2819379.ece |archive-date=3 September 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-united-fail-leeds-intelligence-test-1241841.html |title=United fail Leeds' intelligence test |access-date=8 October 2009 |date=29 September 1997 |newspaper=The Independent |last=Shaw |first=Phil | location=London}}{{cite news |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/FA-brings-Keane-to-book.2358486.jp |title=FA brings Keane to book |access-date=8 October 2009 |date=5 September 2002 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |last=Bathgate |first=Stuart}} Keane later took revenge on Haaland during a Manchester derby and said to Haaland as he lay on the ground: "And don't ever stand over me again sneering about fake injuries, and tell your pal Wetherall there's some for him as well."{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2189742.stm |title=Keane could face FA rap |access-date=15 December 2007 |date=13 August 2002 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Later that season Wetherall was among the Leeds travelling party who escaped unhurt as their aircraft crash-landed after an engine caught fire on takeoff.{{cn|date=August 2021}}
When David O'Leary replaced Graham as manager it became clear that his centre-back pairing of choice would be Lucas Radebe and the 18-year-old Jonathan Woodgate, so Wetherall decided to leave Leeds for a club where he could play regular first-team football.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-leeds-discover-there-is-life-after-graham-1186913.html |title=Leeds discover there is life after Graham |access-date=12 October 2009 |date=23 November 1998 |newspaper=The Independent |first=Jon |last=Culley | location=London}} A transfer to nearby Huddersfield Town fell through after terms had been agreed,{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5634565.Wetherall_s_on_the_verge/ |title=Wetherall's on the verge |access-date=2 March 2016 |date=22 June 1999 |newspaper=Daily Echo |location=Southampton}} and the player's reluctance to move house while wife Caroline was heavily pregnant with their second son caused him to reject an offer from Southampton. After eight years with Leeds, having scored 18 goals from 250 games in all competitions, he accepted an offer from fellow West Yorkshire club Bradford City.
=Bradford City=
Bradford City signed Wetherall for a club record £1.4 million,{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10266~91553,00.html |title=And into the 21st century |publisher=Bradford City F.C. |access-date=5 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722132021/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10266~91553%2C00.html |archive-date=22 July 2012 }} to give experience to a side who had just been promoted to the Premier League. Wetherall was aged just 28, but manager Paul Jewell had made a number of signings aged over 30, prompting journalists to call his team "Dad's Army".{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8058437.Don_t_panic_/ |title=Don't panic! |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=17 February 2000 |access-date=2 March 2016}} Bradford won their first game 1–0 with a last-minute goal at Middlesbrough scored by Dean Saunders who started a celebration pouring scorn at the club's cynics.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} Wetherall's first goal for Bradford was in a League Cup game at Reading before he scored again in the following round as Bradford were knocked out by Barnsley.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8062745.City_shot_out_of_Worthington_Cup/ |title=City shot out of Worthington Cup |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=13 October 1999 |access-date=2 March 2016}} His first league goal came in a 2–0 win against Newcastle United on 18 December.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8060362.City_call_the_Toon_/ |title=City call the Toon! |first=Richard |last=Sutcliffe |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=20 December 2000 |access-date=2 March 2016}} Wetherall missed only two cup game for Bradford City during his first season,{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8063569.Big_let_down_for_City_/ |title=Big let-down for City! |first=David |last=Markham |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=15 September 1999 |access-date=2 March 2016}}
{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8060099.Wethers_misses_cup_tie/ |title=Wethers misses cup tie |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=30 December 1999 |access-date=7 February 2008}} and was the only player in the Premier League to have played every minute of the league season. His partnership with the emerging Andy O'Brien in central defence was the front line in Bradford's survival attempt. Bradford went into the final game of the season facing possible relegation.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8055446.Ready_for_the_chop__Rod_/ |title=Ready for the chop, Rod? |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=13 May 2000 |access-date=7 February 2008}} After only 12 minutes of their final game with Liverpool, Wetherall headed home a Gunnar Halle free-kick. Bradford held on for a 1–0 win and with Wimbledon's defeat at Southampton, Bradford stayed up with a then-record low of 36 points.{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:TND1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=132A885105BF38D0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Bradford's battlers earn reward |first=Glenn |last=Moore |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=15 May 2000 |access-date=3 March 2011 |via=NewsBank}} The goal directly resulted in Wetherall's former club Leeds United qualifying for the next season's Champions League.{{cite news |url=http://www.4thegame.com/matchcentre/premiership/reports/76786/whfclufc.html |title=West Ham United vs Leeds United |website=4thegame |date=14 May 2000 |access-date=6 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230111223/http://www.4thegame.com/matchcentre/premiership/reports/76786/whfclufc.html |archive-date=30 December 2007}}
The 2000–01 season started early for Bradford after chairman Geoffrey Richmond decided to enter the Intertoto Cup. Wetherall did not play in the team's first game away at FK Atlantas, and after playing in the second leg and the two third-round games, he missed the semi-final with Zenit St Petersburg because of an ankle injury.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/850559.stm |title=Wetherall misses Intertoto tie |date=25 July 2000 |access-date=7 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Bradford subsequently lost both legs. Wetherall started the league season but after playing all 52 league games since joining Bradford without leaving the field, Wetherall limped off before half-time during a 2–0 defeat to their nearest rivals Derby County in November 2000.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1028654.stm |title=Derby leave Bantams rock bottom |date=18 November 2000 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Days after new manager Jim Jefferies took over, Wetherall was ruled out until the following February following a groin operation.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1037431.stm |title=Wetherall blow for new boss |date=23 November 2000 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} His first game back was on 24 February 2001 as Bradford lost 2–1 to West Ham United.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1186142.stm |title=Lampard double beats Bradford |date=24 February 2001 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} His return to league action lasted just four games when, after scoring in a 2–2 draw with Newcastle United,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1249428.stm |title=Bantams stunned by Magpies resolve |date=31 March 2001 |access-date=7 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of the groin injury.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/3003747/Premiership-team-news.html |title=Premiership team news |date=21 April 2001 |access-date=13 October 2009 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}} Bradford lost their Premier League status a month later after losing 2–1 at Everton.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1302029.stm |title=Bradford down as Man City cling on |date=28 April 2001 |access-date=7 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}
Wetherall's start to the 2001–02 season was hampered by a groin injury and his first full game of the campaign came on 14 September 2001 when he scored in a 5–1 Division One victory over Gillingham, which put Bradford second in the table.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1542944.stm |title=Bradford 5–1 Gillingham |date=14 September 2001 |access-date=8 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} A groin injury again kept Wetherall out of the side for nearly five months, during which time he was linked with moves back to the Premier League at either Southampton or Manchester City,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/1643209.stm |title=Saints drop Wetherall interest |date=7 November 2001 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/1647484.stm |title=Wetherall bound for Maine Road |date=9 November 2001 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} but he opted to stay at Valley Parade. He returned from injury for a reserve game in March after four months out with just over two months of the season left.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1858629.stm |title=Bantams pair return |date=6 March 2002 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He returned to the side against Burnley in a game noted for Paul Gascoigne's debut for Burnley,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1876212.stm |title=Burnley 1–1 Bradford |date=20 March 2002 |access-date=8 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} and scored in his next game as Bradford eased any relegation worries by defeating Crewe Alexandra 2–0.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1885431.stm |title=Bradford 2–0 Crewe |date=23 March 2002 |access-date=8 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He played in the club's final seven games and was named club captain for the following season after Stuart McCall left the club.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8028498.Wetherall_given_lead_role/ |title=Wetherall given lead role |date=7 May 2002 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}}
Wetherall was one of 19 senior first-team players to be laid off by chairman Richmond in May 2002,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/2004658.stm |title=Mass exodus at Bradford |date=23 May 2002 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} after the club were put into administration and the players unpaid since April.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/2176238.stm |title=Wetherall urges caution |date=6 August 2002 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Those players went as far as taking strike action before a pre-season friendly at Hull City, even though Wetherall, as their Professional Footballers' Association representative, had initially denied they would do so,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/2158486.stm |title=Bradford players set to strike |date=30 July 2002 |access-date=6 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} before the club was saved and players reinstated. Wetherall played in the club's opening game of the season as Bradford drew 0–0 with Wolverhampton Wanderers live on television,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2181149.stm |title=Bantams hold Wolves |date=11 August 2002 |access-date=8 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} but was again ruled out through an injury, this time to his hip.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8024806._This_squad_s_hard_to_beat_/ |title='This squad's hard to beat' |date=14 August 2002 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} A planned comeback was put off five weeks later,{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8023769.City_in_raid_on_Anfield/ |title=City in raid on Anfield |date=12 September 2002 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} before he sought the advice of a specialist in Denmark.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8023461.Wetherall_s_injury_agony/ |title=Wetherall's injury agony |date=19 September 2002 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} After sitting out another three months through injury, Wetherall made his return as a substitute against Gillingham in December 2002 but was again injured in a reserve team comeback three days later.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/2568925.stm |title=Anxious wait for Wetherall |date=12 December 2002 |access-date=5 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He again returned in February 2003 against Coventry City and played 15 games during the final three months of the season.
Wetherall kept off his injury problems and played in the first 15 games of the 2003–04 season, but was ruled out for two months after suffering medial ligament damage,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3212185.stm |title=Wetherall blow hits Bantams |date=24 October 2003 |publisher=BBC Sport}} following a knee injury sustained during the club's 1–0 defeat to Watford.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8008390.An_away_day_horror_show/ |title=An away-day horror show |date=20 October 2003 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} He returned on 28 December 2003 in a 1–0 victory which gave Bradford their first win in six games.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3348979.stm |title=Bradford 1–0 Coventry |date=28 December 2003 |access-date=8 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} His return to the defence added a second successive clean sheet.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3363781.stm |title=Norwich 0–1 Bradford |date=10 January 2004 |access-date=8 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} The revival in form was short-lived and despite Wetherall missing just one more game, when he sustained a calf injury,{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8003693.Bramall_pain_for_Bantams/ |title=Bramall pain for Bantams |date=22 March 2004 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} Bradford were threatened with another relegation. Wetherall scored a header against Reading in a 2–1 win and gave Bradford a "slim chance" of avoiding relegation,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3592621.stm |title=Bradford 2–1 Reading |date=10 April 2004 |access-date=8 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} only for that to be confirmed two weeks later after a 3–2 defeat to Wimbledon.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8003001.City_down_with_a_whimper/ |title=City down with a whimper |date=19 April 2004 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}}
Despite the club's relegation to League One and another spell in administration, Wetherall turned down a move away from Bradford City after snubbing Coventry City during the 2004 summer.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3870059.stm |title=Wetherall snubs Sky Blues |date=6 July 2004 |access-date=5 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} In October 2004, Wetherall and fellow veteran player Dean Windass both signed year's extensions to their contracts, with Wetherall's keeping him at Bradford until the end of the 2007–08 season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3737044.stm |title=Windass and Wetherall sign deals |date=12 October 2004 |access-date=3 March 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He also put his injury problems to one side for the 2004–05 season and missed just one league game – a 1–1 draw with Walsall in February when he was ruled out because of suspension ending his run of 42 consecutive games.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/7994462.That_s_a_first__wetherall_suspended/ |title=That's a first! Wetherall suspended |date=21 February 2005 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} Bradford manager Colin Todd had identified Wetherall as a key player for the season,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3941313.stm |title=Todd plans bright future |date=2 August 2004 |access-date=12 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |quote=We will be relying on the leadership of David Wetherall at the back. | first=Pete | last=Scrivener}} but despite scoring four goals and striker Windass' 27 goals earning him the league's top scorer's crown, Bradford could only finish 11th.
In October 2006, days after playing his 250th game for Bradford, he signed a new deal keeping him at the club until 2010 with a clause allowing him to move into a coaching role when his playing career ended or continue playing beyond 2010.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6038454.stm |title=Wetherall extends Bradford deal |date=10 October 2006 |access-date=5 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He received the first red card of his career in a 2–2 draw with Cheltenham Town on 30 December for two bookable offences.{{cite web
|url = http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10266~32878,00.html
|title = Bradford City vs Cheltenham
|date = 30 December 2006
|access-date = 10 September 2009
|publisher = Bradford City F.C.
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100119000031/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10266~32878%2C00.html
|archive-date = 19 January 2010
|url-status = dead
|df = dmy-all
}}
{{Quote box | width=30% | align=right | quote= "Lots of players end their careers through injury or get left out and struggle. No, it is the right decision for me and the club. I have had a good and long career."|source= David Wetherall, when questioned about whether his career ended in the way he would have liked. }}
When he took over as Bradford caretaker manager, Wetherall stepped down as captain and instead handed the armband to centre-back partner Mark Bower.{{cite news |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1054407,00.html |title=David Wetherall back into skipper's role |publisher=Bradford City F.C. |date=19 June 2007 |access-date=10 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227103413/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10266~1054407%2C00.html |archive-date=27 February 2012 }} But when McCall was appointed the new manager in June 2007, Wetherall was reinstated as club captain for the 2007–08 season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6767545.stm |title=Wetherall back as Bantams captain |date=19 June 2007 |access-date=2 May 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} On 20 February 2008, he announced the 2007–08 season would be his last as a player, although Bradford City would keep his registration, and instead he would join the club's coaching staff.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7254349.stm |title=Wetherall poised to hang up boots |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=23 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Wetherall said: "I was becoming increasingly frustrated at not being able to do the things that I used to be able to do. Situations I would normally deal with comfortably were suddenly becoming a struggle."{{cite news |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/league-two/david-wetherall---official-pfa-interview-(5) |title=David Wetherall official PFA interview |date=3 April 2008 |access-date=13 November 2008 |publisher=Professional Footballers Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212202941/http://www.givemefootball.com/league-two/david-wetherall---official-pfa-interview-%285%29 |archive-date=12 February 2012}} Bradford fans held a special day to celebrate Wetherall's career, when they took banners and wore fancy dress and laboratory coats during the club's 1–1 draw with Rotherham United on 22 March 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/2136836.Saturday_is_Wetherall_Day/ |title=Saturday is Wetherall day |date=20 March 2008 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |first=Simon |last=Parker}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7298150.stm |title=Rotherham 1–1 Bradford |date=22 March 2008 |access-date=2 April 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} In his penultimate month as a footballer, Wetherall was also named the League Two fans' player of the month by the Professional Footballers' Association.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11065/3400791/pfa-fans-vote |title=PFA Fans' Vote |date=9 April 2008 |access-date=3 March 2016 |publisher=Sky Sports}} He played his final game for Bradford against Wycombe Wanderers on 3 May 2008 in a 2–1 defeat.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/3852110.City_hit_a_brick_wall/ |title=City hit a brick wall |date=3 May 2008 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |first=Simon |last=Parker}}
Managerial career
Wetherall was one of four senior players to act as Bradford City manager for two weeks during November 2003, following the sacking of Nicky Law.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8007648.I_m_your_man__says_Sanchez/ |title=I'm your man, says Sanchez |date=11 November 2003 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} He, as well as Peter Atherton, Wayne Jacobs and Dean Windass oversaw training but just one game when Bradford City lost 1–0 to Stoke City with Jacobs taking charge from the touchline.{{cite book |last=Windass |first=Dean |title=From Gipsyville to the Premiership |publisher=Great Northern |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-905080-29-8 |page=125}}{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8007292.Jacobs__City_are_my_dream_team/ |title=Jacobs: City are my dream team |date=21 November 2003 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} Wetherall took his first full steps into management on a caretaker basis when he was appointed player-manager at Bradford City following the sacking of Colin Todd on 12 February 2007.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6354497.stm |title=Bradford part company with Todd |date=12 February 2007 |access-date=5 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} The side were on a poor run of form but Wetherall, whose role was extended in March,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6444657.stm |title=Wetherall to stay on as caretaker |date=13 March 2007 |access-date=5 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} could not reverse the fortunes and the side were relegated to League Two.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6578859.stm |title=Chesterfield 3–0 Bradford |date=28 April 2007 |access-date=5 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}} During Wetherall's short stint in charge the club won just two games and drew another four. During his spell in charge of Bradford, Wetherall appointed his former Leeds teammate Nigel Martyn as goalkeeping coach,{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1249699.0.martyn_offers_a_helping_hand.php |title=Martyn offers a helping hand |date=9 March 2007 |access-date=4 February 2008 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |first=Simon |last=Parker}} a position he kept under McCall.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/2017252.Loach__star_struck__by_Martyn/ |title=Loach 'star-struck' by Martyn |date=4 February 2008 |access-date=3 March 2016 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |first=Simon |last=Parker}} Wetherall returned to concentrate on his playing career after Stuart McCall was named full-time manager during the summer of 2007.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6679253.stm |title=McCall named new Bradford manager |date=22 May 2007 |access-date=5 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}
Wetherall holds the UEFA B coaching licence and returned to the Bradford City coaching set up during the summer of 2008. He managed the club's reserves upon his return, and in the summer of 2009, he combined it with the role of youth side management, after Chris Casper left the club. He added he had been put off by senior management because of the day-to-day pressure of the job: "Football is a results-based business first and foremost and that's totally and utterly the case at first-team level."{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/4410996.Wethers_looking_forward_to_taking_City_fledglings_under_his_wing/ |title=Wethers looking forward to taking City fledglings under his wing |date=1 June 2009 |access-date=13 September 2009 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |first=Simon |last=Parker}} When McCall was sacked as manager, new manager Peter Taylor brought Junior Lewis into the coaching set-up at Bradford, leaving Wetherall to concentrate on his role as youth team manager.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8159010.Taylor_backs_Jacobs____credentials_as_future_Bantams_boss/ |title=Taylor backs Jacobs' credentials as future Bantams boss |date=12 May 2010 |access-date=10 August 2010 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |first=Simon |last=Parker}} After Taylor left the club in February 2011 and Lewis and assistant manager Jacobs were placed on gardening leave, Wetherall acted as assistant to interim manager Peter Jackson.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8878716.I_m_playing_for_keeps__says_interim_Bradford_City_manager_Jackson/ |title=I'm playing for keeps, says interim Bradford City manager Peter Jackson |first=Simon |last=Parker |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=3 March 2011 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} He stayed with Bradford until the end of the season but then left the club to take up a position as head of youth development with the Football League.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/9100615.It_was_an_offer_I_couldn_t_refuse__says_Bradford_City_hero_Wetherall/ |title=It was an offer I couldn't refuse, says Bradford City hero David Wetherall |date=23 June 2011 |access-date=25 June 2011 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |first=Simon |last=Parker}}
In September 2023, he became an academy strategic advisor at Huddersfield Town.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/23770220.bradford-city-legend-joins-west-yorkshire-rivals-new-role/|title=Bantams legend joins West Yorkshire rivals in all-new role|date=6 September 2023|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|accessdate=6 September 2023}}
Personal life
Wetherall was inducted into Show Racism The Red Card's hall of fame in December 2007 for his work with their anti-racism campaign.{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Parker |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/1908073.Anti_racism_honour_for_Wethers/ |title=Anti-Racism honour for Wethers |access-date=3 March 2016 |date=15 December 2007 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford}} He had become involved with the campaign with former colleague Gunnar Halle while they played at Leeds United. On 30 August 2009, he took part in a charity football match, that included many former Bradford City and Leeds United players, to raise money for Martin House Children's Hospice.{{cite web|url=http://uk.sourcews.com/former-football-stars-dust-off-boots |title=Former football stars dust off boots for charity |access-date=17 October 2009 |date=19 August 2009 |publisher=Bradford Metropolitan District Council}}{{cbignore}}{{dead link|date=March 2016}}
=Managerial statistics=
{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2072 |title=David Wetherall's managerial career |access-date=5 February 2008 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230252/http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=2072 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | ||||
| rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="5"|Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % |
| align=left|Bradford City
|align=left|12 February 2007 |align=left|22 May 2007 {{WDL|14|2|8|4}} |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{soccerbase (manager)|2072|David Wetherall}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090708060254/http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/frontroom/david_wetherall.html David Wetherall] at Bantams Past: The Bradford City Football Club Museum (via archive.org)
{{Bradford City A.F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Bradford City A.F.C. managers}}
{{good article}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wetherall, David}}
Category:Footballers from Sheffield
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English football managers
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. managers