Sheffield United legend, Dane Whitehouse, has told the Sheffield Star that he is still far from impressed with Gareth Ainsworth.
Ainsworth, now in charge of Wycombe, delivered a career-ending tackle to Whitehouse over 20 years ago in a game at Port Vale. It’s a game that still sticks in the memory banks of Blades fans, with many castin Ainsworth as the long-term villain of Bramall Lane.
And while Whitehouse has some leeway towards the Wycombe boss after a letter apparently went undelivered back in 2017, the former Blades winger told The Star that he has ill-feeling towards Ainsworth.
“If I injured someone, or I went in for a tackle and they ended up hurt, I would have god damn made sure I went to see them. He had so many chances, but didn’t. That’s what p****d me off even more,” Whitehouse said.
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“I’ve never hated anyone, and I don’t hate him as a person, but I hate him as a footballer and I hate his manner. He never paid any respect to me, when I was going through a bad time. He may say he sent a letter, and he may have. But even then, it’s not good enough.”
Whether Sheffield United fans will show any sort of remorse if Ainsworth returns to The Lane in the future, remains to be seen.
A career too short, you can’t help but feel for Whitehouse
This is a brilliant interview this and credit goes to the guys at the Sheffield Star for pulling it together.
As someone who was just getting into the game properly at that point, the injury to Whitehouse sticks in the memory for me. I still remember being in my Dad’s car the day it happened and the tone of the commentators at the time summing up the situation.
Dane has obviously overcome things now but there’s definitely a sour taste left in the mouth over what might have been.
As for Ainsworth, he probably is apologetic in some way but Whitehouse’s word is all we can go on for now and it doesn’t make brilliant reading for the Wycombe boss.
