Introducing Jordan White
Thursday, 24th Jul 2008"I don't want to act big time; I just want to get on with it - work on my weaknesses and everything. I have been given a good opportunity by the Manager."
Jordan White has been involved in both the Pars pre season friendlies against Hearts and Dundee United but for most home fans it was a case of "who's he?"
With just one appearance last year at Under 19 level those who had seen him play before were very few. Even at the youthful age of sixteen, Jordan by his own admission has been around a bit. The Bellshill born lad started at boys club level in Lanarkshire before spending a season with Rangers at Under 13 level. Following that he went to Hibs and then on to Hamilton Accies.
Jordan joined Dunfermline two years ago and in his own words "it's been brilliant." It certainly doesn't get much more brilliant than making your first team debut against SPL opponents and coming up against defenders like Christophe Berra and Darren Dods.
Jordan turned 16 on 4th February and accepted a full time contract in June:-
"I obviously showed enough in the 17s. I don't want to act big time; I just want to get on with it - work on my weaknesses and everything. I have been given a good opportunity by the Manager."
It was First Team Coach Stephen Wright, however, who broke the news to Jordan that he would probably play a part in the game against Hearts:-
"It was actually the day before at lunchtime. He came up and told me - I was delighted, over the moon!"
Holidays prevented the White family turning up en masse for the big time breakthough. The debut, coming off the bench to replace Graham Bayne lasted only five minutes but enough to tangle with the Scottish international defender. The run out against Dundee United was just short of 20 minutes and confirmed to the teenager that he would need to work on his physical strength:-
"I need to work on my upper body strength, get in front of the ball and hold it up. I just want to progress and it was experienced defenders I was up against. It was tough but you just have to get on with it.
"Playing in front of a crowd is a bit different but it didn't really phase me as much as I thought it would. Making mistakes annoys me more."
The young striker felt he did better against the Arabs:-
"Sometimes I thought the defender was coming in front of me more. He was just using his experience and that's something I just have to work on avoiding. Now I hope to keep progressing and hope to get more chances in the first team. I just have to make sure that I get kept on at the end of it."
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