Scunthorpe United is delighted to announce the signing of Eastleigh forward Danny Whitehall, in a two-year deal effective from the start of July 2023.
The 27-year-old arrives following two campaigns on the south coast where he made around 78 appearances, scoring 23 goals. Last season, he made 44 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals. One of those strikes was the match-winning penalty against the Iron at Glanford Park back in March.
Following a youth career with Liverpool and Rochdale, he would begin his senior career with Southport, Marine and Prescot Cables.
His next move would be to the United States where he played for SIU Edwardsville Cougars and Hastings College at college level before featuring for Chattanooga and Bugeaters at club level. While with Hastings, he was awarded the NAIA Player of the Year award, amongst other accolades, after setting a record of 93 goals in 75 games.
Whitehall would return to England in the summer of 2019, signing for Maidenhead United where he’d net 18 in 42 games before crossing the border up to Scotland in his next move. Initially signing a six-month contract with Kilmarnock, that deal was extended through to the end of the season where he’d score four in 20 appearances before signing for Eastleigh in 2021.
The 6ft 3in striker has goalscoring in his blood, with his father Steve Whitehall enjoying an impressive career which saw him spend six years at Rochdale, along with spells at Mansfield, Oldham and Chester, amongst others.
Speaking following the move he said: “It’s fantastic. It’s a massive club in a division that it shouldn’t be in and the aim is to get out of it obviously. I’m really happy to be here.
“It’s all come about quite quick to be honest. I’m a striker who scores goals, which is the most important thing. I wouldn’t say I’m a number nine or a number 10, I’m probably somewhere in between. It’s always nice to score the long range and extravagant goals, but it’s just as important to score the tap-ins as well. As a striker, I’ll take a goal any which way it comes.”
Whitehall wants to be a big part in getting United back on track and sees the challenge of returning the club up the divisions as a big reason for joining: “It was a big incentive of signing. It’s a huge club and shouldn’t be in this division. The aim is to get straight back out of it.
“The gaffer has made it very clear to me. The huge fanbase was another massive reason why I wanted to sign here.”