David Wheater
David James Wheater (born 14 February 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. Primarily a centre back, he announced his retirement on 1 September 2023. In 2023, he began coaching young players in his own academy W2 Football Academy. Wheater started his professional career at Middlesbrough in 2004, having graduated through the club's youth teams. He had three loan spells away from Middlesbrough during the 2006–07 season; at Doncaster Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Darlington (loan). An injury to Jonathan Woodgate at the start of the following season saw Wheater become a regular player for Middlesbrough, and he would make a total of 140 league appearances for the club before switching to Bolton Wanderers in January 2011. After eight-and-a-half years with the club, he spent two seasons with Oldham Athletic and then returned to Darlington in 2022. Wheater has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels. Wheater was called up to the senior side in 2008 but did not play. Playing career Middlesbrough Wheater was born in 1987 in Redcar, which was then in the county of Cleveland. He is a product of the Middlesbrough youth system, and was promoted to the first