NEW SIGNING: Dale Whitham joins FC United on loan, as Potts is out injured for six weeks

We are delighted to welcome midfielder Dale Whitham (26) to FC United, joining us on a month’s loan from Chorley.

Whitham will come in to replace FC midfielder Michael Potts who will be undergoing surgery on a groin injury at the end of the month, that will keep him out for 4-6 weeks.

FC Manager Neil Reynolds explains: "Mike Potts complained about a groin strain a few weeks ago. We sent him for a scan as well as being seen by Preston North End’s first team physio. The physio immediately diagnosed that Potts showed signs of a hernia. After the scan results came back it was clear that Potts has a sportsman’s hernia that requires immediate surgery. His operation date is 31st January. This is a big blow losing my captain and a player of his ability. We are hopeful that he will be back for the last two months of the season."

Reno added, "Now we know the extent of Potts’ injury, we have brought in Dale Whitham from Chorley on a month’s loan. I have been a long admirer of Dale, and when we found out about his availability, this was a no brainer. Dale is very experienced at this level and will be a real asset to the squad. Dale joined the FC squad on Tuesday 15th January and will immediately come into the squad for Saturday’s match at Ashton."



Whitham is Chorley’s longest serving member of the first team squad having joined them in 2010. During his time at Chorley he has made 362 appearances, scoring on 29 occasions. This season, due to an injury, Whitham has only started 3 times and has made 14 appearances as a substitute. He is now back to full fitness, and Chorley were keen that he got some game-time on loan for a month.

Before joining Chorley, Whitham played under Manager Gary Flitcroft at Leigh Genesis. In February 2009, Whitham, at the age of 16, came on as a substitute for Leigh against FC United, in Leigh’s 4-2 league victory over the Reds at Gigg Lane, the game that saw Phil Marsh net a hat trick, (resulting in Marsh signing for FC the following month).

In the summer of 2010 Whitham followed Flitcroft to Chorley and would become a permanent fixture in the Magpies squad that saw them climb from the Northern Premier Division One to the current league leaders of the National League North.

In 2012/13 he scored twice against FC in two league fixtures. In 2013/14 his goal would knock FC out of the FA Cup with Chorley winning 1-0 at Gigg Lane.