Alan played at Centre-half for Exeter City Youth against Bristol City Youth on 17/5/66 in the Wessex League Cup Final. He was an apprentice from 1965 to 1967.

Exeter City manager Ellis Stuttard has signed two schoolboys in February 1966. They are both from the Ladysmith School, One of them wax Alan Whitfield a 15 year old inside forward, who was offered apprentice terms when he left school in Easter 1966.