Josh Heaton

Joshua Heaton (born 16 September 1996), formerly known as Josh Sampson,[3] is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Australian club Mornington SC. He began his career with Preston North End, but never appeared for their first team, and played non-league football for Tamworth, Colne, Droylsden, Stalybridge Celtic, Bamber Bridge, Congleton Town, Ramsbottom United and Darlington, before signing for Scottish Premiership club St Mirren in 2018. After spending time on loan at Kidderminster Harriers, he was released by St Mirren, and signed for Bradford (Park Avenue) in September 2019 after a short second spell with Darlington. He also played for Longridge Town before moving to Australia.

Josh Heaton
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-09-16) 16 September 1996[1]
Place of birth Preston, England
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Mornington SC
Youth career
200?–2014 Preston North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Preston North End 0 (0)
2014–2015 → Tamworth (loan) 23 (1)
2015–2016 → Tamworth (loan) 3 (0)
2016 → Colne (loan) 4 (0)
2016 Droylsden
2016 Stalybridge Celtic 2 (0)
2016–2017 Bamber Bridge
2017 → Congleton Town (loan) 6 (2)
2017 Ramsbottom United 1 (1)
2017–2018 Darlington 22 (1)
2018–2019 St Mirren 0 (0)
2019 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 8 (0)
2019 Darlington 7 (0)
2019 Bradford (Park Avenue) 6 (0)
2019–2020 Longridge Town 12 (0)
2020– Mornington SC
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:17, 23 April 2020 (UTC)

Life and career

Preston North End

Heaton was born in Preston, Lancashire,[4] and attended All Hallows Catholic High School in nearby Penwortham. He first played for his local Football League club, Preston North End, as an under-seven, signed for them as an under-eight, and progressed through the ranks,[5] taking up a two-year scholarship in 2013.[6]

In November 2014, he joined Tamworth of the Conference North on a work experience loan.[7] Because of injuries and suspensions, he went straight into the starting eleven for the visit to Lowestoft Town the following day, and played the whole of a 3–2 defeat.[8] He established himself as a regular in the side, and finished the season with 22 league starts.[9]

After his scholarship ended in June 2015, Heaton was the only one of his year group to be taken on as a professional: he signed a one-year contract with the option of a second.[3] He was given squad number 29, and was included among the substitutes for the visit to Sheffield Wednesday in October; Preston lost 3–1, and Heaton remained unused.[9][10] In November, he rejoined Tamworth on loan,[10] but this time he made only four appearances over a two-month spell.[9][11] He finished the season on loan at Colne of the North-West Counties League. He was sent off on his debut, conceding a penalty that tied the scores in the local derby against Barnoldswick Town, but his team went on to win.[12] He contributed three more league appearances as the team gained promotion to the Northern Premier League.[13][14] Heaton was released by Preston in the summer of 2016 when his contract expired.[15]

Non-league football

After interest from Championship clubs Reading and Wigan Athletic and trials with non-league teams including A.F.C. Fylde and Bamber Bridge,[16] Heaton signed for Droylsden of the Northern Premier League Division One North.[17] He soon moved up two tiers to Stalybridge Celtic of the National League North,[14] but made just two appearances at that level[18] before returning to the NPL Division One with Bamber Bridge.[19] By the end of the season he had been on the winning side in the Challenge Cup final and earned himself a new one-year contract.[20][21]

In the summer of 2017, he agreed to join National League North club Darlington, but the move collapsed over personal terms, complicated by a collarbone broken while playing in a pre-season fixture for his potential employers. He remained a Bamber Bridge player,[2] and spent a month on loan at Congleton Town to regain match fitness.[22][23] Released by Bamber Bridge in mid-October,[24] he then played three matches for Northern Premier League Division One team Ramsbottom United on a non-contract basis,[25][26] before finally joining Darlington in mid-November.[27]

Although happy in his work as a delivery driver,[26] Heaton was open about his ambition to return to full-time football as soon as possible, and hoped that Darlington was "the right move for me to hopefully help me progress".[28] Initially, he was seen as a work in progress: Darlington's management team, Tommy Wright and former centre-back Alan White, told him "You'll not play regularly but you'll get your chance, you'll be involved". By February, he had established himself as a regular in Darlington's starting eleven,[29] and in March, he signed a new two-year contract "to give him the wage improvement that he deserves".[30] He finished the season with 22 league appearances.[9]

St Mirren

Together with Darlington teammates Luke Trotman and Joe Wheatley, Heaton was selected to attend a course at Jamie Vardy's V9 Academy designed to help non-league players get into professional football.[29][26] He attracted attention from a variety of clubs including Everton and Middlesbrough before manager Alan Stubbs signed Heaton and another player from the V9 Academy course, Cody Cooke, for Scottish Premiership club St Mirren. Heaton signed a three-year contract; the fee, officially undisclosed but reported in the media as £75,000,[31] was described on the club's website as the largest paid by St Mirren "in around 25 years".[32]

Heaton was an unused substitute for St Mirren's opening fixture, in the League Cup against Kilmarnock, and made his debut in their second group match, at home to Spartans of the Lowland League on 17 July. He played the whole match as St Mirren won on penalties.[9][33] He made one more appearance in the League Cup and turned out for St Mirren's under-21 side in the Scottish Challenge Cup, but four selections as an unused substitute were as close as he came to a Premiership debut.[9]

He returned to English football in January 2019 when he signed for Kidderminster Harriers on loan until the end of the season,[34] but made only eight National League North appearances.[9] He was released by St Mirren in July 2019.[35]

Return to non-league football

Heaton rejoined Darlington on a non-contract basis in August 2019.[36][37] He played seven times in the National League North, mostly as a substitute with Louis Laing and Terry Galbraith preferred at centre back.[9][38] Standing in for the unfit Galbraith away to King's Lynn Town at the end of August, he made defensive errors that contributed to both goals in a 2–0 defeat,[39] and was allowed to leave after just five weeks with the club. He signed for Bradford (Park Avenue) on 13 September,[40] and made his debut the following day in a 1–1 draw at home to Spennymoor United in the National League North.[41] After two months and six league appearances,[9] he joined Longridge Town of the North West Counties League, where he played until February 2020.[42]

Heaton then moved to Australia, where he played for Mornington SC of the Victorian State League Division 1 in an FFA Cup match before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to competitive football.[43][44]

Career statistics
As of match played 8 February 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Preston North End 2014–15[45] Championship 000000—00
2015–16[46] Championship 000000—00
Total 000000—00
Tamworth (loan) 2014–15[9][47] Conference North 231——1[lower-alpha 1]0241
2015–16[9] Conference North 3000—1[lower-alpha 1]040
Total 26100—20281
Colne (loan) 2015–16[13] North West Counties Premier 40———40
Stalybridge Celtic 2016–17[18] Northern Premier League Div. One North 20——1[lower-alpha 2]131
Bamber Bridge 2016–17 Northern Premier League Div. One North
Congleton Town (loan) 2017–18[23] North West Counties Premier 62——0062
Ramsbottom United 2017–18[25] Northern Premier League Div. One North 11——2[lower-alpha 1]132
Darlington 2017–18[9] National League North 221———221
St Mirren 2018–19[48] Scottish Premiership 000020—20
St Mirren U21 2018–19[48] ———1[lower-alpha 3]010
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2018–19[9] National League North 80———80
Darlington 2019–20[9] National League North 70———70
Bradford (Park Avenue) 2019–20[9][49] National League North 6010——70
Longridge Town 2019–20[42] North West Counties Premier 120——4[lower-alpha 4]0160
Career total 94510201021077
  1. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. Appearance in Cheshire Senior Cup
  3. Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  4. Appearances in FA Vase
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References
  1. "Academy U18s Profiles". Preston North End F.C. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013.
  2. "Future of Brig defender Heaton still up in the air". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2018. We are happy to have Josh back because central defenders, who are 6ft. 5in. tall with pace, who are good on the ball and who are good in the air – they are hard to find.
  3. "Josh Heaton signs first professional contract as Steven James signs new deal". Preston North End F.C. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  4. "Josh Heaton". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  5. "Heaton ready to step up at PNE". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  6. "List of players registered as scholars in accordance with Rule C.3 between 01/07/2013 and 31/07/2013". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  7. "Sampson strengthens Lambs back line". Tamworth F.C. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  8. Bullen, Terry (15 November 2014). "Lowestoft Town 3 Tamworth 2". Lowestoft Town F.C. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  9. "J. Heaton". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  10. Seddon, Dave (26 November 2015). "PNE defender is loaned out". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  11. "Heaton loan ends". Tamworth F.C. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  12. Priestley, Dave (1 April 2016). "Wharton nets late winner for Colne in derby". Pendle Today. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  13. "Colne F.C. – The team: Josh Heaton". Colne F.C. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  14. Phillip, Mark (31 October 2016). "Celtic continue to reshape squad". Tameside Reporter. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  15. Seddon, Dave (10 May 2016). "Seven released by PNE". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  16. "Heat is on to sign ex-PNE man Josh". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
    Simpson, Steve (4 November 2016). "Coasters' boss demands a fresh start". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  17. Phillip, Mark (10 August 2016). "Droylsden sign flurry of players before season opener at Lancaster on Saturday". Tameside Reporter. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  18. "Player Profile – Josh Heaton (31st Oct 2016 – 3rd Dec 2016)". Stalybridge Celtic F.C. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  19. "Strike duo look the business for Brig". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  20. "Grantham Town 1 vs. 2 Bamber Bridge". Grantham Town F.C. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  21. Hornby, Ruth (22 April 2017). "Bamber Bridge's rising stars sign new deals". Bamber Bridge F.C. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  22. Salmon, Craig (22 September 2017). "Reynolds prepares for battles of the Brigs". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  23. "First Team North West Counties – The team: Joshua Heaton". Congleton Town F.C. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  24. "Brig boss Reynolds has eyes on top spot". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  25. "Player stats – Josh Heaton". Ramsbottom United F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  26. "V9 Academy: Can you spot the next Jamie Vardy? The numbers are clocking up to be a Premier League hero". The Non-League Football Paper. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  27. Simpson, Ray (17 November 2017). "Quakers sign centre half Josh Heaton". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  28. Stoddart, Craig (15 November 2017). "Darlington: Ambitious Heaton eyeing return to EFL eventually". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  29. Stoddart, Craig (27 February 2018). "Darlington: Heaton has the attributes required to be a success, says White". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  30. Stoddart, Craig (9 March 2018). "Darlington: Wright challenges his players to continue their improved form". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  31. "Jamie Vardy V9 Academy graduates Josh Heaton, Cody Cooke join St Mirren". Sky Sports. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
    "St Mirren sign defender Josh Heaton & striker Cody Cooke". BBC Sport. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  32. "Josh Heaton signs for Saints". St Mirren F.C. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  33. "Match Report: St Mirren 2–2 Spartans (5–3 on penalties)". St Mirren F.C. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  34. "Harriers bring in defender Josh Heaton". Kidderminster Shuttle. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  35. Macpherson, Graeme (16 July 2019). "St Mirren to let £75k record signing Josh Heaton leave for free". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
    "Josh Heaton: St Mirren release £75,000 defender after two games in a year". BBC Sport. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  36. "Darlington complete Josh Heaton signing". Non League Daily. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  37. Simpson, Ray (12 September 2019). "Josh Heaton leaves for Bradford Park Avenue". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  38. Stoddart, Craig (11 September 2019). "Defender set to leave Darlington". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  39. Stoddart, Craig (31 August 2019). "Armstrong annoyed after 'basic errors' lead to Darlington defeat". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  40. Stanford, Mark (13 September 2019). "Two in and one out for Bradford (Park Avenue)". Telegraph and Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  41. Cockburn, Joe (14 September 2019). "Match Report: Avenue 1-1 Spennymoor". Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  42. "Player Statistics for Joshua Heaton". North West Counties Football League. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  43. MacKenzie, Craig (23 March 2020). "Saints paid £75,000 for Heaton". Mornington Peninsula News. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  44. "Football's return delayed until 31 May". Football West. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  45. "Games played by Joshua Heaton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  46. "Games played by Joshua Heaton in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  47. "Tigers kill off Lambs". Tamworth F.C. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  48. "Games played by Joshua Heaton in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  49. "Match Report: Avenue 2–4 Morpeth". Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
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