Matt Heath

Matthew Philip Heath (born 1 November 1981) is an English footballer who plays for Tadcaster Albion. Heath has previously played in the Premier League for Leicester City and in the Football League for Stockport County, Coventry City, Leeds United, Colchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southend United. He famously scored from a header via a corner against Burnley in 2007.

For the New Zealand actor, see Matt Heath (actor).

Matt Heath

Heath playing for Northampton Town in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Philip Heath[1]
Date of birth	(1981-11-01) 1 November 1981[1]
Place of birth	Leicester, England
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Playing position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current team	Tadcaster Albion
Youth career
0000–2001	Leicester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2005	Leicester City	50	(6)
2003–2004	→ Stockport County (loan)	8	(0)
2005–2007	Coventry City	32	(1)
2006–2007	→ Leeds United (loan)	9	(41)
2007–2008	Leeds United	43
2008	→ Colchester United	5	(0)
2008–2013	Colchester United	91	(4)
2009	→ Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)	6	(1)
2009	→ Southend United (loan)	4	(0)
2013–2014	Northampton Town	5	(0)
2014	Harrogate Town	29	(2)
2014–2015	Harrogate Railway
2015–	Tadcaster Albion	29	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02:31, 20 October 2016 (UTC)

Career

Leicester City

Heath began his career at his hometown club Leicester City in 2001. He made sixty appearances for the club, scoring six goals and gaining Premier League experience during his time at the Walkers Stadium. He was also loaned out to Stockport County in the 2003–04 season to gain first-team experience. Heath played a total of 13 league games in the Premier League as Leicester suffered relegation to the Championship. Nonetheless, he believed the club could regain promotion in May 2004.[2]

Heath scored against Coventry City for Leicester in a 3–0 win in the 2004–05 season before being signed by Coventry City for a nominal fee in 2005, by his former Leicester boss Micky Adams.

Leeds United

On 9 November 2006 he joined Leeds United on loan.[3] He made his Leeds debut in the 3–0 victory over Colchester United on 11 November 2006. Heath played in nearly all of Leeds matches during his loan spell playing in central defence with the likes of Ugo Ehiogu and Matthew Kilgallon. Heath was not eligible to play in Leeds' 2–1 victory against Coventry City due to a clause in his loan contract. Heath's loan spell at Leeds came to an end on 1 January 2007 and returned to Coventry City, but the following day he was free transferred to Leeds United, with a permanent contract until the end of the season.[4] Heath's contract came to an end in June 2007 and was released, however, he re-signed a new contract at Elland Road shortly after[5] with wages of £2,200 per week.

In March 2008, Heath was told by manager Gary McAllister that he could look for a club to go out on loan to, as he was behind the likes of Rui Marques, Ľubomír Michalík, and Paul Huntington in the Leeds United centre-back pecking order. Heath only featured once for Leeds since McAllister joined the club.[6]

Colchester United

After being loaned out to then-Football League Championship side Colchester United for the remainder of the season, Heath joined them on a permanent basis on 13 May 2008.[7] On 2 March 2009, Heath joined Brighton & Hove Albion on loan for a month.[8] Heath scored on his debut for the Albion against Leyton Orient on 8 March 2009, and went on to play six games during his loan spell. Heath then went on loan to Essex rivals Southend United on 30 July 2009 for an initial one-month loan deal.[9]

On 4 May 2011, Heath signed a new one-year deal, having featured 29 times in the 2010–11 season.[10] Heath was offered and signed a new one-year contract to extend his stay at the club on 2 May 2012, having made more than 100 appearances for the U's.[11]

After featuring in only six league games for the club during the 2012–13 season, Heath was released by the club following the expiration of his contract. He had made 91 league appearances in five years with the U's.[12]

Northampton Town

Heath signed for Northampton Town on 1 August 2013 on a non-contract basis after appearing in a friendly for the club against his former team Leicester City. He linked up with Aidy Boothroyd, whom he played under at Colchester, helping to provide more cover in the centre of defence.[13]

On 2 January 2014, Heath left Northampton Town upon the expiry of his contract.

Two days later, Heath signed for Conference North side Harrogate Town.

Career statistics

As of 1 August 2013.

Club	Season	League^[A]		FA Cup		League Cup		Other^[B]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leicester City	2001–02[14]	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	2002–03[15]	10	3	2	0	2	0	0	0	14	3
	2003–04[16]	13	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
	2004–05[17]	22	3	2	0	1	0	0	0	25	3
	Total	50	6	7	0	3	0	0	0	60	6
Stockport County (loan)	2003–04[18]	8	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	10	0
	Total	8	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	10	0
Coventry City	2005–06[19]	25	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	26	2
	2006–07[20]	7	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	8	0
	Total	32	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	34	2
Leeds United (loan)	2006–07[21]	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
	Total	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
Leeds United	2006–07[21]	17	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	3
	2007–08[22]	26	1	2	0	2	0	2	0	32	1
	Total	43	4	3	0	2	0	2	0	50	4
Colchester United (loan)	2007–08[23]	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	Total	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Colchester United	2008–09[24]	14	0	1	0	2	1	4	0	21	1
	2009–10[25]	18	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	19	0
	2010–11[26]	27	2	2	0	0	0	1	0	30	2
	2011–12[27]	26	2	2	0	1	0	1	0	29	2
	2012–13[28]	6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	7	0
	Total	91	4	5	0	3	1	7	0	106	5
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)	2008–09[29]	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
	Total	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
Southend United (loan)	2009–10[30]	4	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	6	0
	Total	4	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	6	0
Northampton Town	2013–14[31]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total		248	16	15	0	12	2	12	0	287	18

A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Premier League and the Football League.

B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League Trophy.

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
2. "We can bounce back – Heath". BBC Sport. 6 May 2004. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
3. "Wise signs Sky Blue". Sky Sports. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
4. "Duo set to sign". Leeds United F.C. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2007.
5. "United look to transfer market". Yorkshire Evening Post F.C. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
6. "Leeds' Heath looks for loan club". BBC News. 10 March 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
7. "Colchester seal Heath deal". Sky Sports. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
8. "Albion Squad Boost". Seagulls World. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
9. "Southend loan duo from Colchester". BBC Sport. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
10. "Colchester keep Matt Heath, release Simon Hackney". BBC Sport. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
11. "Defender Matt Heath plans to stay at Colchester United". BBC Sport. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
12. "Colchester United: Matt Heath departs from the U's". BBC Sport. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
13. "Defender Heath signs non-contract terms with Northampton Town". Northampton Echo. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
14. "Leicester 2001/2002 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
15. "Leicester 2002/2003 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
16. "Leicester 2003/2004 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
17. "Leicester 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
18. "Stockport 2003/2004 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
19. "Coventry 2005/2006 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
20. "Coventry 2005/2006 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
21. "Leeds 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
22. "Leeds 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
23. "Colchester 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
24. "Colchester 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
25. "Colchester 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
26. "Colchester 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
27. "Colchester 2011/2012 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
28. "Colchester 2012/2013 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
29. "Brighton 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
30. "Southend 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2012. Select season required via dropdown menu.
31. "Northampton 2013/2014 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 August 2013. Select season required via dropdown menu.

External links

• Matt Heath at Soccerbase