CLUB CONNECTION: TOM HEATON

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Our first 'Club Connection' interview of the season saw us catch up with former Claret & Bluebird Tom Heaton

2024-08-15T12:00:00.000Z

CLUB CONNECTION: TOM HEATON

Our first 'Club Connection' interview of the season saw us catch up with former Claret & Bluebird Tom Heaton

2024-08-15T12:00:00.000Z

Our first 'Club Connection' interview of the season saw us catch up with former Claret & Bluebird Tom Heaton

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton played a hugely important role at Turf Moor on and off the pitch from the day he arrived as Sean Dyche’s first permanent signing in May 2013.

Few would have predicted the impact Heaton would make at Burnley but his influence and importance was as much off the pitch as on it.

The current Man United shot-stopper became captain, a key voice in the changing room at Burnley and someone who shared the vision of Dyche and could translate that to the players and importantly, he had a real connection with the Club and the fans.

"The Gaffer at the time at Burnley previously was the manager of Watford and he tried to sign me for Watford,” said Tom. There was new ownership at the club which didn’t work out for him, it didn’t work out for me, so I ended up going to Bristol City for the season.

"But he said to me at the time that he would come back and sign me. When he was Burnley manager he did that he came to get me. I was still at Bristol City but was able to leave.

“For me, it felt like the right decision. I knew the history steeped in the football club. My grandad was born there, my dad was born there, both big Burnley fans so for me it just felt like the right move. We had a fantastic first season.

“It set up an incredible six-year spell which for me, I can’t tell you the feelings I get talking about it. It was an incredible six years and I have a massive affiliation with the football club. I have real strong feelings towards it so it was a brilliant spell.”

Heaton became the first Burnley player since 1974 to earn a senior England cap when he came on for his debut against Australia at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in May 2016.

Heaton earned his first call-up the previous year for the friendly with the Republic of Ireland and Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia, and has been named in subsequent squads but he went on to pick up the first of his three England caps against Australia.

Understandably being called up for his country was a major moment in his career, but the memories for Heaton and Clarets fans are endless.

“Being given the armband for the football club, and becoming captain at the end of my second year was a surreal moment, with my family connections to the club, that was an incredible moment.

“The first game in the Premier League for me personally was also a big one. We played Chelsea on the Friday night, we ended up getting beat 3-1 but we took the lead through Scott Arfield, an incredible moment. There are a few, to be honest, getting the call-up for England whilst wearing the Burnley shirt.

“That team spirit, the mentality that we had, we were all on the same page, all pulling in the same direction. We’ve all stayed very close from that squad.”

Heaton also played for Saturday afternoon’s visitors Cardiff City – another club he has a great deal of respect and affinity for.

The goalkeeper made his debut for Cardiff City the Bluebirds over Southampton in August 2008. Then aged just 22, Heaton agreed to go on loan from Manchester United and spend the duration of the 2008/09 season at Ninian Park.

His initial spell with the Bluebirds saw him make 24 appearances in all competitions throughout the 2008/09 season. Following further loan spells at Queens Park Rangers, Rochdale and Wycombe Wanderers, Heaton then returned to Cardiff City in 2010.

“I was massively grateful to get the opportunity to play for Cardiff, Dave Jones was manager at the time,” he said. “I had a couple of loan spells in League One with Swindon and a little bit of time in Belgium with Royal Antwerp. So, yeah it was the first taste of Championship football at the old Ninian Park which had an incredible atmosphere, a hostile atmosphere, so I look back at it with fond memories really. I had a great time that season.

“The following season I had a few different loan experiences and went back to United but I knew it was the right time to leave the club so with having a bit of history with Cardiff I still knew a lot of the people there, Dave Jones was still manager and he decided to bring me in and I signed for the club on a permanent basis. Having the first experience being so good knew the calibre of the football club, the calibre of the city, and knew the potential that we had so yeah it was good.”

Heaton gave his dad, his grandad and the rest of the Clarets supporters plenty to enjoy during his time at the Turf in between the sticks.

Chants of ‘Heaton, Heaton, Heaton’ rang around many a time at home and away matches and he quite rightly is up there when talking about one of the most influential players in more recent times.

“You feel like you’ve got a connection with the teams you played for. Because of that connection, you want to know how they are getting on, who they are playing, where they are at,” added Heaton.

“But of course Burnley is a club that is close to my heart and I’d like to wish Burnley the best of luck under the new management of Scott Parker and his coaching staff for the upcoming season and I hope to get down to a game at Turf Moor soon.”