Tom Heaton

Infobox Football biography
playername = Tom Heaton


fullname = Thomas David Heaton
height = height|m=1.85
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|4|15
cityofbirth = Chester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Cardiff City
(on loan from Manchester United)
clubnumber = 13
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = 2002–2005
youthclubs = Manchester United
years = 2005–
2005–2006
2006–2008
2008–
clubs = Manchester United
→ Swindon Town (loan)
→ Royal Antwerp (loan)
→ Cardiff City (loan)
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
14 (0)
00 (0)
010 (0)
nationalyears = 2008–
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 02 (0)
pcupdate = 13:16, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 10:01, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

Thomas David "Tom" Heaton (born 15 April 1986 in Chester) is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Cardiff City on a season-long loan deal from Manchester United.

Club career

Born in Chester, Heaton signed for Manchester United as a junior player. He made his senior team debut on 13 March 2007 as a substitute for Tomasz Kuszczak in the UEFA Celebration Match against a Europe XI.

He played in the reserve side that won the 2004–05 Barclays Premiership Reserve League North title.

At the start of the 2005–06 season, he was loaned out to Swindon Town, initially until 1st January 2006. During his time at Swindon, he played over 20 games saving a penalty on his début and described as "One for the future" by manager Iffy Onuora. He returned to Manchester United and, after the recall of Ritchie Jones from Royal Antwerp, Heaton was sent there for the rest of the season after United rebuffed an approach from Huddersfield Town.

Heaton spent the 2007–08 season with the first team squad at Manchester United, appearing on the bench when Edwin van der Sar was out due to injury. He is also a competent outfield player, having played in midfield for Wrexham's youth team.

On 23 May 2008, it was confirmed that Heaton would move to Cardiff City on loan for the 2008-09 season. [cite news |title=Cardiff sign Man Utd goalkeeper |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7407805.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-05-23 |accessdate=2008-05-23 ] Heaton was chosen as the club's first choice goalkeeper, above Finland international Peter Enckelman, for the start of the season by manager Dave Jones. [ [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/08/08/heaton-wins-bluebirds-keeper-battle-for-saints-start-91466-21490131/ "Heaton wins Bluebirds keeper battle for Saints start"] Western Mail Retrieved on 29 August, 2008]

International career

Having played for England at various youth levels, Heaton was handed his England under 21 debut in March 2008 by manager Stuart Pearce when he replaced Joe Hart as a substitute during a match against Poland U-21's. [ [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/06/13/city-new-boy-wants-to-be-number-one-with-united-91466-21067081/ "City new boy wants to be number one with United"] South Wales Echo Retrieved on 13 June, 2008]

References

External links

*soccerbase|41869|Tom Heaton
* [http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={FE60904B-C2A8-4E60-9B05-700DBBC29BBC}&section=playerProfile&teamid=458&bioid=92163 Profile] at ManUtd.com

Persondata
NAME= Heaton, Tom
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Heaton, Thomas
SHORT DESCRIPTION= footballer
DATE OF BIRTH= 1986-04-15
PLACE OF BIRTH= Chester, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=