Pat_Heard

Pat Heard

Pat Heard

English footballer

Pat Heard (born 17 March 1960)[3] is an English retired footballer, notably a midfielder and left-back. He was a member of Villa’s history-making '82 squad.[4]

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Early life and youth career

In the mid-70s, Heard attended Malet Lambert High School and played for Hull City Schoolboys and Humberside Boys. He was spotted by Jeff Barmby, who tipped off Everton reserve-team manager Ray Henderson.[5]

Professional football career

A product of the youth system at Everton, left-footer Heard made eleven appearances for the club, debuting against Wolverhampton Wanderers in February 1979 and playing in the Merseyside derby.[6]

In October 1979, the young midfielder was signed by Aston Villa at a valuation of £150,000 (2015: £680,000).[7] The deal saw John Gidman move the other way.[8] Heard made nine appearances in his first season at Villa Park, but was not one of just 14 players used by Ron Saunders to become League champions the following season. He scored a goal during a 4–3 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury in March 1982[9] and scored the winner in a 1–0 victory away to local rivals West Bromwich Albion in May that year.[citation needed]

Heard won a European Cup medal after being named as a substitute for the 1982 European Cup Final.[10] Only a single substitution was allowed, and Heard's opportunity to play was dashed within nine minutes, after substitute goalkeeper Nigel Spink replaced the injured Jimmy Rimmer.[11] At the time, Heard was a neighbour to future Villa manager, eleven-year-old Dean Smith. Smith was not allowed to go to the final, but Pat made sure that the young boy was on the team bus as it paraded the trophy through Birmingham. When appointed manager, Smith picked out Heard as an inspiration.[12]

The following European Cup season, Heard played for the defending European champions in the 3–1 victory over Beşiktaş J.K.[13] The tie was played behind closed doors due to crowd trouble against Anderlecht in the previous season’s semi-final in Brussels.[6]

Heard left Villa in January 1983 for Sheffield Wednesday, priced at £60,000;[14] his new club's hopes of promotion from the Second Division had been dented by a recent slump in form.[15] He was forced to take a taxi to Highbury for the 1983 FA Cup semi-final, having been accidentally left behind by manager Jack Charlton.[16] When Charlton moved to Newcastle United, Heard was the new manager's first signing.[17] In October 1984 he scored in a 3–0 victory over Ipswich Town;[18] his second goal came the following month in a 2–2 draw away to Luton.[19]

In August 1985, Heard moved to Middlesbrough on a month's loan with a view to a permanent deal.[20] In November 1985, he scored as Middlesbrough beat Shrewsbury Town 3–1 at home.[21]

Following his spell at Middlesbrough, in 1986 Heard joined his hometown club Hull City. Notable performances included scoring a penalty in the 2–1 victory over his old club, Villa, in August 1987.[22] As penalty taker, he also scored in a 3–0 away win at Barnsley in October 1987[23] and the 2–1 away win at Oldham Athletic in the Christmas fixtures that year.[24] When Heard's son, Jamie, played for the Tigers in an Associate Members Cup tie against Port Vale on 22 October 2002, they became the first father and son to represent Hull City.[25]

Having been a first-teamer for two seasons at Hull, Heard left to play for Rotherham United, winning the Fourth Division title. This was followed by two years at Cardiff City, during which time he turned down an offer from Norwegian club Randaberg IL to become their player-manager.[26] Heard appeared 46 times in the Fourth Division. His four goals contributed to Cardiff's 13th and 9th finishing positions.[27]

In 1992, Heard returned briefly to Hull switching with Hall Road Rangers,[6] before continuing his career with the Brunei M-League Team, under Mick Lyons, in the Malaysian League.[6][28] A clash of heads fractured his skull ending his playing career at the age of 34.

After football

After football, Heard was landlord of the Three Tuns, Boothferry Road. After several years, he embarked on a variety of careers including as a publican in both Hull and Chesterfield, a summariser for Free Radio Birmingham, a stage hypnotist. As an Approved Driving Instructor,[29] Heard taught Villa youth such as Barry Bannan,[30] Benji Siegrist and Andreas Weimann to drive.[31]

References

  1. [1]
    Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 54. ISBN 0362020175.
  2. [2]
    Career statistics
  3. [3]
    J. Rollin, Guinness Soccer Who's Who , 1991, p. 153
  4. [4]
    "Aston Villa to celebrate European Cup heroes".
  5. [5]
    Heard about Hull's Euro champ, Hull Daily Mail 14 February 2009
  6. [6]
    https://www.oncloudseven.com/622-pat-heard/
  7. [7]
    "The Transfer Trail." Times [London, England] 6 January 1987: 32. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 25 February 2017
  8. [8]
    The Guardian, Clough apology to directors, 19 October 1979
  9. [9]
    Atkin, Ronald, Highbury is set alight, The Observer, 28 March 1982
  10. [10]
    Aston Villa Old Stars vs. Mickey Buttress X1
  11. [11]
    Taylor Rash (3 July 2014). "FIFA World Cup: FIFA Considering Fourth Substitution in Extra Time". Guardian Liberty Voice. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  12. [12]
    I get stopped for photos now when I walk the dog at 6.30am!, Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail, 8 September 2019
  13. [13]
    Richard Eaton. "Villa descend from surreal to reality." Times (London, England) 16 September 1982: 18. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 24 February 2017.
  14. [14]
    The Guardian, Curran transfer off, 14 January 1983
  15. [15]
    Lacey, David, Home quartet sound right, The Guardian, 18 January 1983
  16. [16]
    Hampson, Andy: Heard the one about the man born in Hull who played for United, Boro and Villa?, Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne) 22 May 2009
  17. [17]
    Ex-Owl Heard has foot in three camps
  18. [18]
    The Observer, Football Results, 7 October 1984
  19. [19]
    The Observer; Football Results, 4 November 1984
  20. [20]
    The Guardian, SOCCER IN BRIEF, 30 August 1985
  21. [21]
    The Yorkshire Post, 'Action Replay – 30 years ago today 27 November 2015
  22. [22]
    Scott, Ged. Football: The Heard instinct Birmingham Post, 6 January 2006
  23. [23]
    The Observer, Football results, 18 October 1987
  24. [24]
    The Guardian, The Bank Holiday Soccer in detail, 29 December 1987
  25. [25]
    https://www.oncloudseven.com/833-jamie-heard/
  26. [26]
    For the Record. The Times, 4 December 1991
  27. [27]
    https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/september/bluebirds--millers-connect-four
  28. [28]
    https://www.skysports.com/football/news/8599020/brits-abroad-pat-heard
  29. [29]
    Whatever happened to ? ...the unlikely lads Archived 10 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  30. [30]
    "Aston Villa: Barry Bannan is one hell of a player – Aston Villa FC news – Aston Villa – Sport". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  31. [31]
    Sunday Mercury, PAT'S STILL DRIVEN TO BE SUCCESS, 29 May 2011
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