Dennis Heath
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dennis John Heath[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 September 1934 | ||
| Place of birth | Chiswick, England | ||
| Date of death | 28 September 2006 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Hounslow, England[2] | ||
| Playing position | Right winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Alexandra Villa | |||
| 1949–1954 | Brentford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1954–1961 | Brentford | 123 | (20) |
| 1961 | Bedford Town | 19 | (0) |
| Trowbridge Town | |||
| Dover | |||
| Chertsey Town | |||
| Teams managed | |||
| Chertsey Town (player-manager) | |||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Dennis John Heath (28 September 1934 — 28 September 2006) was an English professional footballer and manager who played in The Football League for Brentford, making over 130 appearances for the club.
Playing career
Brentford
A right winger, Heath began his career at Acton, Brentford & Chiswick Schools' League side Alexandra Villa.[3] He was spotted by Brentford youth team manager Alf Bew at age 15.[3] Heath came through the youth ranks at the club, appearing for the Brentford youth team which reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in 1953.[1] After completing his National Service,[1] Heath made his debut at the age of 19 in a 6–4 Division Three South defeat to Southampton at The Dell on 21 August 1954.[4] Heath quickly established himself in the first team, making 39 appearances during the 1954–55 season.[5] Heath's appearance-rate fell away over the course of his career with the Bees (mainly due to a pierced lung suffered in a reserve match against Charlton Athletic during the 1956–57 season),[3] though he made 29 appearances during 1958–59.[5] Heath's final appearance for the club came in a 4–2 defeat to Newport County at Griffin Park on 29 October 1960 and he was released at the end of the 1960–61 season.[6] Heath made 134 appearances during his seven-year spell with the Bees.[5]
Non-league football
After his release from Brentford, Heath dropped into non-league football and played for Bedford Town,[7][8] Trowbridge Town, Dover, Chertsey Town and veterans' team Eversheds.[1] He played for Eversheds until the age of 60.[3]
Management career
While with Chertsey Town, Heath acted as the club's player-manager.[1]
Personal life
Heath undertook his National Service at Catterick Garrison, serving as a PT instructor.[3] Along with a number of other Brentford players, Heath appeared briefly in the 1953 film The Great Game.[3] Heath later entered the building trade, working with his sons.[9] He died in 2006, on his 72nd birthday.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. p. 74. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ↑ "Dennis Heath". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lane, David (2005). Cult Bees & Legends: Volume Two. Hampton Hill: Legends Publishing. pp. 8–21. ASIN B00NPZL58S. ISBN 0954368282.
- ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 1954-08-21. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- 1 2 3 "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 1960-10-29. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- ↑ "Best Years Players F-H - bedfordoldeagles". Sites.google.com. 1948-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- ↑ "1961/2 Summary - bedfordoldeagles". Sites.google.com. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- ↑ "Twickenham Builders - Builders in Twickenham - Interior renovation - Painting and Decorating - Kitchens - Loft Extensions". twickenhamroadbuilders.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ↑ "BBC SPORT - Football - My Club - Brentford - Winger Heath mourned by Brentford". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.