Pat Heard

**Pat Heard** (born 17 March 1960 in Hull) is an English retired football midfielder and left-back.

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. As a product of the youth system at Everton, left-footer Heard made eleven appearances for the club.

In October 1979, the young midfielder was signed by Aston Villa at a valuation of £150,000 (*2015: £Template:Inflation*) in a deal which saw John Gidman move the other way. 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 in the following season. He scored a goal during a 4–3 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury in March 1982 and scored the winner in a 0–1 victory away to local rivals, West Bromwich Albion in May that year.

Pat Heard won a European Cup medal after being named as a substitute for the 1982 European Cup Final. Although he was not used during the match, the following European Cup season, Heard played for the defending champions in the 3–1 victory over Beşiktaş J.K..

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

In August 1985, Heard moved to Middlesbrough on a month's loan with a view to a permanent deal.
In November 1985 he scored as Middlesbrough beat Shrewsbury Town 3–1 at home. Following his spell at Middlesbrough, in 1986 he 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. As penalty taker he also scored in a 3–0 away win at Barnsley in October 1987; and the 2–1 away win at Oldham Athletic in the Christmas fixtures that year.

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 Cardiff City during which time he turned down an offer from Norwegian club Randaberg IL to become their player-manager. He returned briefly to Hull before continuing his career with the Brunei M-League Team. A clash of heads fractured his skull ending his playing career at the age of 34.

After football, Heard embarked on a variety of careers including as a publican in both Hull and Chesterfield, a summariser for Free Radio Birmingham, a stage hypnotist. Most recently, as an Approved Driving Instructor, Heard taught Villa youngsters Barry Bannan, Benji Siegrist, and Andreas Weimann to drive.

## References

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1. ↑ J. Rollin, *Guinness Soccer Who's Who* , 1991, p. 153
2. ↑ *Heard about Hull's Euro champ*, Hull Daily Mail 14 February 2009
3. ↑ "The Transfer Trail." Times [London, England] 6 January 1987: 32. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 25 February 2017
4. ↑ The Guardian, *Clough apology to directors*, 19 October 1979
5. ↑ Atkin, Ronald, *Highbury is set alight*, The Observer, 28 March 1982
6. ↑ Lanning, Russell. *Those were the days...*, The Sun 29 April 2012
7. ↑ Aston Villa Old Stars vs. Mickey Buttress X1
8. ↑ Richard Eaton. "Villa descend from surreal to reality." Times (London, England) 16 September 1982: 18. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 24 February 2017.
9. ↑ The Guardian, *Curran transfer off*, 14 January 1983
10. ↑ Lacey, David, *Home quartet sound right*, The Guardian, 18 January 1983
11. ↑ 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
12. ↑ Ex-Owl Heard has foot in three camps
13. ↑ The Observer, *Football Results*, 7 October 1984
14. ↑ The Observer; *Football Results*, 4 November 1984
15. ↑ The Guardian, *SOCCER IN BRIEF*, 30 August 1985
16. ↑ The Yorkshire Post, 'Action Replay – 30 years ago today *27 November 2015*
17. ↑ Scott, Ged. *Football: The Heard instinct* Birmingham Post, 6 January 2006
18. ↑ The Observer, *Football results*, 18 October 1987
19. ↑ The Guardian, *The Bank Holiday Soccer in detail*, 29 December 1987
20. ↑ *For the Record.* The Times, 4 December 1991
21. ↑ Whatever happened to ? ...the unlikely lads Template:Webarchive
22. ↑ Aston Villa: Barry Bannan is one hell of a player – Aston Villa FC news – Aston Villa – Sport. *Birmingham Mail*. Retrieved on October 24, 2011.
23. ↑ Sunday Mercury, *PAT'S STILL DRIVEN TO BE SUCCESS*, 29 May 2011
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