Dennis Heath

Dennis Heath
Personal information
Full name Dennis John Heath[1]
Date of birth (1934-09-28)28 September 1934
Place of birth Chiswick, England
Date of death 28 September 2006(2006-09-28) (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. 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.
  2. "Dennis Heath". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  3. 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.
  4. "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 1954-08-21. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  5. 1 2 3 "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  6. "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 1960-10-29. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  7. "Best Years Players F-H - bedfordoldeagles". Sites.google.com. 1948-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  8. "1961/2 Summary - bedfordoldeagles". Sites.google.com. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  9. "Twickenham Builders - Builders in Twickenham - Interior renovation - Painting and Decorating - Kitchens - Loft Extensions". twickenhamroadbuilders.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  10. "BBC SPORT - Football - My Club - Brentford - Winger Heath mourned by Brentford". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.


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