Colin Heath (born 31 December 1983) is an English former footballer who played as a striker or attacking midfielder for Cambridge United, Swindon Town, Chesterfield and Macclesfield Town[1] and for Belgian club Royal Antwerp.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1983-12-31) 31 December 1983 (age 38) | ||
| Place of birth | Chesterfield, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Darley Dale | |||
| 1995–1998 | Leeds United | ||
| 1998–2000 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2006 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | → Royal Antwerp (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | → Cambridge United (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2005 | → Swindon Town (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2006 | Chesterfield | 4 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Macclesfield Town | 25 | (4) |
| 2007–2008 | Farsley Celtic | 13 | (2) |
| Total | 72 | (7) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Heath was born in Chesterfield, grew up in Birchover, and played for Darley Dale as a boy. He joined Leeds United's youth system as an 11-year-old, and moved to Manchester United at 14.[2] He earned his professional contract at the end of 2000. He joined Royal Antwerp of the Belgian First Division on loan in January 2003; he played 13 league games in the 2003–04 season, but saved his goalscoring for friendly matches.[3] He then joined Football League Two side Cambridge United on a month's loan in late 2004, and made his English first-team debut on 7 December in a 2–1 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United.[4] He spent the first half of the 2005–06 season on loan to Swindon Town, but scored only once, against Yeovil Town in his home league debut, and struggled to maintain a first-team place.[5]
He returned to Manchester United in January 2006 and was released, to join Chesterfield until the end of the season.[2][6] He moved on to Macclesfield Town, linking up with former Manchester United colleague Tommy Lee,[7] but was released by manager Paul Ince after just one season.[8] In September 2007, after an extended trial with Chester City, he signed for Farsley Celtic of the Conference National.[9] Heath struggled to hold down a first-team place due to the form of Damien Reeves.[citation needed] After a handful of appearances, including helping Farsley to reach the last 16 of the FA Trophy for the first time,[10] he left the club.
Although no longer a professional, Heath still plays football in the Northern Counties East League Division 1 for Knaresborough Town.[11] He is currently playing cricket for Heslington CC in York.