Neil Heaney

Neil Andrew Heaney (born 3 November 1971) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Heaney began his career with top-flight club Arsenal before making 61 appearances in the Premier League for Southampton. He played in the Football League for Manchester City, Hartlepool United, Cambridge United, Charlton Athletic, Bristol City, Darlington and Plymouth Argyle, and also had a spell in the Scottish Premier League with Dundee United.

He was capped six times by England U21 in 1992.

Career Neil Andrew Heaney was born in Middlesbrough on 3 November 1971. He played football for Teesside schools before being signed by London club Arsenal on schoolboy forms in January 1987. While still at school, he was part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1987–88, After spells on loan at Hartlepool United and Cambridge United, he made his Arsenal debut as a substitute against Sheffield United on 18 April 1992.

Heaney made 61 league appearances for Southampton in two and a half seasons, scoring five goals,

He left for Scottish Premier League club Dundee United for a £175,000 fee in July 2000. He lasted 18 months and made just eight starts before leaving by mutual consent; club chairman Jim McLean mentioned him in a list of "players on wages that didn't match what they gave the club in return". He returned to English football with Plymouth Argyle, managed by Paul Sturrock who had signed him for Dundee United, but lasted less than a year of his 18-month contract before recurrent knee problems forced his retirement.

Personal life After retiring, Heaney left football and became CEO of Judicare, an English firm of solicitors that deals with international legal issues and is known particularly for recovering monies invested into problematic property abroad, based partly on his own problems investing in Spanish property.

Honours Arsenal First Division play-offs: 1998

Individual PFA Team of the Year: 1999–2000 Third Division