Heath: Matthew Philip (Matt)

2006-2008 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: Leicester: 01-11-1981

Debut: v Colchester United (h): 11-11-2006

6’4” 14st 3lb (2007)

Heath began his career at his hometown club Leicester City, progressing through the Youth Academy and signing professional forms in August 2001. He made fifty League appearances, eight of which were from the bench, as well as five starts and two substitute appearances in the F.A. Cup and three League Cup starts, without scoring, gaining Premiership experience during his time at the Walkers Stadium. Matt was called into the England Under Twenty-One squad in 2003 but was no selected for any final team, and failed to win any international honours. He was loaned out to Stockport County from 23rd October 2003 to 28th December 2003, in the 2003-04 season, to gain first-team experience and made ten appearances, including eight starts in the League. He scored against Coventry City for Leicester City in a 3-0 win in the 2004-05 season before being signed, by former Leicester boss Micky Adams, for Coventry for a nominal fee in 2005. On 9th November 2006 he joined Leeds United on loan. He made his Leeds debut in the 3-0 victory over Colchester United on 11th November 2006. He played in nearly all of Leeds matches during his loan spell playing in central defence with the likes of Ugo Ehiogu and Matthew Kilgallon. Heath was not eligible to play in Leeds' 2-1 victory against Coventry due to a clause in his loan deal. Heath's loan at Leeds came to an end on January 1, 2007 and he returned to Coventry, but the following day he moved on a free transfer to Elland Road, with a permanent contract until the end of the season. While with Coventry City he made thirty-two League appearances, including two from the bench and scored one League goal. He also score once in the League Cup in two starts. Heath's contract with Leeds came to an end in June 2007 and he was initially released but featured as a trialist in pre-season games. On 7th August 2007, he re-signed for Leeds United on a free-transfer, in a two year deal, with wages of £2,200 per week. Signed by Dennis Wise, Heath fell out of favour with Gary McAllister, who coincidentally had signed him for Coventry City from Leicester City, who send him on an initial month's loan to Colchester United on 14th March 2008, which turned into a loan for the rest of the season and he started five games for them in that time. United had signed Lubomir Michalik and Paul Huntington he found he was no longer required and, after United had also added Darren Kenton to a growing number of central defenders, which also included Rui Marques, he was allowed to leave on a free transfer. He was signed by Colchester United on 13th May 2008. He could not establish himself in the Colchester team and, on 2nd March 2009, Heath joined Brighton & Hove Albion on loan for two months. Heath scored on his debut for Brighton against Leyton Orient on the 8th March 2009, and went on to start six League games during his loan spell. On 30th July 2009 Heath joined Southend United on a one month's loan deal, making four League starts and two more in the League Cup, before returning to Colchester. He had made seventy League starts and twelve more from the bench, started five F.A. Cup ties, scored one in three League Cup starts and made seven starts in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for Colchester to March 2012 since signing for them permanently. He signed a new one year contract with the club on 4th May 2011.