Matthew Heywood

Matthew Stephen Heywood (born 26 August 1979) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender from 1997 until 2011.

Having started his career with Burnley as a trainee he signed professional terms in 1997. In 2001 after failing to establish himself a first team player he left to join Swindon Town where his career took over, becoming an established centre half for four years before moving on to Bristol City in 2005. A year later he joined Brentford and in 2008 following his final season at the club he was awarded the supporters player of the season award for the 2007–08 season. He then joined Grimsby Town who were the last professional club he was to play for inside the Football League before he was released in 2010 and briefly joined Barrow on a short term deal. He finished his career in Non-league football with a 6-month stay at Buxton.

Career

Burnley

Heywood began his career for Burnley in the summer of 1997, when he was promoted from the club's youth team. He was nurtured into first team action at Turf Moor under the stewardship of Adrian Heath, and finally made his full professional debut in a league tie at home against York City. He came on at half time to replace veteran defender Steve Blatherwick in the game that was eventually lost 1–0. In total Heywood went on to make 14 appearances in all competitions in his stay at the club, which came to an end mid way through the 2000–2001 campaign, when he transferred to Swindon Town in January 2001, on a free transfer.