MICK HEATHCOTE

Born: 10 September 1965

Came from: Cambridge United   Went to: Shrewsbury

First game: 12 August 1995   Last game: 23 December 2000

Appearances: 235 (231/4)   Goals: 17

Born in Kelloe, in County Durham, Heathcote was a central defender who started his career in his native north east England.

Heathcote (who was often known as 'Hector') began his career with Spennymoor United in the rough and tumble of the Northern League. A Newcastle United fan, he had briefly been on the books of Middlesbrough as a youth, before signing for Spennymoor where he played for three seasons. Whilst at Brewery Field, he won the Northern League, League Cup, and continuing to work part-time as a delivery driver for a company owned by the club's chairman. Sunderland showed an initial interest under Lawrie McMenemy but didn't want to pay the £20,000 asking price. However, his successor Denis Smith followed the lead and invited the then 22-year old Heathcote to pre-season training, which coupled with two games for the reserves, led to a two-year contract in August 1987 with Sunderland paying £12,000 to the Moors to secure his services.

After just eight Central League reserve games he was called upon for his debut, coming on as a young and moustachioed substitute in a 7-0 home win in Division Three against Southend United, although he was subsequently stretchered off with a back injury. His second appearance came later the same month against Rotherham United in the Football League Trophy as Sunderland hit seven again in a 7-1 win! Quite a start!

However, after only four months with the club, he went on loan to Halifax Town in Division Four for a month, where he played seven times and scored once. In January 1990 he again went on loan for a month in Division Four, this time with York City, where he played three times.

He remained at Sunderland for another five months until July 1990 and made a total of nine appearances for the club, having been promoted twice during his stay. Nevertheless, in search of more regular first team football was sold to Shrewsbury Town for £55,000.

He spent the 1990-91 season with the Shrews, playing 44 times and netting a respectable six goals and won their 1990-91 Player of the Season award. However, a club record bid from Cambridge United enabled the Shropshire side to almost triple their investment and he moved to the Abbey Stadium for £150,000 as part of the John Beck revolution. Heathcote spent four full seasons at the club, scoring 13 goals in 128 league appearances and won their Player of the Season award for 1994-95. United rose from the bottom tier to the brink of the Premier League - and it wasn't just Dion Dublin that was catching the eye. Premier League clubs were watching but a pelvic injury and relegation back down a level in 1994-95 meant he was nearly out of contract and unimpressed with the one offered.

Legend has it that Neil Warnock, who had managed Huddersfield Town against Cambridge at the end of the 1994-95 season, was so impressed by Heathcote's bloodied and battered performance after he marked the prolific Andy Booth out of the game, that, as he shook hands with him on the pitch at full-time, told him that he would sign him for whichever club he was managing the following season.

True to his word, having departed the Terriers and accepted the challenge of getting Argyle out of the basement tier at the first time of asking, following their first-ever relegation to that level, he arranged the deal on the phone from the Maldives whilst on honeymoon, with Argyle paying £70,000.

Mick became the foundation of the team for the next five years. By the time he joined Argyle his previous nickname of 'Hector' wasn't really known but thanks to his often industrious clearances and the phonetics of his surname he became affectionately know as 'Hoof'. He was named as the club's Player of the Season for both 1995-96 and 1998-99, joining a select band of players to have won the award twice. Argyle were also the third Football League club at which he had achieved such an award. In his six seasons at Home Park, he was a rock at the centre of Argyle's defence and captained the side to victory in the Division Three Play-off Final at Wembley Stadium. He was also selected for the PFA Team of the Year for the Third Division (1995-96).

A back injury restricted his appearances over the last 18 months of his contract, and he looked set to be released. However, after regaining his fitness he was given the chance to earn a new contract by Paul Sturrock, which he did during the pre-season. Awarded a Testimonial in late July 2001, against his old club Sunderland, the visitors ran out 3-0 winners in front of 4,923 with Heathcote warmly received by both sets of fans. Just days after that game it became apparent that it had been his last appearance in green; with a one-year contract on offer from Argyle, and perhaps with one-eye on the arrival of Graham Coughlan, he chose to return to Shrewsbury Town who had offered him a two year deal. The opening day of the 2001-02 season saw the Shrews visit Home Park, and Heathcote marshalled their defence magnificently as they won 1-0; the 'Law of the Returning Player' was activated in earnest!

He was released by Shrewsbury after 18 months during which he made an further 40 appearances and scored two more goals. Subsequently he continued his career at Colwyn Bay, Leek Town and Hucknall Town. Whilst at Hucknall, he won an runner-up medal in the 2004-05 FA Trophy Final after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Grays Athletic at Villa Park. 'Hoof' did at least do his bit and netted his penalty in the shoot-out.

In 2019, he came sixth in the centre back category of the club’s ‘The Greatest Pilgrims’ poll. He has attended Home Park as a guest of Forever Green, the former players' association at Home Park and participated in anniversary reunions of the Neil Warnock's 1995-96 promotion side, including the 30th anniversary reunion in March 2026.

Whilst he took UEFA coaching qualifications towards the end of his career, he found opportunities in the professional game limited. Returning to reside in Shropshire, he went back to his original work of delivering, and can be found driving trucks up and down the motorways of the country.