England debut at last for Tom Heaton
England have beaten Australia 2-1 tonight at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in a warm up for the Euros which start next month. I’m sure, tomorrow, the papers will be full of the story of Marcus Rashford scoring on his debut but for Clarets everywhere the big moment came in the 87th minute of the game.
Watching on television, I suddenly spotted Tom Heaton on the touchline ready to come on and he duly did for Fraser Forster to finally win him an England debut that is so richly deserved. He’s had to be patient and, ultimately, he’s benefited from an injury to Jack Butland.
In coming on, Burnley’s current captain has become the 25th Burnley player to play for England since Jack Yates became the first in 1889, and he’s the first since Martin Dobson was last capped as a Burnley player in June 1974, almost 42 years ago, and Dobson, like Heaton, was Burnley captain.
In my time of watching Burnley, Tom has become the eighth player to represent England at full international level. Before him there were John Angus, Brian Miller, John Connelly, Ray Pointer, Gordon Harris, Ralph Coates and Dobson, but the first I’ve ever seen live (via television). I’m sure I’ve seen highlights of others but never live given the coverage as it was when we provided England players on a more regular basis.
What a season it has been for him. He’s been with the England squad for most games now for over a year without getting onto the pitch. Last August he was appointed Burnley captain following Jason Shackell’s move to Derby, and only this month lifted the Football League Championship trophy after leading us to the title while keeping twenty clean sheets. Next season he’ll be back in the Premier League as an England international.
It’s been a magnificent season for him and this tonight is brilliant news, really putting all the icing on our incredible cake.
Well done Tom and congratulations to our new England international from UptheClarets.
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