Tom Heaton

Premier League and England goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, has gone from strength to strength since he joined England’s U16 team in 2001. From Manchester United to Queens Park Rangers, he has played for some of the most reputable teams in the UK, a reflection of his nationwide popularity. Arguably, Tom’s most successful stint was with Burnley from 2013 to 2019, with whom he made 188 appearances before transferring to Aston Villa. Tom can discuss the power of high-performance teams when booked for events, influenced by his experiences with England’s national team.

First joining England’s U21 team in 2008, Tom’s debut match was against Poland. He was later transferred to the senior team, where he played against Slovenia at the 2016 France UEFA Euro qualifier, and Australia in the 2016 Sunderland Euro warm-up match. Having performed on the international stage, a football speaker like Tom can supply audiences with an insight unlike any other. He invites guests backstage into the England team, through his witty, star-studded anecdotes.

After making his football debut with Manchester United, Tom quickly established himself as a player with promise, earning the 2002 FA Youth Cup Winner's Medal. He was a valuable member of their team and is credited for their Premier Reserve League wins. Upon being loaned to Swindon, Tom was described as “one for the future” by their manager, before moving to Cardiff City where he was the club's first-choice goalkeeper. With such early success in mind, Tom’s valuable understanding of remaining calm under pressure enlightens audiences at events.

After winning Man of the Match against Arsenal, Tom moved to Wycombe Wanderers, where continued his streak of impressive saves – including a volley during their match against Southampton in 2010. Tom later returned to Cardiff City, where he won the 2010-11 Young Player of the Year award and secured the team a place in the final with his multiple penalty shoot-out saves. With Burnley, Tom earned the most number of clean sheets of any keeper in the season, with a staggering 19, and was later named their 2015-16 captain.

Following his 150th league appearance with Burnley, where he was named Man of the Match, Tom moved to Aston Villa in 2019. Having made three international and over 300 senior appearances, Tom truly is a stand-out goalkeeper. He continues to develop and grow as an athlete, a testament to his unwavering determination in the face of competition. When booked as an after dinner speaker, he blows audiences away with his entertaining anecdotes and unbeatable insight, to make a lasting impression.