Heffernan to Huddersfield

[FFC Mariner]

But he wont be marking those kinds of players in L1 will he? Slight and skilful wingers tend not to last too long at that level

LOL

 

[Roy Law]

I think has has more than stood up to every challenge from every supposed dangerous player he has faced - he has owned them -  so when he wants to he can defend. (But he didn't face Tommy Oar...)

 

[dibo]

I just think back to his game against Newcastle where he was frankly dreadful* and then the performance against Sydney the following week where he was outstanding. He floats between the two extremes, but I wouldn't say he's amazing by any stretch.

*at the time I wrote:

One thing that really concerned me was that essentially every time Heff received the ball, a scum player would simply bolt at him, and press him for a mistake. They were often rewarded. We try to play out, find midfielders, build the play out etc., but it can all be undone simply by running at Heff waving your arms going 'BOO!' when he's got the ball at his feet...

 

[midfielder]

Good luck to Heff... always wears his heart on his sleeve and always gives 100 %... I wish him well...

 

[marinermick]

Good luck to Heff... always wears his heart on his sleeve and always gives 100 %... I wish him well...

also readily available for a chat and always friendly

no bullshit about heff

 

[Jimmy]

Just make sure there's a tanning salon around.

 

[marinermick]

Just make sure there's a tanning salon around.

err, don't think so, he lives at terrigal and surfs

 

[Jimmy]

Just make sure there's a tanning salon around.

err, don't think so, he lives at terrigal and surfs

err, reports from Germany had him attending to keep his colour.

 

[kevrenor]

Halifax and Calderdale Evening Courier

Huddersfield v Yeovil

Published Date: 29 January 2010

Huddersfield have signed striker Nathan Eccleston and left-back Dean Heffernan ahead of tomorrow's trip to Yeovil.

Striker Eccleston, 19, has joined on a one-month loan from Liverpool while Australia left-back Heffernan, 29, has arrived from Australian A League side Central Coast Mariners for the rest of the season.

Manager Lee Clark said: "We have monitored Nathan for a long time. He has real pace and can play anywhere across the front line".

"Dean needs to have a good run of games from now until the end of our season."

 

[Jaza_SFC]

Lee Clark's a good manager to work under. Very experienced and well respected player.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Lee Clark.

Spoken of as next FFC manager when Sir Roy moves on/retires/takes England job after humiliating WC

 

[midfielder]

Would Lee Clark sign GA..

 

[skinner05]

Heff made his debut today in our 1-0 win at Yeovil. Played the full 90 despite having trouble all week with sleep, waking up in the middle of the night etc

Sounds like he played really well and put in some crunching tackles.

Should be a good signing for us, especially once he has settled properly

 

[Jerem]

hope he gets his career going from their, and possibly a WC 10 spot.

 

[dibo]

From Huddersfield Town's website:

DEAN: "IT'S A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME"
Posted on: Thu 28 Jan 2010

Town new boy Dean Heffernan is relishing his opportunity to shine at Huddersfield Town.

The 29-year old left-back has joined the Terriers from Australian side Central Coast Mariners pending international clearance and wants to make his dream of playing in England a permanent reality.

"I got back from the national team training camp and I was having breakfast with one of my teammates from the UK, Matt Crowell; he told me that his agent might be able to get me an opportunity in England. I have always wanted to come and play in England, so it went from there," Dean told htafc.com.

"It is a long way from home but at the end of the day it's for football and it's something I've always wanted to do, so it wasn't a hard decision to come here. I have a massive opportunity with the World Cup approaching - that is the main driving force behind the move.

"League One will be a step-up from the A-League - the game here is played at a much faster pace and with more intensity. For me this is a step in the right direction and the national coach was very positive about me coming here to continue to play games."

Although half the world separates Sydney from Huddersfield, but Dean has heard a lot about his new Club from a few of his old teammates:

"There are a couple of British lads in the Mariners squad - Matt Crowell, Jonathan Brown, Nicky Travis and Chris Doig - and they had only good things to say about Huddersfield Town. Everything I have heard about the Club is very positive, in particular the coaching staff - I haven't heard a bad word about them. The move has worked out really well for me; it seems like the perfect place to be at the moment."

Dean arrived in the country on Saturday and has trained with his new colleagues already, admitting that the high standards at Town have come as no surprise.

"Individually they are all good players, but I knew coming from Australia to here that they would all be technically superior. The youth setups over here compared with what we have in Australia are totally different. I could tell straight away that everyone here can really play.

"It's a beautiful stadium. It's closer to the pitch than I'm used to - back in Australia the stands are a little further back - so I'm expecting a great atmosphere. I hear that Yeovil is quite a close-knit stadium as well, so it could be a little different for me if I play at the weekend!"

If his international clearance is obtained in time, Dean will go straight into contention for a place in the matchday eighteen at Yeovil Town on Saturday.

"The prospect of playing on Saturday is really exciting. Upon my arrival in the country all I wanted to do is train and meet the boys - it's a bit like the first day at school - but now it's all about the first game. It would be a big three points for the team at Yeovil, because I know the Club is pushing hard for promotion this year."

If selected, he wants to make an instant impression on the travelling Town faithful at Huish Park.

"I don't like to talk about myself; I'll let the fans decide about me for themselves. All I will say is that I will give everything I have and more every time I walk out on the pitch."

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SIGNS FOR TOWN
Posted on: Thu 28 Jan 2010

Huddersfield Town is delighted to announce the signing of Australian international Dean Heffernan from Central Coast Mariners, pending international clearance.

The Club has agreed the contracts with the player and Central Coast Mariners, but Town are still awaiting clearance from the Football Association.

The 29-year old left back joins Town from the A-League outfit for the rest of the 2009/10 season, with the Club having the opportunity to assess a longer-term contract.

Standing at 6' 1", Dean - nicknamed 'Sonic' by the Mariners fans due to his electric pace - has been capped twice by his country during last year's Asian Cup qualifiers and brings a wealth of experience to the Galpharm Stadium.

Born in Sydney, Heffernan began his career with New South Wales Premier League clubs Sutherland Sharks, Wollongong Wolves, Sydney United and Marconi Stallions before moving to Malaysia to play for MPPJ Selangor. After returning to Sutherland for a second spell, he joined Central Coast Mariners upon the founding of the new A-League in 2005 and went on to score 8 times from full-back in the first season.

Dean first tried his hand in Europe with Bundesliga side Nuremberg through a season-long loan in the 2006/07 campaign, but injury curtailed his appearances and he returned to the Mariners for the 2007/08, where he helped CCM win the A-League. For his endeavours over that year, he was named at left back in FourFourTwo's A-League Dream Team for the second time.

Heffernan is only the second Australian to sign a professional contract for the Club, following in the footsteps of former loanee Scott McDonald.

He will take the vacant 13 shirt at the Club, which was his first squad number with his first professional team Sutherland Sharks.

CLARK: "DEAN SHOULD BE A BIG ASSET"
Posted on: Thu 28 Jan 2010

Town boss Lee Clark has told htafc.com that new signing Dean Heffernan should be a huge asset to the Club.

The Australian international has joined Town from Central Coast Mariners for the rest of the 2009/10 campaign today, pending international clearance, and represents a major coup for the Club.

"We learned about Dean through our contacts, then we used people we know and trust in Australia and they put us in touch with his situation," Lee explained to the Club's official website. "We've taken a keen interest in him, watched a lot of DVDs and had him watched too, but the big thing for me is we've spoken to his national team manager (Pim Verbeek) who gave him a glowing report.

"Dean needs to have a good run of games from now until the end of our season to cement his place in the World Cup squad, so he has a huge incentive to come into Europe and play well.

"He's already been into Europe - he played at Nuremburg in the Bundesliga, but unfortunately he suffered a bad injury three games into his spell there. He went back into Australia to get back into playing regular football and after a couple of seasons there he wants to experience European football again.

"He had a lot of experience behind him and possesses a lot of qualities; he is a very fit lad, is a real athlete, has very good pace and although he is predominantly a left-back he can play anywhere on that side. His style of play will suit English football, without a doubt. Dean arrived in the UK on Saturday and from what we have already seen in training so far, he should be a very big asset to us."

"Subject to completion of the international clearance he stands a huge chance of being involved at Yeovil, just like all the other players. I've thrown the gauntlet down to everyone - they will decide whether or not they are in the team by the way they train this week."

Dean is the third new signing to arrive at Town during the transfer window, following in the footsteps of defenders Krystian Pearce and Neal Trotman, and Lee admitted that he is delighted with the way his squad is shaping up.

"I'm delighted with the three recent signings - they are all six foot plus, good athletes and give us different attributes. I felt we needed an injection of pace and they will all bring that. It's definitely good that we've got a full week out on the grass with them all; it's allowing us to get some proper work done ahead of the game.

"It's not actually been that long, but Terry and I were out watching matches over the weekend and I said to him that it feels like a long time since we played a game! Weekends feel strange when we don't have a game and by the time Saturday comes around everyone should be chomping at the bit."

 

[Wombat]

Cool.

Good work Heff.

Thanks for the quotes.

 

[shatterrier]

Was at the match today and have to say was impressed with Heffernan. Can't have been easy for him, everything new, cold enough to freeze a penguins privates and he really did his job. Swapped my Californian white for an Aussie white tonite in tribute and you may have just become my 2nd team in South Africa in June.

 

[dibo]

Good to hear he's doing well. Good to hear he likes the joint too.

 

[Bex]

Gee that happened quickly.

Crowell needs to make a bigger effort for the Mariners IMO.

 

[Roy Law]

Heff to score on his home debut; Heff cult hero in 'Uddersfield.
Will laugh my socks off if he scores the World Cup gig and all those so called Socceroo wannabes like Sterjovski, Burns, Coyne, Brosque etc miss out.