Pat Heard

A product of the youth system at Everton, left-footer Heard made eleven appearances for the club, debuting against Wolverhampton Wanderers in February 1979 and playing in the Merseyside derby. In October 1979, the 19-year-old midfielder was signed by Aston Villa at a valuation of £150,000 (2015: £530,000) in an exchange for John Gidman. Heard made his Villa debut on 26 March 1980, in a 2-0 home win against Norwich. He made nine appearances in his first season at Villa Park, but was not one of just 14 players used by Ron Saunders to become League champions the following season. He scored a goal during a 4–3 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury in March 1982 and scored the winner in a 1–0 victory away to local rivals West Bromwich Albion in May that year. Heard won a European Cup medal after being named as a substitute for the 1982 European Cup Final. Only a single substitution was allowed, and Heard's opportunity to play was dashed within nine minutes following the substitute goalkeeper, Nigel Spink, replacing injured Jimmy Rimmer. At the time, Heard was a neighbour to future Villa manager, eleven-year-old Dean Smith. Smith was not allowed to go to the final, but Pat made sure that the young boy was on the team bus as it paraded the trophy through Birmingham. When appointed manager, Smith picked out Heard as an inspiration. The following European Cup season, Heard played for the defending European champions in the 3–1 victory over Beşiktaş J.K. The tie was played behind closed…