Josh Heard

Joshua David Heard (born 29 November 1994) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for and captains Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League.

Josh Heard
Heard with Bethlehem Steel in 2017
Personal information
Full name Joshua David Heard
Date of birth (1994-11-29) 29 November 1994
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Pacific FC
Number 11
Youth career
Lakehill SA
Victoria Metro
Victoria Highlanders
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Washington Huskies 74 (13)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Victoria Highlanders 17 (3)
2013 North Sound SeaWolves 1 (0)
2013 Victoria Highlanders
2014 Puget Sound Gunners 3 (0)
2016–2017 Bethlehem Steel 38 (2)
2018–2020 Real Monarchs 32 (3)
2019–2020 → Pinzgau Saalfelden (loan) 18 (1)
2020– Pacific FC 54 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2022

Early life

Heard was born in Cardiff, Wales and moved to Victoria, Canada when he was three.[1] Heard played youth soccer with Lakehill Soccer Association.[2] He also played for Victoria Metro and the Victoria Highlanders.[3] He had been invited to train with the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, but he elected to attend college and play college soccer instead.[4]

College career

In 2012, Heard began attending the University of Washington, where he played for the men's soccer team.[5] He had been recruited to the school after impressing the team's coaching staff when they saw him playing in a youth match, which they were attending to watch two members of the opposing team who had committed to joining Washington.[6] He made his debut on August 24, 2012 against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.[7] On September 22, 2013, he scored his first collegiate goal against the Georgia State Panthers.[8] On October 8, 2013, he scored a brace in a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Redhawks.[9] In 2013, Washington won the 2013 Pac-12 title and advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA National Tournament.[4] In his senior season, he was named an Honourable Mention for the All-Pac 12 All-Star Teams.[10] After the season, he was invited to the MLS Player Combine ahead of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft,[11] however, he was not able to attend due to injury.[4] Over his time with Washington, he scored 13 goals and added eight assists in 74 games.[12][13]

Club career

In 2011 and 2012, Heard played with the Victoria Highlanders in the Premier Development League. In 2013, he signed with the North Sound SeaWolves,[14] before returning to the Highlanders, helping them reach the PDL Final Four in 2013.[15] In 2014, he signed with the newly renamed Puget Sound Gunners (who changed their name from the North Sound SeaWovles) again.[16]

In January 2016, Heard was selected 71st overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[17][18] However, he did not sign with the Whitecaps.[19][20]

In late January 2016, he signed a professional contract with USL club Bethlehem Steel FC.[21][22] He made his debut on April 11, 2016 against New York Red Bulls II.[23] He scored his first goal on July 7, 2016 against Toronto FC II.[24] He departed the club after the 2017 season, upon the expiry of his contract.[25]

In February 2018, he signed with the Real Monarchs of the USL.[26][27] He scored his first goal on May 19, 2018 against the Las Vegas Lights.[28] After the season, the club picked up his option for the following season.[29] In July 2019, he was sent on a one year loan to Austrian club FC Pinzgau Saalfelden until July 2020.[30][31] With Pinzgau, they qualified for the promotion playoff series, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.[32] Upon the conclusion of his loan, he departed the Monarchs, mutually terminating the deal, after being unable to return to the United States due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.[33]

On 31 July 2020, he signed with Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League.[34][35] On August 15, he made his debut for Pacific against the HFX Wanderers.[33] He won the 2021 CPL Championship with Pacific.[36][37] In January 2022, he re-signed with the club for an additional season.[38][39] On August 2, 2022, he scored two goals in a 6-0 CONCACAF League victory over Jamaican club Waterhouse FC to help Pacific advance to the Round of 16.[40][41] In November 2022, it was announced that he would return to the club for the 2023 season,[42] and he was named team captain in March 2023.[43][44]

Honours

Club

Pacific FC

References
  1. "Pacific FC signs local talent Josh Heard". Pacific FC. July 31, 2020.
  2. Dheensaw, Cleve (July 31, 2020). "Pacific FC lands veteran Island pro Josh Heard". Times Colonist.
  3. "Pacific FC Name Victoria-Raised Josh Heard Captain". Canadian Premier League. March 14, 2023.
  4. Davidson, Neil (January 12, 2016). "Victoria midfielder misses out on MLS Combine but still hopes to make mark". Times Colonist. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016.
  5. "Josh Heard Washington Huskies profile". Washington Huskies.
  6. Kelly, Mason (October 29, 2015). "In Focus: Serendipitous Scenario Landed Heard At Washington". Washington Huskies.
  7. "Freshmen Connect For Game-Winner In OT". Washington Huskies. August 24, 2012.
  8. "No. 6 UW and Georgia State Draw, 1-1". Washington Huskies. September 22, 2013.
  9. "Heard Scores Twice As UW Tops Seattle U." Washington Huskies. October 8, 2013.
  10. "Six Huskies Earn All-Pac-12 Honors". Washington Huskies. November 17, 2015.
  11. "Three Dawgs Invited To MLS Combine". Washington Huskies. December 12, 2015.
  12. "Moberg And Heard Taken By Vancouver In MLS Draft". Washington Huskies. January 19, 2016.
  13. "Huskies in the Pros Update Featuring Josh Heard". Washington Huskies. May 24, 2018.
  14. "Ballew leads group of 11 North Sound SeaWolves signees". Edmonds Beacon. April 22, 2013.
  15. Paterson, Travis (July 31, 2013). "Highlanders men into PDL Championship final four". Victoria News.
  16. "Meet the 2014 Puget Sound Gunners". The STATE of Soccer in Washington!. May 15, 2014.
  17. "Whitecaps FC select James Moberg, Josh Heard, and Tyler David in final two rounds of 2016 MLS SuperDraft". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. January 19, 2016.
  18. Davidson, Neil (January 19, 2016). "Canadians Ryan James, Josh Heard taken in conclusion of MLS SuperDraft". CTV News.
  19. Jones, Tim (February 23, 2017). "Steel profile: Josh Heard". The Philly Soccer Page.
  20. Shoemaker, Tim (March 31, 2017). "Versatile, well-traveled Josh Heard eager for Bethlehem Steel FC season to begin". The Morning Call.
  21. "Bethlehem Steel FC Add Seven To Roster". Philadelphia Union. January 29, 2016. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016.
  22. Villella, Evan (January 28, 2016). "Bethlehem Steel FC sign everyone who plays soccer". Brotherly Game.
  23. Villella, Evan (April 11, 2016). "Match Recap: Steel gored by Red Bulls II 4-0". Brotherly Game.
  24. Villella, Evan (July 8, 2016). "Match recap: Bethlehem Steel FC 2 - Toronto FC II 3". Brotherly Game.
  25. "Steel FC Announces Roster Moves". USL Championship. November 2, 2017.
  26. "Real Monarchs SLC sign Josh Heard, Rhys Williams". Real Salt Lake. February 15, 2018.
  27. Cheever, David (February 16, 2018). "Monarchs make nod to the Welsh with two new signings for the 2018 season". RSL Soapbox.
  28. "Real Monarchs SLC Douse Lights FC 2-0". Real Salt Lake. May 20, 2018.
  29. Cheever, David (November 21, 2018). "Real Monarchs to exercise 2019 options on seven players". RSL Soapbox.
  30. "Pablo Ruiz, Andrew Brody and Josh Heard Join FC Pinzgau Saafelden on Loan". Real Salt Lake. July 12, 2019.
  31. Montgomery, Matt (July 12, 2019). "Ruiz, Brody, Heard loaned to Austrian third division side". RSL Soapbox.
  32. Pentz, Matt (May 14, 2020). "North American players don't mind being stranded at idyllic FC Pinzgau". The Athletic.
  33. Bauman, Martin (July 29, 2021). "'I want to keep going': One-on-one with Pacific FC's Josh Heard". For the Isle.
  34. Jacques, John (July 31, 2020). "Pacific FC Tops Off Roster With Josh Heard". Northern Tribune.
  35. Veth, Manuel (July 31, 2020). "Pacific FC sign Josh Heard - "Rewarding to sign a local player"". Transfermarkt.
  36. Dheensaw, Cleve (January 29, 2022). "Hometown product Heard re-signs with Pacific FC". Times Colonist.
  37. Thompson, Marty (December 13, 2021). "CPL50 – 32. Josh Heard (Pacific FC)". Canadian Premier League.
  38. Jacques, John (January 28, 2022). "Josh Heard To Stay With Pacific FC". Northern Tribune.
  39. "Heard Returning for 2022 Season!". Pacific FC. January 28, 2022.
  40. "Josh Heard, the hometown hero leading Pacific's SCL charge". CONCACAF. August 10, 2022.
  41. Bashir, Raheem (August 3, 2022). "Josh Heard had a memorable game in his hometown with a 6-0 win". Last Word on Sports.
  42. Jacques, John (November 10, 2013). "Tridents Confirm Return Of Heard, Toussaint, And Daniels". Northern Tribune.
  43. Longo, Jack (March 14, 2023). "Local lad Heard announced as new Pacific FC captain; Aparicio, Didic, and Meilleur-Giguère make up rest of Leadership Team". Pacific FC.
  44. Jacques, John (March 14, 2023). "Pacific Names Josh Heard As New Captain". Northern Tribune.
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