the Charlton side that faced Sunderland in the dramatic 1998 First Division play-off final, a match they won 7–6 on penalties after a 4–4 draw to gain promotion to the Premier League, while Manchester City were relegated to the third tier. After two-and-a-half seasons during which he started just 16 matches in all competitions, Heaney spent the last few weeks of 1998–99 on loan at First Division Bristol City before signing for Darlington in August 1999 on a free transfer. Playing on the left wing, he scored five goals from 36 league matches and became a crowd favourite as he helped the club reach the Third Division play-off final. He left for Scottish Premier League club Dundee United for a £175,000 fee in July 2000. He lasted 18 months and made just eight starts before leaving by mutual consent; club chairman Jim McLean mentioned him in a list of "players on wages that didn't match what they gave the club in return". He returned to English football with Plymouth Argyle, managed by Paul Sturrock who had signed him for Dundee United, but lasted less than a year of his 18-month contract before recurrent knee problems forced his retirement. Personal life After retiring, Heaney left football and became CEO of Judicare, an English firm of solicitors that deals with international legal issues and is known particularly for recovering monies invested into problematic property abroad, based partly on his own problems investing in Spanish property. Honours Arsenal FA Youth Cup: 1988 The Football Combination: 1990 Charlton Athletic First Division play-offs: 1998 Individual PFA Team of the Year: 1999–2000 Third Division References External links 1971 births Living people Footballers from Middlesbrough English footballers England under-21 international footballers Association football wingers Arsenal F.C. players Hartlepool United F.C. players Cambridge United F.C. players Southampton F.C. players Manchester City F.C. players Charlton Athletic F.C. players Bristol City F.C. players Darlington F.C. players Dundee United F.C. players Plymouth Argyle F.C. players English Football League players Premier League players Scottish Premier League players