After Mackenzie Heaney was confirmed as South Shields’ first signing ahead of the 2022-23 season, we take a look at the 23-year-old’s career to date.
Mackenzie Heaney was born on January 2nd, 1999 in Walker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
He joined the Newcastle United Academy at the age of 12 and just two years later, he agreed what was effectively a four-year professional deal
As his name suggests, Heaney was eligible to represent Scotland through his grandfather, and he starred for the country in the prestigious Victory Shield as a 14-year-old playing Under-15s football. He helped the Scots win the competition for the first time in over a decade
Heaney switched allegiances to England in 2014 and was involved in youth squads on a regular basis in the following year, winning 12 caps for the Young Lions, many of them under the management of current Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper
He made his debut for Newcastle’s Under-18s at the age of 15, initially on the right-wing before switching to his preferred No.10 role
Heaney won the golden boot at the renowned Milk Cup youth tournament for Newcastle in 2015
In 2016, the midfielder was named by the BBC’s Match of the Day magazine as one of 20 ‘wonderkids’ to watch
Opportunities were not forthcoming at Under-23s level at Newcastle and Heaney departed his boyhood club in the summer of 2018
He trained with Norwich City and Brentford that summer and also had interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City
Heaney made his first foray into senior football in the Northern League with Newcastle Benfield and West Auckland Town
He took some time out of the game to concentrate on his fitness between 2019 and 2020 and returned to football with Whitby Town in the Pitching In Northern Premier League
When two successive seasons were impacted by the pandemic, Heaney spent a short time on loan with Icelandic second tier side UMF Grindavík to further build his experience
Heaney had a trial with York City in the summer of 2021 and his ability earned him a deal with the National League North side, who he represented 20 times in the first half of last season
He joined Buxton on loan in January 2022 and helped the Bucks win the Pitching In Northern Premier League title
Heaney now returns to the North East to begin the next chapter of his football journey with South Shields
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