Arjan van Heusden (born 11 December 1972) is a Dutch former professional football goalkeeper who played much of his career in the English Football League.

Arjan van Heusden
Personal information
Full name Arjan van Heusden[1]
Date of birth (1972-12-11) 11 December 1972 (age 51)[2]
Place of birth Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands[2]
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1993–1994 VV Noordwijk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1998 Port Vale 27 (0)
1997Oxford United (loan) 11 (0)
1998–2000 Cambridge United 42 (0)
2000–2002 Exeter City 74 (0)
2002 Mansfield Town 5 (0)
2002–2005 Torquay United 47 (0)
Total 206 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

Van Heusden began his career in his native Netherlands with VV Noordwijk, moving to England in December 1993 for a trial with Port Vale, signing permanently in May 1994 for a fee of £4,500.[4] He joined up with fellow Dutchman Robin van der Laan, who had already established himself in John Rudge's squad. However, Van Heusden failed to dislodge the ever-reliable Paul Musselwhite and so joined Oxford United on loan in September 1997, playing 11 league games.

In August 1998, he moved to Cambridge United on a free transfer.[2] He played 42 league games in two seasons before moving to Exeter City in August 2000.[2] He missed just five league games of the 2000–01 campaign.[2] After stalling on Exeter's offer of a fresh contract in April 2002[5] he signed within the club's ten-day limit,[6] though this failed to put an end to speculation over his future.[7]

In August 2002, he joined Scottish side Clyde on a short-term deal before returning to England to play for Mansfield Town the following month as Mansfield were in the midst of a goalkeeping injury crisis.[8] In November 2002 he joined Torquay United, initially on non-contract terms, later signing a longer contract after establishing himself as the first choice keeper.[9] He struggled with injury in the 2004–05 season and subsequently retired from professional football and returned to the Netherlands where he resumed his playing career with FC Lisse.[2]

Career statistics

edit

Source:[10][11]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1994–95 First Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1995–96 First Division 7 0 0 0 2 0 9 0
1996–97 First Division 13 0 0 0 4 0 17 0
1997–98 First Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Total 27 0 0 0 6 0 33 0
Oxford United (loan) 1997–98 First Division 11 0 0 0 2 0 13 0
Cambridge United 1998–99 Third Division 27 0 0 0 7 0 34 0
1999–2000 Second Division 15 0 1 0 3 0 19 0
Total 42 0 1 0 10 0 53 0
Exeter City 2000–01 Third Division 41 0 1 0 1 0 43 0
2001–02 Third Division 33 0 3 0 2 0 38 0
Total 74 0 4 0 3 0 81 0
Mansfield Town 2002–03 Second Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Torquay United 2002–03 Third Division 15 0 1 0 0 0 16 0
2003–04 Third Division 25 0 1 0 1 0 27 0
2004–05 League One 7 0 0 0 2 0 9 0
Total 47 0 2 0 3 0 52 0
Career total 206 0 7 0 24 0 237 0

References

edit
  1. ^ "Arjan van Heusden". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Van Heusden, Arjan". grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ Rothmans football yearbook 2002-03. London : Headline. 2002. ISBN 978-0-7553-1099-9. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  4. ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 297. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  5. ^ "Grecians begin clear-out". BBC Sport. 27 April 2002. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Van Heusden stays". BBC Sport. 14 May 2002. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Van Heusden eyes exit". BBC Sport. 20 August 2002. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. ^ Oliver, Pete (26 September 2002). "Van Heusden joins Stags". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Boardley earns Gulls deal". BBC Sport. 30 September 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. ^ Arjan van Heusden at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  11. ^ Arjan van Heusden at Soccerbase