- #
- Name
- Ben Heath
- Nationality
- England
- Position
- Goalkeeper
- Sponsor (Home)
- Jim Playle
- Sponsor (Away)
- Jim Playle
- Joined
- 31/10/2016; re-joined 30/12/2023
- Diamonds Debut
- 01/11/2016
- Current Club
- Diamonds
- Previous Club(s)
- Diamonds, Cogenhoe United, Corby Town, Daventry Town, Rugby Town, Spalding United, St Ives Town, Stamford AFC
- Leagues & Cups
- Northern Premier League - Midlands Division, Southern League Premier Division Central, Southern League Division One East, Northern Premier League - First Division South, FA Cup
- Age
- 28
Ben Heath is a goalkeeper who joined the Club at the end of October 2016, after a spell with Rugby Town, having also played at Step 4 level for Daventry Town. He made his Diamonds debut the following day in a dramatic game at Spalding, then continued to impress when deputising for the Club’s regular stopper Matt Finlay during the 2016/17 season. He assumed first-choice keeper status for the 2017-18 season, and had an impressive campaign as the Club conceded only 25 league goals and he recorded 22 clean sheets in the 42 league games.
18/08/21: Ben Heath has moved on to a fresh challenge and leaves the Club with our very best wishes for the future.
21/08/21: Ben Heath joined St Ives Town.
31/12/21: Ben Heath joined Corby Town.
03/07/22: Ben Heath signed for Stamford AFC.
11/11/22: Ben Heath signed on dual registration with Cogenhoe United.
11/08/23: Ben Heath signed for Corby Town.
14/10/23: Ben Heath signed for Spalding United.
30/12/23: AFC Rushden & Diamonds are thrilled to announce that 28-year-old goalkeeper Ben Heath has returned to the Club from fellow Northern Premier League Midlands Division side Spalding United.
Ben is of course no stranger to the Club. He is an AFC Rushden & Diamonds centurion having previously made 148 appearances between November 2016 – February 2020, ranking 8th on the all-time list. Whilst with the Club, Ben was a key part of the Southern League Division One Central promotion-winning squad of 2017/18.
Since leaving the Diamonds, Ben has featured for St Ives Town, Stamford AFC, Corby Town and most recently Spalding United. He featured 24 times for Stamford as they won the Northern Premier League Midlands Division during the 2022/23 season, and lined up against the Diamonds earlier this season for Corby Town.
Diamonds’ Assistant Manager Tom Lorraine spent 3-and-a-half-years playing alongside Ben Heath for the Club and upon learning of the imminent departure of George Rose, made Ben his first phone call: “I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to bring Ben back to the Club. A player with his characteristics is exactly what we need at this time. As fans will know he has a history with the Club from his time here before, being an integral part of our promotion-winning side from Step 4 in 2017/18. Since leaving the Club he has spent time at a number of very strong clubs at Step 4, and therefore will bring a wealth of experience to the team which will be crucial to us and is something we need with such a young squad. Not only this but most importantly he is a fantastic goalkeeper who will use his skills to bring stability to our defence. We are very excited to have Ben onboard and I’m sure our supporters will give Ben the Welcome Back he deserves!!”
Ben is available for selection for our New Year’s Day clash against Corby Town in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
Northern Premier League - Midlands Division
Season | Club | Yellow Card | Red Card | Team Sheet | Started | Subbed On | Subbed Off | Bench | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023/24 | Diamonds | 1 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Total | - | 1 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Southern League Premier Division Central
Season | Club | Yellow Card | Red Card | Team Sheet | Started | Subbed On | Subbed Off | Bench | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | - |
Southern League Division One East
Season | Club | Yellow Card | Red Card | Team Sheet | Started | Subbed On | Subbed Off | Bench | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017/18 | Diamonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Northern Premier League - First Division South
Season | Club | Yellow Card | Red Card | Team Sheet | Started | Subbed On | Subbed Off | Bench | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | - |
FA Cup
Season | Club | Yellow Card | Red Card | Team Sheet | Started | Subbed On | Subbed Off | Bench | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | - |
Diamonds Total (League & Cup)
Season | Yellow Card | Red Card | Team Sheet | Started | Subbed On | Subbed Off | Bench | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023/24 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Total | 1 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Result
(Hillier Senior Cup Final - Diamonds win 4-2 on penalties) 0 - 0Northants FA Hillier Senior Cup 2023/24 Sixfields Stadium Kettering Town v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 952 Man of the Match: Tarik Dallas Captain: Ryan Inman |
(38) 0 - 2Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 John Sylvester Stadium Walsall Wood v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 487 Captain: Ryan Inman |
(37) 1 - 0Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Shepshed DynamoMatch Sponsor: Chiltern Oak Furniture Store Attendance: 883 Man of the Match: Ryan Inman Captain: Ryan Inman |
(36) 2 - 2Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 The Trevor Brown Memorial Ground Boldmere St Michaels v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 253 Man of the Match: Jacob Scott Captain: Ryan Inman |
(35) 0 - 3Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Anstey NomadsAttendance: 445 Man of the Match: Fraser Corden (chosen by Mind) Captain: Ryan Inman |
(34) 0 - 2Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Harborough Town Community Football Ground Harborough Town v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 546 Man of the Match: Tarik Dallas Captain: Ryan Inman |
(33) 1 - 1Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Loughborough DynamoMatch Sponsor: Off the Streets NN CIC Matchball Sponsor: Rebel Energy Attendance: 397 Man of the Match: Luis Pinto-Leite (chosen by Off the Streets) Captain: Ryan Inman |
(29 (re-arranged)) 4 - 1Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Cambridge CityMatch Sponsor: Seventy9 Creative & Digital Marketing Agency Attendance: 269 Man of the Match: Ryan Inman Captain: Ryan Inman |
(32) 7 - 1Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Farley Way Stadium Quorn v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 312 Captain: Ryan Inman |
(17 (re-arranged)) 0 - 5Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v QuornMatch Sponsor: Rebel Energy Attendance: 275 Captain: Ryan Inman |
(30) 0 - 4Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Pack Meadow Coleshill Town v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 247 Man of the Match: Reuben Wyatt Captain: Ryan Inman |
(28) 3 - 0Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Leicester Road Stadium Hinckley LRFC v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 252 Man of the Match: Ryan Inman Captain: Ryan Inman |
(13 (re-arranged)) 3 - 2Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Boldmere St MichaelsMatch Sponsor: Fuelsell Matchball Sponsor: Rebel Energy Attendance: 255 Man of the Match: Fraser Corden (chosen by Tim Sams) Captain: Ryan Inman |
(26) 1 - 0Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Sutton Coldfield TownAttendance: 323 Man of the Match: Ethan Johnston Captain: Ryan Inman |
(25) 0 - 2Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Butlin Road Rugby Town v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 459 Captain: Ryan Inman |
(24) 2 - 2Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 The Oval Bedworth United v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 251 |
(23) 0 - 3Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Gresley RoversMatch Sponsor: Rebel Energy Matchball Sponsor: Fuelsell Attendance: 458 Man of the Match: Miguel Ngwa (chosen by Gen Kitchen, Labour Candidate) Captain: Ryan Inman |
(22) 3 - 2Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Steel Park Corby Town v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 714 Captain: Ryan Inman |
(5) 1 - 3Northern Premier League - Midlands Division 2023/24 Hayden Road Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Corby TownAttendance: 716 Man of the Match: Luke Massingham Captain: Luke Massingham |
(Pre-Season Friendly) 5 - 3Pre-Season Friendly PSF 2022/23 Borderville Sports Centre Stamford AFC v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAttendance: 229 Captain: Dean Snedker |
(Pre-Season Friendly) 4 - 0Pre-Season Friendly PSF 2021/22 Hayden Road AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Daventry Town FC |
(Pre-Season Friendly) 7:45 pmPre-Season Friendly PSF 2021/22 Sharpenhoe Road Barton Rovers FC v AFC Rushden & Diamonds |
(Pre-Season Friendly) 2 - 2Pre-Season Friendly PSF 2021/22 Creasey Park Stadium Dunstable Town FC v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAll Ticket?: Pay on the gate |
(At the Dog & Duck Ground) 3 - 1Pre-Season Friendly PSF 2021/22 Dog & Duck Sports Ground AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Northampton Town XIAll Ticket?: Advance ticket purchase via TicketSource or contactless card payment at the gate. Cash entry payments not permitted. Attendance: 690 |
(Chris Ruff Memorial Cup) 0 - 5Pre-Season Friendly PSF 2021/22 Hayden Road Rushden & Higham United v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAll Ticket?: Advance ticket purchase via TicketSource or by card payment at the turnstile. Cash entry payments not permitted. Attendance: 168 |
(Harry Robinson Trophy - Grand Finals Day) 1 - 0Pre-Season Tournament PST 2021/22 Hillsground Stadium AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Cambridge CityAll Ticket?: Pay on the gate Man of the Match: Tom Lorraine |
(Harry Robinson Trophy) 3 - 0Pre-Season Tournament PST 2021/22 Hayden Road AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Cambridge CityAll Ticket?: Yes Capacity: Capped at 465 Attendance: 236 Man of the Match: Trialist_2 |
(Harry Robinson Trophy) 0 - 3Pre-Season Tournament PST 2021/22 Hillsground Stadium Eynesbury Rovers v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAll Ticket?: Pay on the gate Man of the Match: Trialist_4 |
(Harry Robinson Trophy) 1 - 7Pre-Season Tournament PST 2021/22 Hillsground Stadium Kempston Rovers v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAll Ticket?: Pay on the gate Man of the Match: Will Jones |
(Friendly) 1 - 1In-Season Friendly 2020/21 Elderstubbs Daventry Town v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAll Ticket?: Yes Captain: Liam Dolman |
4 - 1Southern League Premier Division Central 2020/21 Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium Coalville Town v AFC Rushden & DiamondsAll Ticket?: Yes, sell-out Attendance: 500 Man of the Match: Fernando Bell-Toxtle Captain: Tom Lorraine |
2 - 1Southern League Premier Division Central 2020/21 Hayden Road AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Hednesford TownAll Ticket?: Yes (season tickets are valid) Attendance: 410 Man of the Match: Fernando Bell-Toxtle Captain: Tom Lorraine |