Arjan van Heusden
Encyclopedia
Arjan van Heusden is a Dutch
former professional football goalkeeper who played much of his career in the English Football League
.
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. 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. He played 42 league games before moving to Exeter City
in August 2000. After stalling on Exeter's offer of a fresh contract in April 2002 he signed within the club's ten day limit, though this failed to put an end to speculation over his future.
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. 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. 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
.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
former professional football goalkeeper who played much of his career in the English Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Playing career
Van Heusden began his career in his native NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
with VV Noordwijk
VV Noordwijk
Voetbalvereniging Noordwijk, is a Dutch football club founded in 1933, based in Noordwijk. It currently competes in the Toplklasse.-External links:...
, moving to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in December 1993 for a trial with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, signing permanently in May 1994 for a fee of £4,500. He joined up with fellow Dutchman Robin van der Laan
Robin van der Laan
Robin van der Laan is a Dutch former footballer who spent most of his senior career in English football...
, who had already established himself in John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
's squad. However Van Heusden failed to dislodge the ever-reliable Paul Musselwhite
Paul Musselwhite
Paul Stephen Musselwhite is an English footballer who plays for York City as a goalkeeper, where he is also the club's Goalkeeping Coach....
and so joined Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
on loan in September 1997, playing 11 league games.
In August 1998 he moved to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
on a free transfer. He played 42 league games before moving to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in August 2000. After stalling on Exeter's offer of a fresh contract in April 2002 he signed within the club's ten day limit, though this failed to put an end to speculation over his future.
In August 2002 he joined Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
side Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
on a short-term deal, before returning to England to play for Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
the following month as Mansfield were in the midst of a goalkeeping injury crisis. In November 2002 he joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, initially on non-contract terms, later signing a longer contract after establishing himself as the first choice keeper. He struggled with injury in the 2004–05 season and subsequently retired from professional football and returned to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
where he resumed his playing career with FC Lisse
FC Lisse
FC Lisse is a Dutch football club from Lisse which was founded in 1981. It currently plays in the Topklasse.-History:The history of FC Lisse is linked to its Catholic religion, the first version of a football club being formed in 1911 by a local Catholic priest, called Lissese Voetbal Vereniging,...
.