Stephen Healey
Encyclopedia
Captain
Stephen James "Steve" Healey (born 19 September 1982) is a British Army
officer
with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh
(Royal Welch Fusiliers), and former professional footballer for Swansea City
.
, the capital city of Wales
, part of the United Kingdom
. Football was a key part of his early life and Healey aspired as a child to become a professional football player. He chose a career in the game against the advice of his school teachers, who wanted him to take the education route. He first served a two-year apprenticeship
with Swansea City
, a Football League
club based in Swansea
, Wales.
as a 6 foot tall, centre back. For the 2001–02 season, Healey wore number 21.
Under the Swansea manager John Hollins
, Healey was expected to sign his first professional contract with the club on 17 May 2001, along with fellow trainees Chris O'Sullivan
and Craig Draper
. In a pre-season friendly on 8 August 2001 against Haverfordwest County, Healey was singled out for praise by the Evening Post as the energetic heart of the defence, in a 5–1 away win.
By 16 March 2002, with the club in the temporary charge of Nick Cusack
and Roger Freestone
, Healey and Draper were out on loan to the League of Wales side Llanelli
.
By 15 May 2002, out of the trio of first year professionals of Draper, Healey and O'Sullivan, only Draper had made any first team appearances when all three players; along with Jason Jones
, Chris Todd
, Jonathan Coates
, Ryan Casey
and Steve Brodie
, all were released from their contracts by the club. The players were released by Cusack, by now the club's player-manager, as he was facing budget constraints and a need to refresh the squad with more experienced players more suited to playing in the Third Division
. Other players released that summer were Ben Davies, James Fox and Mamady Sidibe
.
as a slightly older student (i.e. not yet old enough to be classed as a mature student). Despite not having any A-Level
s, Swansea University
accepted him on degree
course in sports science
based on his experience as a footballer.
Between 2002 and 2006, Healey continued to play football in the semi-professional League of Wales (renamed the Welsh Premier League from 2002–03), continuing with Llanelli for aother season, then playing for two seasons with Port Talbot Town
and one season for Cardiff Grange Harlequins. Other clubs he has played for have included Bridgend Town
, Goytre United
and Barry Town
.
would be his new career path. Having recovered from his sporting injuries, he joined the Army in 2007. Choosing the officer
career path, he first attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
in Berkshire, England. He chose to join the infantry
for the challenge, and the Royal Welsh
regiment
specifically due to his Welsh origins. Attached to the light infantry
battalion
the 1st Battalion (Royal Welch Fusiliers) of the Royal Welsh regiment (1 WELSH), Healey is based in his native Cardiff
, in south Wales
.
As part of the War in Afghanistan
, in 2009 the 1st Battalion was deployed to Helmand Province
, which became Healey's first tour to the country. The tour ran from December 2009 to April 2010, and latterly saw the battalion contribute to Operation Moshtarak
.
In January 2010, while leading a vehicle convoy Healey survived an improvised explosive device
(IED) attack on his Mastiff PPV
(Protected Patrol Vehicle). According to Healey there were around 12 Mastiffs in the convoy moving through a sparse villge area, with no outward signs an IED attack was imminent. Healey was seated in the gun turret
, with eight soldiers and an interpreter in the cabin below, when the IED exploded directly beneath the vehicle. While there were no resultant deaths, the force of the blast was sufficient to snap machine gun barrels, and rendered the vehicle beyond use. Once the area was secured and the vehicle recovered, the platoon had the night off, before returning to patrols the next day.
Having returned from Afghanistan, in Summer 2010 Healey and another Lieutenant led a group of 26 soldiers of 1 WELSH on a 224 miles (360.5 km) charity run across Wales, starting in Chester
on 22 June and finishing in Cardiff
on 26 June, crossing the line on Armed Forces Day, which was being held in the city. It raised funds for the Army Benevolent Fund
, the visually imparied soldiers charity St Dunstan's
, and their colleagues injured in Afghanistan.
Healey received a Mention in Despatches, announced in the Operational Honours and Awards list of 24 September 2010. This was for his outstanding leadership during one particular ambush during his first Afghan tour. While his unit were providing protection for a team clearing IEDs from a road, they came under significant enemy attack pinning some of his men down. He drew enemy fire three times in order to expose their positions, so that his unit could return accurate fire.
While in Afghanistan, Healey was a Lieutenant
, serving as platoon commander of the battalion's B Company
. He was promoted to Captain
following the tour. Speaking in 2010, Healey stated he wanted a full career in the Army, intending to stay for at least 12 years.
In February 2011 Healey was training with the battalion in Sennybridge Training Area
in preparation for their tour to Kenya
on exercise Askari Thunder. The 1st Battalion was then due to return to Afghanistan in 2012.
Heealey still plays football, occasionally turning out for the full army team
. In Summer 2010 he also joined the Swansea based Welsh Football League Division One
team Garden Village.
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
Stephen James "Steve" Healey (born 19 September 1982) is a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh
Royal Welsh
The Royal Welsh was formed on St David's Day, 1 March 2006. It is one of the new large infantry regiments of the British Army, and the regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by Geoff Hoon and General Sir Mike Jackson as part of the restructuring of the infantry.-Formation:The...
(Royal Welch Fusiliers), and former professional footballer for Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
.
Early life
Healey was born on 19 September 1982 in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, the capital city of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, part of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Football was a key part of his early life and Healey aspired as a child to become a professional football player. He chose a career in the game against the advice of his school teachers, who wanted him to take the education route. He first served a two-year apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
with Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
, a 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...
club based in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales.
Football career
After serving his apprenticeship with Swansea City, he signed a two-year professional contract with the club. Having signed at age 19, he played for around three years, before suffering a series of injuries in the space of 6 months. He played in defenceDefender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
as a 6 foot tall, centre back. For the 2001–02 season, Healey wore number 21.
Under the Swansea manager John Hollins
John Hollins
John William Hollins MBE is a retired English footballer and manager. He was initially a midfielder who, later in his career, became an effective centre back.Hollins' son, Chris Hollins is the main sport presenter on BBC Breakfast....
, Healey was expected to sign his first professional contract with the club on 17 May 2001, along with fellow trainees Chris O'Sullivan
Chris O'Sullivan (footballer)
Chris O'Sullivan is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian/Australian Football League ....
and Craig Draper
Craig Draper
Craig Draper is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.-Club career:Draper began his career with Swansea City, making 2 appearances in the Football League between 2001 and 2002. After leaving Swansea, Draper played for Llanelli.-References:...
. In a pre-season friendly on 8 August 2001 against Haverfordwest County, Healey was singled out for praise by the Evening Post as the energetic heart of the defence, in a 5–1 away win.
By 16 March 2002, with the club in the temporary charge of Nick Cusack
Nick Cusack
Nicholas John Cusack is an English former footballer and, briefly, player-manager. He was for a time chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association .-Football career:...
and Roger Freestone
Roger Freestone
Roger Freestone is a former Wales international Goalkeeper.-Club career:Born in Caerleon, near Newport, Monmouthshire, Freestone began his career at Newport County as a trainee before moving to Chelsea in 1987 for £95,000...
, Healey and Draper were out on loan to the League of Wales side Llanelli
Llanelli A.F.C.
Llanelli Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club that plays in the Welsh Premier League for the 2010–11 season. The team has been based at Stebonheath Park since 1920, and as of 2009 is managed by Andy Legg....
.
By 15 May 2002, out of the trio of first year professionals of Draper, Healey and O'Sullivan, only Draper had made any first team appearances when all three players; along with Jason Jones
Jason Jones (footballer)
Jason Andrew Jones is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Club career:After playing youth football with Liverpool, Jones began his senior career with Swansea City, making 10 appearances in the Football League between 1997 and 2002. While at Swansea, Jones spent a...
, Chris Todd
Chris Todd
Christopher Todd , is a Welsh professional footballer currently playing for Forest Green Rovers.-Swansea City:...
, Jonathan Coates
Jonathan Coates
Jonathan Coates is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a left winger.-Career:Coates made 280 appearances in the Football League in two spells for Swansea City, and also spent time with Barry Town, Cheltenham Town, Woking, Carmarthen Town, Newport County, Aberystwyth Town, Port...
, Ryan Casey
Ryan Casey
Ryan Casey is an Irish footballer with Longford Town where he plays as defender. He signed for the club in February 2008 from Athlone Town. He has also played for Galway United, St Patrick's Athletic and Swansea City...
and Steve Brodie
Steve Brodie (footballer)
Stephen Eric “Steve” Brodie is an English footballer, currently playing for Witton Albion.-External links:*...
, all were released from their contracts by the club. The players were released by Cusack, by now the club's player-manager, as he was facing budget constraints and a need to refresh the squad with more experienced players more suited to playing in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. Other players released that summer were Ben Davies, James Fox and Mamady Sidibe
Mamady Sidibe
Mamady Sidibe is a Malian footballer who plays for Stoke City as a striker. He has previously played for Swansea City and Gillingham. He has played internationally for Mali, making his debut in 2002.-Early life in France:...
.
Higher education
After being released by Swansea, Healey decided he was not likely to have a long career in football, and decided to quit the game and return to education. He entered higher educationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
as a slightly older student (i.e. not yet old enough to be classed as a mature student). Despite not having any A-Level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
s, Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
accepted him on degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
course in sports science
Sports science
Sport science is a discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance...
based on his experience as a footballer.
Between 2002 and 2006, Healey continued to play football in the semi-professional League of Wales (renamed the Welsh Premier League from 2002–03), continuing with Llanelli for aother season, then playing for two seasons with Port Talbot Town
Port Talbot Town F.C.
Port Talbot Town F.C. is a football club from Port Talbot in Wales and was founded in 1901, making Port Talbot Athletic as they were then one of the first association football clubs to be founded in Wales...
and one season for Cardiff Grange Harlequins. Other clubs he has played for have included Bridgend Town
Bridgend Town F.C.
Bridgend Town F.C. is a Welsh football club that currently play in the Welsh Football League First Division. They are based in Bridgend in south Wales. Historically, their local rivals were Maesteg Park who disbanded in 2009...
, Goytre United
Goytre United F.C.
Goytre United F.C. is a Welsh football club based in Goytre, near Port Talbot. They play in the Welsh Football League, part of the second tier of Welsh football...
and Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
.
Military career
While at university, Healey had decided that the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
would be his new career path. Having recovered from his sporting injuries, he joined the Army in 2007. Choosing the officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
career path, he first attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
in Berkshire, England. He chose to join the infantry
Infantry of the British Army
The British Army's Infantry, part of the Structure of the British Army, comprises 51 battalions of Infantry, from 19 Regiments. Of these 37 battalions are part of the 'Regular' army and the remaining 14 a part of the 'Territorial' force...
for the challenge, and the Royal Welsh
Royal Welsh
The Royal Welsh was formed on St David's Day, 1 March 2006. It is one of the new large infantry regiments of the British Army, and the regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by Geoff Hoon and General Sir Mike Jackson as part of the restructuring of the infantry.-Formation:The...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
specifically due to his Welsh origins. Attached to the light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
the 1st Battalion (Royal Welch Fusiliers) of the Royal Welsh regiment (1 WELSH), Healey is based in his native Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
As part of the War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
, in 2009 the 1st Battalion was deployed to Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
, which became Healey's first tour to the country. The tour ran from December 2009 to April 2010, and latterly saw the battalion contribute to Operation Moshtarak
Operation Moshtarak
Operation Moshtarak was an ISAF pacification offensive in the area that is described as the "poppy-growing belt" of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. The combat operations started on February 13, 2010, and focuses on the Nad Ali District and Lashkar Gah district...
.
In January 2010, while leading a vehicle convoy Healey survived an improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
(IED) attack on his Mastiff PPV
Cougar (vehicle)
The Cougar is an armored fighting vehicle designed to be resistant to anti-vehicle mines and improvised munitions.It is a family of armored vehicles produced by Force Protection Inc, which manufactures ballistic and mine-protected vehicles. The automotives are integrated by Spartan Motors...
(Protected Patrol Vehicle). According to Healey there were around 12 Mastiffs in the convoy moving through a sparse villge area, with no outward signs an IED attack was imminent. Healey was seated in the gun turret
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
, with eight soldiers and an interpreter in the cabin below, when the IED exploded directly beneath the vehicle. While there were no resultant deaths, the force of the blast was sufficient to snap machine gun barrels, and rendered the vehicle beyond use. Once the area was secured and the vehicle recovered, the platoon had the night off, before returning to patrols the next day.
Having returned from Afghanistan, in Summer 2010 Healey and another Lieutenant led a group of 26 soldiers of 1 WELSH on a 224 miles (360.5 km) charity run across Wales, starting in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
on 22 June and finishing in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
on 26 June, crossing the line on Armed Forces Day, which was being held in the city. It raised funds for the Army Benevolent Fund
Army Benevolent Fund
ABF The Soldiers' Charity, formerly the Army Benevolent Fund is a British charity. It is the British Army's national charity and provides financial and practical support to soldiers, former soldiers, and their families in times of need....
, the visually imparied soldiers charity St Dunstan's
St Dunstan's
St Dunstan's is a large national charity in the United Kingdom, providing support, rehabilitation and respite care to blind ex-service personnel of the British Armed Forces....
, and their colleagues injured in Afghanistan.
Healey received a Mention in Despatches, announced in the Operational Honours and Awards list of 24 September 2010. This was for his outstanding leadership during one particular ambush during his first Afghan tour. While his unit were providing protection for a team clearing IEDs from a road, they came under significant enemy attack pinning some of his men down. He drew enemy fire three times in order to expose their positions, so that his unit could return accurate fire.
While in Afghanistan, Healey was a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, serving as platoon commander of the battalion's B Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
. He was promoted to Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
following the tour. Speaking in 2010, Healey stated he wanted a full career in the Army, intending to stay for at least 12 years.
In February 2011 Healey was training with the battalion in Sennybridge Training Area
Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA)
The Sennybridge Training Area consists of approximately 31,000 acres of Ministry of Defence freehold land and 6,000 acres of land leased from Forest Enterprise....
in preparation for their tour to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
on exercise Askari Thunder. The 1st Battalion was then due to return to Afghanistan in 2012.
Heealey still plays football, occasionally turning out for the full army team
Army Football Association
Based at Clayton Barracks in Aldershot, the Army Football Association is the County FA affiliated to The Football Association for the administration of football within the British Army in the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Germany....
. In Summer 2010 he also joined the Swansea based Welsh Football League Division One
2010–11 Welsh Football League Division One
The 2010–11 Welsh Football League Division One began on 1 September 2010 and ended on 28 May 2011. Bryntirion Athletic won the league by five points.-Team changes from 2009–10:...
team Garden Village.