A GOALKEEPER from Chester is on his way to Wembley after playing the starring role in a high-pressure penalty shootout.
A nationwide TV audience of millions saw Tom Heaton save two spot-kicks for Cardiff City on Tuesday night as the Bluebirds overcame Crystal Palace in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
Hero Heaton, 25, is now looking forward to playing in the first major cup final of his career at Wembley on Sunday, February 26.
His dad Dave and wife Taralee watched Tuesday’s semi-final thriller from the stands at Cardiff City Stadium – but mum Joan was so nervous she did not even see the drama unfold on TV back at the family’s Guilden Sutton home.
“It’s massive – something you dream about as a boy,” said Heaton, who saved penalties from Palace’s Jermaine Easter and Sean Scannell.
The all-Championship tie had finished 1-1 on aggregate but Heaton’s heroics helped the Bluebirds to a 3-1 victory in the resulting shootout.
Reflecting on an unforgettable evening, the keeper’s dad Dave told The Chronicle: “It doesn’t get any better than this.
“I’ve been following Tom’s career for 15 years and I’ve been waiting all this time for a night like that. I never miss a game.”
Cardiff’s players celebrated late into the night with their wives and girlfriends, although the teetotal Heaton woke up hangover-free the next morning.
Having represented England at all levels from under 16s through to U21, he is no stranger to playing on Wembley’s hallowed turf – but next month’s final will be the biggest game of his life.
“This will be a different ball game – he’ll be playing at senior level in a major cup final,” said Dave, an ex-school teacher who is such a keen follower of son’s career that he even went on the Bluebirds’ pre-season tour of Portugal last summer.
Heaton has spent this season as Cardiff’s back-up keeper, behind first-choice pick David Marshall, but boss Malky Mackay has selected the former Upton High School pupil for the club’s Carling Cup games.
He took time out earlier this week to do his homework on Palace’s likely penalty-takers, but admitted there was also ‘a bit of guesswork’ involved in his two saves.
Heaton’s career began at Wrexham, where his mentor and coach was the Chester goalkeeping great Grenville Millington, but he was soon snapped up by Manchester United after being spotted playing for the Chester Primary Schools team, aged 11.
During his time with the Red Devils, he was loaned to six different clubs before signing for Cardiff on a permanent basis in 2010.
The Bluebirds will face the winner of last night’s Liverpool v Manchester City semi-final at Wembley next month.
