Burnley FC: Any doubts around Sean Dyche’s Bristol City transfer raid were rightly forgotten | OneFootball

Sean Dyche says he was "heavily questioned" when he signed a goalkeeper from a relegated side - but he was proven right

Managers love stability to build a team around, and there can be no better source than a reliable goalkeeper in between the sticks.

Sean Dyche’s Burnley side earned a reputation for their hard-working and resolute tactics, but even if the Clarets’ defence was breached, opposing sides still had to beat Tom Heaton in goal.

But when Dyche made Heaton his first-ever Burnley signing, there were plenty of doubts – which were quickly proven to be unfounded.

Tom Heaton signing “heavily questioned” but Sean Dyche was proven right

Tom Heaton is a modern-day Burnley legend, having captained the Clarets and played 200 times for the club.

Not only would Heaton go on to earn England honours whilst representing Burnley, but he would also record 65 clean sheets.

But there were doubts over Heaton’s suitability for Championship football, having been a part of a Bristol City side that conceded 84 goals en route to relegation to League One.

Heaton declined an option in his Bristol City contract to become a free agent, signing an initial two-year deal at Turf Moor.

Reflecting upon the signing in 2019, Dyche shared: "Tom was my first signing, which is always important, I got heavily questioned for it, which I like, especially seeing everything he has done for the club.

"He's a top fella off and on the pitch, I like him as a person and I like him as a professional and as a player."

Those questions were answered in Heaton’s first season at Turf Moor, with the Manchester United academy graduate recording 19 clean sheets as he won the Championship’s golden glove.

Sean Dyche and Tom Heaton partnership almost formed at another Championship club

Coincidentally, Dyche and Heaton could have joined forces at another Championship club.

Following his departure from Bristol City, Heaton had agreed terms with Watford to join on a free transfer, only for the deal to be nixed by the Pozzo family following the completion of their takeover.

The next day, Dyche was sacked as Hornets boss – with the new regime deciding to move in a new direction despite Dyche securing an 11th-placed finish in the Championship, the club’s highest in four years.

That paved the way for the pair to unite at Burnley later that window, with Dyche making Heaton his first signing at Turf Moor.

Dyche and Heaton went on to prove Watford’s decision wrong, earning promotion in the 2013/14 season.

Whilst Burnley would be relegated from the Premier League the following campaign, they rallied to win the Championship in 2015/16, with Heaton captaining the side to the second-tier trophy.

Back in the Premier League, Dyche and Heaton would help establish Burnley as a top-flight outfit in the 2016/17 campaign, before being sidelined with a shoulder injury for the majority of the following year.

After returning from injury, Heaton found himself in a three-way fight for the starting goalkeeper role under Dyche, with England veteran Joe Hart and up-and-coming goalie Nick Pope strong contenders for the number one spot.

Still club captain, Heaton would go on to replace Hart for the second half of the 2018/19 season, with Nick Pope ruled out with injury.

With three England international goalkeepers on the books, it became clear that gametime would not be guaranteed at Turf Moor.

As such, Heaton left in the summer of 2019, joining newly promoted Aston Villa for £8million - netting Burnley a very healthy profit after six years of service for the Clarets.