PNE Ex-files David Healy
David Healy became Preston's record signing in December 2000 from Manchester United for a fee in the region of £1.5m. Even though Healy spent two years at Manchester United, he only made a couple of appearances before being sent out on loan to Port Vale in the 2000/2001 season where he made sixteen appearances and scored three goals. Later that season he joined the Lilywhites as a highly rated Manchester United youth player, as his transfer fee would suggest.
In his first season at Deepdale, Healy made twenty-six appearances and scored 10 goals, making him a popular figure with the Deepdale faithful as Preston narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League after falling at the final hurdle in the play off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The following season he became a key member of Preston side as he clocked up forty-four appearances and bagged himself ten goals and was used largely as a wide player and a provider.
After what seemed like a season in which Healy could build on, he was sent out on loan to Norwich City and had a poor season both with North End at Norwich, where he made 36 appearances and only scored 7 goals collectively. Healy himself put this poor form down to him being burnt out and ready for a rest.
Healy came back firing on all cylinders the following year where he had his best goal return with the Lilywhites. 15 goals in 42 appearances for the North Irishman caught the attention of Leeds United's Kevin Blackwell and with Healy's contracted due to expire a cut price was agreed and he became a Leeds United player in October 2004. Many Preston fans will never forgive his antics in the game at Elland Road where he gave a sheepish wave to the Leeds United support as the chanted his name in anticipation of the upcoming transfer. This followed by his over celebration Leeds United's goals when he returned to Deepdale just a month after his transfer across the pennies made him a hate figure with Preston fans and was showered with abuse and chants of 'Judas' through the 90 minutes. Leeds beat Preston 4-2 that day with Healy getting on the score sheet himself twice.
In the 2004/2005 season Healy went on to become United's joint top scorer along with Brian Deane on 7 goals and became an instant hit with the Elland Road faithful. Lightening struck twice as he repeated this achievement the following year, doubling his tally from the previous season and finished joint top scorer with Rob Hulse.
The 2005/2006 season saw Leeds go all the way to Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to take on Watford in the Championship Play-Off final. On the day Leeds simply didn't turn up and were hammered by a convincing Watford side 3-0. Determined to go one better and achieve promotion that he craved so much, Leeds went the opposite way and into descent as they were relegated from the English Championship and into English footballs third tier for the first time in their history. Healy however, landed on his feet and was snapped up by Lawrie Sanchez, who was Fulham manager at the time and his former Northern Ireland boss and brought him to Craven Cottage.
For Fulham this season Healy has notched up 27 appearances and scored 5 goals, including the goal on his Premiership debut for Fulham against Arsenal, at The Emirates Stadium. Despite his 27 appearances this season, a lot have come as a substitute as he has not been able to hold down a starting place since his summer transfer from Leeds United. Fulham chief, Mohammed Al Fayed departed company with Sanchez which could spell the end of Healy at Craven Cottage. Ex-Blackburn manager, Roy Hodgson has taken over leaving Healy with his work cut out for him if he is to make an impression with his new boss and feature in his plans. Since Roy Hodgson has taken over, Healy has found himself surplus to requirements and has failed to make the squad for Fulham's last three consecutive matches. He was an unused substitute against Bolton on January 29th.