Thomas Beattie (footballer)

Thomas Beattie (born 16 September 1986) is an English entrepreneur and former professional footballer. His professional football career spanned over 10 years before a serious head injury forced him to retire.

Thomas Beattie
Personal information
Full name Thomas Edward Beattie
Date of birth (1986-09-16) 16 September 1986
Place of birth Goole, Yorkshire, England
Position(s) Attacking Midfielder
Youth career
Hull City
2005–2007 Limestone College
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Forest City London 38 (7)
2010–2011 London City 49 (15)
2012–2013 Ottawa Fury 23 (3)
2013–2014 Hougang United 23 (5)
2014–2015 Warriors 31 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:59, 5 August 2015 (UTC)

Beattie is the co-founder of several companies based throughout Asia.[1][2] Specialising in mobile technology,[3] and product development,[4][5] Beattie has commercial interests in the fitness industry throughout South East Asia.[6]

Beattie was voted as one of Singapore's most eligible bachelors of 2019 by CLEO magazine.[7]

In an interview with ESPN, Beattie came out as gay on 23 June 2020.[8]

Early life

Beattie was born in Goole, East Yorkshire, England on 16 September 1986.

At the age of 9 years old, he was scouted for Hull City A.F.C., Leeds United F.C. & Blackburn Rovers F.C. subsequently signing for Hull City.

He was educated at Vermuyden School until the age of 15 where he started his professional career with Hull City A.F.C. at the age of 16.

Club career

Hull City FC

Beattie started at the academy of Hull City at the age of 9 years old. He progressed through the youth ranks into the reserve team at the age of 16. After establishing himself in the reserve team he found first team opportunities hard to come by with the progression of the club been promoted. He left at the age of 19 to play & study in the USA on a football scholarship.[3]

Limestone College FC

After moving to the United States, he was the first Adidas All-American Athlete,[9] subsequently in 2018 Beattie was named in the Limestone College Hall of Fame.[10] and Sandefjord Fotball of the Norwegian Premier League before deciding to return to North America.

Forrest City London FC

In 2008, Beattie went to Canada to play for Forest City London in the USL Premier Development League and made 38 appearances in midfield, scoring 7 times.

London City FC

Beattie signed with London City of the Canadian Soccer League in 2010.[11] He recorded his first goal for the club on 28 May 2010 against TFC Academy.[12] At the conclusion of the season he received the CSL Rookie of the Year award.[13] Thomas re-signed with London for the 2011 season.[14] and over his time at London City went on to score 15 goals in 49 club appearances.

Ottawa Fury FC

Beattie joined Canadian side Ottawa Fury after completing his studies in 2012[15] before exploring further afield towards Asia.

Hougang United FC

In November 2012, Beattie signed for Singapore side Hougang United of the S.League.[16][17] He was signed by Alex Weaver for 2013–14 season where he went on to captain the club in what was a difficult season. During his time at the club the then manager Alex Weaver was fired after only five games [18] which resulted in a managerial merry-go-round for the rest of the season.

SAF Warriors FC

The following season Beattie was signed by his former manager Alex Weaver for Warriors FC of Singapore for an undisclosed fee, where they won the league title in his debut season.[19][20] Beattie played in the Championship winning team along with the likes of Daniel Bennett, Nicolás Vélez & Hassan Sunny.

Beattie returned to the club the following 2015–16 season and started the season where the previous one had left off. The club secured the 2015 Singapore Charity Shield beating Balestier Khalsa FC 1–0. As a result of winning the Championship in 2015 the club qualified for the AFC Champions League. The first game of the group stages was against Yadanarbon F.C. which they won 6–5 on penalties.[21] The second group game which they ultimately lost 3-0 was against Chinese Super League giants, Guangzhou R&F F.C..[22][23]

Shortly after the AFC Champions League campaign he sustained a life-threatening injury in a head collision during a game against Geylang International FC resulting in a brain haemorrhage and facial fractures to the cheek, nose, eye sockets and forehead forcing him to retire.

Life after football

Modelling

Beattie has modelled for various brands and products throughout Asia and has featured in Esquire and ExpatLiving.[24]

Personal life

In June 2020, Beattie came out as gay.[25]

References
  1. "e27". e27.co. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  2. "Social netbusting: How three Singapore-based pro footballers launched a social media app |". Expat Living Singapore. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  3. "About - Ovvy - The Service Marketplace". Ovvy - The Service Marketplace. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  4. "Hygiene Hub". hygienehub.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  5. "Latent Epicure | Home and Kitchen Connoisseurs". Latent Epicure. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  6. "Home". TB Fitness. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  7. "Thomas Edward Beattie". CLEO Singapore. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  8. "My hidden journey: A professional soccer player reveals he is gay". ESPN.com. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. "7. SMALL COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas All-America Teams". Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  10. "Limestone Athletics Announces 2018 Hall of Fame Class | North & South Carolina | Limestone College". Limestone College. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  11. "Canadian Soccer League". 13 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. "May 29, 2010 CSL--CSL summary of Friday and Saturday games (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  13. "2010 CSL Season" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. 31 October 2010.
  14. ANewsLondon (15 April 2011), CSL: Thomas Beattie back in London, retrieved 11 March 2017
  15. "Tom Beattie, Hougang's new HOOL". Goal.com. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  16. "Ottawa FURY News Detail". Ottawafury.com. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  17. "Former Limestone Standout Beattie Signs Pro Contract in Singapore". Limestone College. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  18. "Weaver parted ways with Hougang as he is named Warriors' boss – Hougang United Football Club". www.hgfc.com.sg. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  19. Cam (13 January 2015). "2014 Review: #5 Thomas Beattie". English football players abroad. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  20. "Thomas Beattie | English football players abroad". englishplayersabroad.wordpress.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  21. "Beattie, Velez laud Warriors' resilience in Myanmar". FourFourTwo. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  22. "Guangzhou R&F v Warriors Starting XIs, 10/02/2015, AFC Champions League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  23. "Warriors' Weaver satisfied, despite 3-0 loss to Guangzhou R&F". The New Paper. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  24. "Bundies: Singapore's first underwear subscription service that delivers fresh boxers monthly". Esquire SG. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  25. Gillespie, Thomas (24 June 2020). "Thomas Beattie: British former professional footballer comes out as gay". Sky News.
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