Liam Hearn

Early career

Hearn was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. began his career in the Central Midlands League with Santos FC where he was spotted by Hucknall Town scouts at one of his games. He joined Hucknall in the 2003–04 season and he went on to be top goal scorer at Watnall Road. During his debut season, and at the age of 19, he finished with 16 goals in the Northern Premier League. He moved on to Eastwood Town another Nottinghamshire based team, before joining Chasetown in the summer.

In Christmas 2006, he joined Leicestershire-based Northern Premier League Division One South team Quorn where he scored 13 times in the remainder of the season. Hearn then scored six in the 2008–09 season campaign before moving to Alfreton Town.

Alfreton Town

Hearn completed his move to Alfreton Town on 22 September 2008, Alfreton having beaten off interest from a number of other clubs to clinch his signature.

On 22 November 2008 in the FA Trophy third qualifying round, Hearn came on as a last minute substitute and scored against Blyth Spartans to win the game 4–3 and to assure them to a victory to advance to the next round.

Hearn was called up to the England national football C team – along with teammate Paul Clayton – to play a friendly against Malta under-21s at Hibernian in Paola on 17 February 2009. However, due to having no passport Hearn was unable to make the call up even though dispensation from the Home Office to speed up the process to two weeks was not enough.

Alfreton Town manager Nicky Law hailed Liam Hearn "He is probably the best ever find I have made in football management anywhere."

At Alfreton he scored 71 goals in 110 appearances. The striker netted 31 goals in his final season as Alfreton won promotion to the Conference Premier, finishing the top scorer in the Conference North, this also earned him the divisional player of the year award in the 2010–11 season.

2011–12

Hearn signed a three-year contract with Grimsby Town on 17 June 2011, for a £30,000 transfer fee. His first Grimsby goal came 11 games into the 2011–12 season against Wrexham, Hearn took a nice through ball from Craig Disley down the right hand channel and in space had time to steady himself before firing a low shot passed Chris Maxwell. The following week he scored 4 goals against his former club Alfreton on 1 October 2011, scoring the equaliser on 57 minutes after Duffy's header bounced off the crossbar for Hearn to finish from close range. His 2nd came only 3 minutes later when Duffy fed Hearn a neat ball over the top to shoot past the keeper, the hat-trick goal came in the 70th minute when he fired in a shot the keeper could only assist into the net. Hearn's fourth goal of the afternoon came in the 86th minute when he took the ball past the defence and the keeper to slide home and put Grimsby 4–1 up, the game finished a 5–2 victory to the Mariners. Two games later on 11 October 2011 Hearn scored his 2nd hat-trick of the campaign in a 5–2 win over Barrow, he scored the 1st after racing clear of the defence to shoot underneath keeper Danny Hurst, after Barrow equalised Hearn scored his 2nd in first-half stoppage time, a one-two with Craig Disley put him in again and with his strength held off his marker, he side-footed home this time with his left-foot, his 3rd came on 75 minutes, he muscled his way through to turn in the box and beat Hurst with a low shot from six yards.

Hearn helped Grimsby Town to a 5–0 rout over Ashington in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on 29 October 2011, Coulson and Duffy combined on 38 minutes to put Hearn through, who skipped round Dryden the keeper, cutting back before his first shot effort was well saved by Dryden, but he made no mistake at the second attempt, then 2 minutes later another ball from Robert Duffy to Hearn who then muscled through the defence again, smashing past Dryden from 10 yards.

On 26 November 2011 he scored 2 more goals in a 1–2 victory at Kettering, scoring the 1st on 14 minutes when Hearn read a lofted ball forward and muscled past defender Jamie Navarro before slotting past goalkeeper Aldi Haxia's goal from a tight angle, his 2nd came when Michael Coulson whipped in a cross that wasn't cleared, and Hearn unleashed a superb right-footed shot on the turn, across goal and in off the far post for his 10th league goal of the season.

Grimsby Town's biggest win of the season came on 29 November 2011 in a 7–0 thrashing over Stockport County and Hearn scored his 3rd hat-trick, on 18 minutes Hearn got an assist when he robbed Danny O'Donnell before passing to Michael Coulson who struck into the middle of the goal, on 22 minutes Grimsby were 2–0 up when Jamie Green from inside the box intelligently squared to the unmarked Hearn who scored a tap-in to the bottom left corner of the goal inside the area, on 45 minutes Hearn put Grimsby 5–0 up when Anthony Elding found Hearn who struck from 10 yards out, Mark Halstead got a hand to it but was unable to keep it out, on 58 minutes Green took a corner which was met by Charlie I'Anson providing the knockdown to Hearn who then rifled into the roof of the net from a few yards for the 6th goal.

On 17 December 2011 he scored a double in the 4–3 home win against Ebbsfleet United, in the opening 2 minutes latching on to a poor back pass by Ram Marwa to racing away and fire past Preston Edwards, he scored the 3rd goal for Grimsby on 13 minutes, Luke McCarthy slipped a terrible back pass through to Hearn who was composed and clinical as he shot beyond Edward's from inside the penalty area for 3–0. On 26 December 2011 Hearn scored the crucial winning goal to put Grimsby 1–2 up in the derby against Lincoln City when Manny Panther combined with Craig Disley who then flicked it over the defence for Hearn to accelerate into the box, keeping his composure to fire under Farman and into the left corner of the goal.

The following calendar year he helped Grimsby do the double in a 3–1 home victory over rivals Lincoln City, scoring the opening goal on 25 minutes, Townsend beating the opposing defenders to curl in a cross from the left through to Hearn who lashed it home from eight yards. The following Saturday on 8 January 2012 he scored twice against former club Alfreton, Townsend with a perfect long ball to Hearn who cut off the defence to shoot Grimsby ahead on 11 minutes with a low effort from the edge of the penalty area taking a deflection before finding the bottom corner, a quality through ball from Andi Thanoj sent Hearn racing in and side-stepped the on rushing home keeper Day to steer the ball into an empty net from 12 yards for 3–1 on 40 minutes, Grimsby ended up winning 2–5 thus doing the double over Alfreton.

After racking up 25 goals in all competitions by January, Hearn was reported to be admist much transfer speculation with numerous clubs reportedly scouting the Grimsby frontman. On 15 January 2012 Premier League side Chelsea and Football League Championship club Reading amongst other clubs began watching the forward, whilst Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry confirmed the clubs interest in bringing Hearn to London Road. On 28 January 2012 Grimsby released a club statement intending there desire to keep hold of Hearn at all costs.

Hearn's 24th goal of the season came on 17 February 2012, when he scored the crucial winning goal in the 1–2 win at Southport, Anthony Church stole the ball on the goal-line, he slotted the ball to Hearn whose first strike was parried, but the ball came back to him and he placed the ball into the corner of the net in the 83rd minute.

On 24 April 2012 Hearn was voted "Supporters Player of the Year" award, also taking five other minor awards. He finished the season with 29 goals in 51 appearances.

2012–13

During pre-season Hearn picked up a Calf and Achilles problem on his right leg, thus missing Grimsby's following pre-season games against Hull City, Scunthorpe United and Lincoln City. Hearn appeared to be on the road to recovery, on 14 August 2012 in the 1–2 defeat against Stockport County he came on as a 58th-minute substitute. On 17 August, however, he injured his left leg in training, tests revealed an Achilles tendon rupture and he would be out for several months.

2013–14

Hearn began the 2013–14 season ready and fit and played in the clubs opening 1–1 draw with Aldershot Town. Three days later he scored the first goal in the clubs 2–1 win against Gateshead. On 21 March 2014 Hearn had his contract cancelled by mutual consent after he asked to leave the club following a series of injury issues that had limited his season to 15 appearances in all competitions. Manager Paul Hurst said "It is really unfortunate for Liam and we would like to wish him well for the future. Hurst went on to add that Hearn would be welcome to return to the club in the future.

Mansfield Town

On 9 June 2014 Hearn signed for Mansfield Town on a one-year contract, having spent three months training with the League Two side.

Lincoln City

Hearn joined Conference Premier side Lincoln City on a one-year contract on 20 May 2015, after turning down a new deal with Mansfield. He made his debut for Lincoln by coming on as a 69th minute substitute at home against Cheltenham Town and scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw after heading in an Alan Power corner.

Hearn fell out of contention at The Imps following a spat with manager Chris Moyses, thus led to loans with both Barrow and Harrogate Town. Hearn was released by The Imps in May 2016.

Ilkeston and return to Alfreton

On 23 May 2016, Hearn signed for Ilkeston. On 12 August he re-signed for Alfreton Town following Ilkeston's suspension from the Northern Premier Division.

Basford United

In May 2017 Hearn signed a deal with Basford United.

International career

Hearn was selected and called up to the England C team in 2009, and went on to earn one cap.

Career statistics

Personal life

Hearn used to play for The Scots' Grey pub in his hometown of Bulwell where he scored a staggering 67 goals in the 2007–08 season, (now closed) which was featured in a television programme entitled "The Ten Hardest Pubs in Britain."

Prior to becoming a professional footballer with Grimsby Town, Hearn used to be a full-time roofer. Liam is a keen supporter of Manchester United football club.

Club

Alfreton Town

Individual