Pig farming, nearly moments and learning the f-word too quickly: The remarkable tale of Kim Heiselberg at Sunderland

A glance at Sunderland’s team photo ahead of the 1997/98 season throws up some familiar faces.

Front and centre is skipper Kevin Ball, with Niall Quinn a towering presence on the back row. To his left is a young Micky Gray and to Quinn’s right, strike partner Kevin Phillips.

But in front of Phillips, in an ill-fitting Asics shirt, is a far more obscure face.

That of Kim Heiselberg.

You won’t find many mentions of Heiselberg in the history books. Indeed, his name is usually only uttered by Sunderland fans when conversations about the club’s least memorable - or least successful - signings are in full flow.

But his story is among one of the most remarkable in the club’s history.

Born in the small Danish town of Tarm, Heiselberg grew up around agriculture. His family were farmers, and for a long time it looked as if he would follow in their footsteps.

As a teenager, Heiselberg combined his work on the farm with semi-professional football for Danish side Esbjerg. There was the odd brush with the Danish youth set-up, too.

But within the space of a few weeks, his life changed. Gone were the early morning wake-up calls on the farm as he swapped tending pigs for the glamour of the Premier League.

But how did this young defender from a small town in Scandinavia end up on the radar of Peter Reid?

“I remember playing an under-19 international in Denmark against England,” he says.

“Michael Bridges was the striker and I was marking him for that game. Two weeks later I got a phone call from a Danish agent saying that a Sunderland scout had seen me play and they would like me to come to Sunderland for a trial.

“From there on, it went really, really fast.

“I went there one or two weeks later and had one week training with the Premier League squad; it was a big shock to stand in front of Niall Quinn and the other players.

“I was there for one week and played an under-19 youth game, where Peter Reid was on the bench watching me. He came to me straight after the game and told me to go home and pack my bags - he would arrange everything with my Danish club, and I would be back within a few weeks.

“When I went back to Denmark, two days passed and then I got a phone call from my club in Denmark saying Peter Reid had paid £125,000, so I was free to go.

“From them on, I was a Sunderland player.”

Heiselberg arrived on Wearside in March 1997, joining a Sunderland side who battled - unsuccessfully - to stay in the Premier League.

For a boy from a town with a population of just over 4000, rubbing shoulders with international players was a culture shock.

“Going from semi-professional football in Denmark to the highest level - and to a club like Sunderland where everybody is so fanatic about the whole situation - was incredible.

“I was overwhelmed by the interest and overwhelmed by the way the club wanted me to come to Sunderland at the time.

“There were no second thoughts, it was just getting to Sunderland as quickly as I could.

“It was a small shock to go into that world, but I felt I adapted fairly quickly and had an okay time over there,” he continues.

“In terms of the players, Niall Quinn was so impressive.

“He was the one who stood out the most, but at the same time Lee Clark was good.

Michael Gray was good, obviously the captain Kevin Ball, and there were a lot of good players so the competition was hard.

“But just being there and learning from all these players - when you’re there, at the age of 19, you can’t ask for anything more.”

But perhaps the biggest change came in terms of management - where Heiselberg quickly found himself under the tutelage of Reid.

“He was very, very different from what I was used to.

“In Danish football, you have more of a relationship with your trainer. You have a dialogue about something out on the pitch, and it’s a whole lot different.

“I remember I did go wrong a few times, because I didn’t know how to speak to a manager. Even just the ‘gaffer’ word was completely new to me.

“So I made quite a few mistakes in the beginning, but that’s something you learn from.”

While it took Heiselberg time to adapt to some aspects of English football, there were others that he picked up surprisingly quickly - often to his detriment.

“One of the things I did learn a little bit too quickly was the f-word.

“I was playing in one of my first reserve games and I remember that the ball went out and I was quite sure that it was our throw-in.

“The referee looked the other way and said it’s the other teams, so I just said ‘f*** off, ref.’

“I knew the second I said it, it was completely wrong. I was so embarrassed and said sorry immediately, but he didn’t react and just gave me the red card.

“I remember at half-time, Peter Reid came down to the dressing room and straight over to me and said ‘what did you tell him?’.

“I told him what I said and he just turned around. We never spoke about it again - other than I got a two-game ban.”

To say this was the final straw for Heiselberg is perhaps harsh - but it is certainly another turning point in a journey that could have played out far differently.

For there are plenty of ‘what ifs’ that plague the youngster’s time in the North East.

Perhaps the most prevalent of those is the Premier League debut that almost was.

Only days after joining the club, the centre back was in contention to start against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Ultimately, he didn’t. Sunderland lost 6-2 and the Dane is left to reflect on what could have been.

“It was my dream to play for the club.

“There was talk around the club that I could have played the weekend after I joined in a game against Chelsea.

“People were talking about whether I should play against Gianfranco Zola, but it never happened.

“From there on, I never really got into the team.

“The reserve games were fantastic and a great experience for me, but I was hoping I could get into the first-team squad. But it never happened.”

Despite being a regular in the reserves, Heiselberg was never handed the elusive first-team break he was looking for.

And having returned to pre-season training in 1998, the teenager was told he was deemed surplus to requirements.

“I remember when we came back from the summer break, there were seven or eight new players - and I never really got an answer why.

“I just got told that I was not going to be used in any more games and could leave.”

Heiselerg spent 18 months on loan back at former club Esbjerg, before making a somewhat surprising move to Swindon Town in 2000.

But he could only muster a single appearance for the Robins before being released, as he retreated back into the wilderness - and back towards his former life.

“I’ve actually become a pig farmer now.

“I’m originally from a farm in Denmark, so my childhood was spent on a farm and that’s why I returned after football.

“That’s what I’ve been doing for 17 years now after leaving football.”

But Heiselberg’s mind often wanders away from Tarm and back to the banks of the Wear.

His son Frederik, now a player in his own right at FC Midtjylland, follows the Black Cats and the duo recently watched Sunderland ‘Til I Die together.

The documentary only reinforced what the Dane already knew.

“There’s always something special about Sunderland.

“They were my first professional club and I have a special relationship with them.

“The atmosphere was so intense, and I’ve never experienced anything like it.

“I’ve got goosebumps on my arms just remembering the club, the build up to the matches and the noise from the crowd during games.

“I’m grateful I had the chance to play for Sunderland.”