Life's a dream for this surfing Wolves fan - but it's no Molineux
Nick Heath is living the dream – with his home just metres from a golden beach, the 55-year-old spends his days surfing crystal blue waves and soaking up the Australian sun.
But there is just one thing missing. Nick, aka ‘the surfing chef’ dreams of visiting Wolverhampton to watch his beloved football team play live.
Born in Birmingham, his family travelled the 10,000 miles to Brisbane when he was just seven years old after his parents decided to start a new life overseas.
Despite being on the other side of the globe, he has remained devoted to his home team for the almost 50 years – and still dreams of coming back to the UK soon to watch a match at Molineux.
The last game he saw was just a few months before his family’s 23-hour flight to Australia, but Nick can remember it perfectly – right down to the hot cup of Bovril he had on the day.
“My dad, Anthony Heath, actually played for West Brom once and was great friends with Derek Dougan from Wolves,” said Nick, speaking to the Express & Star all the way from his home in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
“I absolutely idolised him. So that was why I was allowed to be a Wolves fan. My mum was actually an Aston Villa fan.
“Football was an absolutely minor sport back then in Australia – it was all about rugby league
“It’s a religion here.”
But while the superfan does love rugby, it will never hold a place in his heart like Wolves.
In his luxury Aussie beach house Nick has a ‘Wolves man-cave’ – a room filled with team shirts.
And he also sports an old gold and black tattoo on his right bicep to show off when he surfs.
When he isn’t out catching waves, or cooking up gourmet meals at various restaurants across the Gold Coast as a top chef, he is busy catching up on the latest Wolves news.
He added: “Without the internet back then, when we first moved, I’d have to wait for the papers once a week.
“About 20 years ago when we first got the internet I went straight to the Express & Star – and then Judah popped up on the podcast. It’s so entertaining.
“I listen to it on the way to work.
“I just love the game. I absolutely love supporting them.
“Last season I watched every game on Wolves TV – just hook up the laptop. It’s been brilliant.”
Nick lives with partner Lisa and ridgeback husky-cross Sunshine. He also has a son, 30-year-old Zac, from a previous relationship, living nearby.
“Life is pretty good,” added Nick.
“I’d love to come back to watch Wolves. I’d want to get a box and go corporate. Lisa is telling me it’s definitely on the cards.”
Nick fits any pressing engagements around ‘what the surf is like’ that day – but still works up to 70 hours a week as a top chef.
He takes off two or three months each year to travel to Indonesia where he runs surfing camps and enjoys a few weeks of well-deserved holiday.
But he’s still hoping, when life slows down a little, that a trip to Wolverhampton is on the horizon.
