He began his career with Preston North End, but never appeared for their first team, and played non-league football for Tamworth, Colne, Droylsden, Stalybridge Celtic, Bamber Bridge, Congleton Town, Ramsbottom United and Darlington, before signing for Scottish Premiership club St Mirren in 2018.
After spending time on loan at Kidderminster Harriers, he was released by St Mirren, and signed for Bradford (Park Avenue) in September 2019 after a short second spell with Darlington.
[15] After interest from Championship clubs Reading and Wigan Athletic and trials with non-league teams including AFC Fylde and Bamber Bridge,[16] Heaton signed for Droylsden of the Northern Premier League Division One North.
[20][21] In the summer of 2017, he agreed to join National League North club Darlington, but the move collapsed over personal terms, complicated by a collarbone broken while playing in a pre-season fixture for his potential employers.
[22][23] Released by Bamber Bridge in mid-October,[24] he then played three matches for Northern Premier League Division One team Ramsbottom United on a non-contract basis,[25][26] before finally joining Darlington in mid-November.
[9] Together with Darlington teammates Luke Trotman and Joe Wheatley, Heaton was selected to attend a course at Jamie Vardy's V9 Academy designed to help non-league players get into professional football.
[9][38] Standing in for the unfit Galbraith away to King's Lynn Town at the end of August, he made defensive errors that contributed to both goals in a 2–0 defeat,[39] and was allowed to leave after just five weeks with the club.
[42] Heaton then moved to Australia, where he played for Mornington SC of the Victorian State League Division 1 in an FFA Cup match before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to competitive football.