Chris Higgins (footballer)

Chris Higgins
Personal information
Full name Christopher James Higgins
Date of birth (1985-07-04) 4 July 1985
Place of birth Broxburn, Scotland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Ayr United
Number 2
Youth career
2001–2002 Motherwell
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Motherwell 0 (0)
2005–2009 Clyde 129 (5)
2009–2011 Dunfermline Athletic 38 (1)
2011–2017 Queen of the South 180 (6)
2017– Ayr United 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:00, 6 May 2017 (UTC).

Christopher James "Chris" Higgins (born 4 July 1985 in Broxburn) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-sided defender for Ayr United. Higgins has previously played for Motherwell, Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic and Queen of the South.

Career

Early years

Higgins started his career as a youth player at Motherwell, but failed to break into the first team squad and had no appearances.

Clyde

Higgins signed for Clyde on 12 June 2005,[1] and made his début on 30 July 2005 in a Scottish Challenge Cup match against Brechin City.[2] Higgins was a vital part of the team in his defensive position at centre-half and only missed two league matches of the 2005–06 season. Higgins was part of the Clyde team that defeated Celtic in a 2–1 shock victory in the third round of the Scottish Cup on 8 January 2006. The former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane happened to be playing in his first match for Celtic that same day.[3]

Higgins scored his first goal for Clyde against Greenock Morton on 27 September 2006 in a 3–1 win in the Challenge Cup.[4] Higgins played in the Cumbernauld-based club's run to the 2006 Scottish Challenge Cup Final where they faced Ross County. With the match level at 1–1 after extra-time the game was decided on penalties. Higgins missed a penalty in the shoot-out that allowed Jason Crooks the opportunity to win the trophy for Ross County. Crooks scored his resultant penalty and the Dingwall club won 5–4 in the shoot-out.[5]

Higgins was extremely consistent in his second season at Clyde, missing only two league matches due to suspension. Higgins was an integral part of the Clyde defence that conceded the fewest goals in the division. Higgins played his 100th match for Clyde on Boxing Day 2007, in a Scottish First Division match against Hamilton Academical.[6]

Higgins was the Clyde captain on the final day of the season in his 100th league appearance. Despite winning 3–0 against Stirling Albion, Clyde still finished in the play-off position as Greenock Morton finished ahead of Clyde on goal difference.[7]

Higgins won Clyde's official website's Player of the Year Award for season 2008–09.[8] After Clyde's relegation to the Scottish Second Division Higgins was one of thirteen players released in June 2009 with the club stating that they could not afford to offer new contracts to all of these players.[9]

Dunfermline Athletic

After leaving Clyde, Higgins then signed for Dunfermline Athletic.[10] Higgins' debut was on 22 July 2009, in a 2–1 win against Arbroath in the Challenge Cup.[11] Higgins was at East End Park for two seasons and scored one goal in a 6–1 win against Queen of the South on 16 April 2011.[12] In Higgins' second season at Dunfermline Athletic the club won the Scottish First Division and won promotion to the Scottish Premier League. However, two days before the club were due to receive the trophy Higgins was told that he would not be retained for the following season.[13]

Queen of the South

On 4 July 2011, manager Gus MacPherson announced on the website of Dumfries club, Queen of the South that Higgins had agreed terms to join the Palmerston Park club. MacPherson commented, "He`s experienced, versatile and can play on three different areas on the left flank.".[14] Higgins' Queens' debut was on 23 July 2011, in a 2–0 defeat against Ayr United after extra time in the Challenge Cup.[15] Despite the club being relegated at the end of his first season, Higgins signed a new contract on 30 May 2012.[16]

Higgins was appointed club captain in the summer of 2012 and Queens won the 2012–13 Scottish Second Division [17][18] and the Scottish Challenge Cup for the double, defeating Partick Thistle 6–5 on penalties after a 1–1 draw at the end of extra-time, after no goals were scored during the regulation 90 minutes. Higgins was involved in an incident with Firhill defender and Dumfries born Aaron Muirhead, who was then shown a red card for headbutting Higgins after Lee Robinson had saved Muirhead's penalty just before the end of extra-time.[19]

Higgins completed 200 first-team appearances for Queen of the South after playing against Dumbarton on 1 October 2016. Higgins presentation was conducted before the home match with Linfield in the 2016-17 Scottish Challenge Cup on 9 October 2016 that Queens won 2-0 after extra time.[20] Higgins lost the club captaincy after the arrival of John Rankin on 5 January 2017 from Falkirk, as decided by the recently appointed Queens manager, Gary Naysmith.[21] Higgins contract at Queens wasn't renewed during May 2017, so he was released after six seasons, four and a half of those as the club captain. [22]

Ayr United

On 18 May 2017, Higgins signed for Scottish League One club Ayr United, deciding to go full-time after their recent relegation from the Scottish Championship, after leaving Queen of the South. [23]

Career statistics

As of 10 June 2017 Fully Updated [24]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other[25] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Motherwell 2003–04 0000000000
2004–05 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Clyde 2005–06 340202010390
2006–07 34[26]2101041403
2007–08 32[27]2201060412
2008–09 32[28]220203[29][30] 0392
Total 132670601411597
Dunfermline Athletic 2009–10 170002010200
2010–11 211001010231
Total 381003020431
Queen of the South 2011–12 322303010392
2012–13 322203140413
2013–14 262302130343
2014–15 340302030410
2015–16 331102020381
2016-17 230104010290
Total 18071301621402229
Ayr United 2017-18 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Career total 3501420025230142417

Honours

Clyde
Dunfermline Athletic
Queen of the South

References

  1. ↑ "Become the website sponsor of Chris Higgins". Clyde F.C. 16 June 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Brechin City 3–2 Clyde". BBC Sport. 30 July 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Clyde 2–1 Celtic". BBC Sport. 8 January 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  4. ↑ Murray, Graham (27 September 2006). "Clyde 3 v 1 Greenock Morton". Clyde F.C. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Dream debut for Crooks as County win Challenge Cup". The Scotsman. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Higgy's Hundred". Clyde F.C. 24 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "Clyde 3–0 Stirling Albion". BBC Sport. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  8. ↑ "Awards Presented". Clyde F.C. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  9. ↑ "Players Released". Clyde F.C. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Pars swoop for defender". Dunfermline Press. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  11. ↑ "DUNFERMLINE 2 ARBROATH 1". Dunfermline Athletic F.C. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "DUNFERMLINE 6 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1". Dunfermline Athletic F.C. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Parks, Gordon (15 June 2011). "Stars on the scrapheap: Chris Higgins helped Dunfermline win promotion to SPL.. and was rewarded with a free". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  14. ↑ "A tough old start". Queen of the South F.C. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  15. ↑ "Queens knocked out of cup". Dumfries & Galloway Standard. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  16. ↑ Robertson, Craig (30 May 2012). "Queens squad boosted by familiar faces". Dumfries & Galloway Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  17. ↑ McNair, Andrew (29 March 2013). "Queen of the South are the champions". Dumfries & Galloway Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  18. ↑ Rinaldi, Giancarlo (28 March 2013). "Queen of the South savour Second Division title victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  19. ↑ Miller, Stevie (7 April 2013). "Queen of Sth 1–1 Partick (Queen of South win 6–5 on penalties)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "QoS : Report - Linfield FC 9.10.16".
  21. ↑ http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/st-mirren-0-queen-south-9580613
  22. ↑ http://www.qosfc.com/news-3577
  23. ↑ "Higgins first signing of Summer". Ayr United FC. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  24. ↑ "Chris Higgins Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  25. ↑ Includes Scottish Challenge Cup, Scottish Football League Play-offs and Scottish Professional Football League play-offs
  26. ↑ includes 1 appearance on 13 August 2006, v Gretna not recorded on Soccerbase "Clyde 1–2 Gretna". BBC Sport. 13 August 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  27. ↑ includes 1 appearance on 11 November 2007 v Dundee not recorded on Soccerbase "Dundee 0–1 Clyde". BBC Sport. 11 November 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  28. ↑ includes 1 appearance on 4 October 2008 v Dunfermline not recorded on Soccerbase "Clyde 0–2 Dunfermline". BBC Sport. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  29. ↑ includes 1 appearance on 26 July 2008 v Annan in the Challenge Cup not recorded on Soccerbase "Clyde 2–0 Annan Athletic". BBC Sport. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  30. ↑ includes 1 appearance on 7 September 2008 v Ross County not included on Soccerbase "Clyde 0–1 Ross County". BBC Sport. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
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