Chris Higgins (footballer)

Christopher James Higgins (born 4 July 1985) is a Scottish professional footballer who has now retired from playing football. Higgins has previously played for Motherwell, Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic, Queen of the South, Ayr United and East Fife.

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)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2001–2004 Motherwell
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Motherwell 0 (0)
2005–2009 Clyde 132 (6)
2009–2011 Dunfermline Athletic 38 (1)
2011–2017 Queen of the South 180 (7)
2017–2019 Ayr United 22 (3)
2019 → East Fife (loan) 12 (0)
2019–2022 East Fife 57 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:50, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Career

Early years

Born in Broxburn, 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 versus 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.[3] The former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane happened to be playing in his first match for Celtic that same day.[4]

Higgins scored his first goal for Clyde against Greenock Morton on 27 September 2006 in a 3–1 win in the Challenge Cup.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

Higgins won Clyde's official website's Player of the Year Award for season 2008–09.[9] 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.[10]

Dunfermline Athletic

After leaving Clyde, Higgins then signed for Dunfermline Athletic.[11] Higgins' debut was on 22 July 2009, in a 2–1 win against Arbroath in the Challenge Cup.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

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.".[15] Higgins' Queens' debut was on 23 July 2011, in a 2–0 defeat against Ayr United after extra time in the Challenge Cup.[16] Despite the club being relegated at the end of his first season, Higgins signed a new contract on 30 May 2012.[17]

Higgins was appointed club captain in the summer of 2012 and Queens won the 2012–13 Scottish Second Division[18][19] 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.[20]

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.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

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.[24] Ayr were promoted back to the Championship in 2018, and Higgins was loaned to League One club East Fife in February 2019.[25]

East Fife

On 27 May 2019, Higgins signed for the Fifers on a permanent basis.[26]

Higgins retired from professional football at the end of the 2021-22 season, aged 36, two months short of his 37th birthday.

Other work

From 2016, Higgins (who had trained to become a personal trainer) had a coaching role with the youth academy teams at Heart of Midlothian. While still an active player, as of 2021 he also took on an administrative role as 'Personal Development Officer' at the footballers' union PFA Scotland with the aim of assisting players find work alongside or after their careers in the game.[27]

Career statistics
As of 6 November 2021
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Clyde 2005–06[28] Scottish First Division 34020201[lower-alpha 1]0390
2006–07[29][30] Scottish First Division 34210104[lower-alpha 1]1403
2007–08[31][32] Scottish First Division 32220106[lower-alpha 2]0412
2008–09[33][34][35] Scottish First Division 32220203[lower-alpha 1]0392
Total 132670601411597
Dunfermline Athletic 2009–10[36][37] Scottish First Division 17000201[lower-alpha 1]0200
2010–11[38][37] Scottish First Division 21100101[lower-alpha 1]0231
Total 381003020431
Queen of the South 2011–12[39] Scottish First Division 32230301[lower-alpha 1]0392
2012–13[40][37] Scottish Second Division 32220314[lower-alpha 1]0413
2013–14[41][37] Scottish Championship 26230213[lower-alpha 3]0343
2014–15[42] Scottish Championship 34030202[lower-alpha 4]0410
2015–16[43] Scottish Championship 33110202[lower-alpha 1]0381
2016–17[44] Scottish Championship 23010401[lower-alpha 1]0290
Total 18071301621302229
Ayr United 2017–18[45] Scottish League One 19300502[lower-alpha 1]0263
2018–19[46] Scottish Championship 3020000050
Total 223205020313
East Fife (loan) 2018–19[46] Scottish League One 120000000120
East Fife 2019–20[47] Scottish League One 28210401[lower-alpha 1]0342
2020–21[48] Scottish League One 180104000230
2021–22[49] Scottish League One 11000401[lower-alpha 1]0160
Total 5722012020732
Career total 4121924042233154022
  1. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, four appearances in Scottish First Division play-offs
  3. Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, one appearance in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  4. Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs

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. Lindsay, Clive (8 February 2020). "Clyde v Celtic: What happened to the players from the 2006 Scottish Cup upset?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. "Clyde 2–1 Celtic". BBC Sport. 8 January 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  5. Murray, Graham (27 September 2006). "Clyde 3 v 1 Greenock Morton". Clyde F.C. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  6. "Dream debut for Crooks as County win Challenge Cup". The Scotsman. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  7. "Higgy's Hundred". Clyde F.C. 24 December 2007.
  8. "Clyde 3–0 Stirling Albion". BBC Sport. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  9. "Awards Presented". Clyde F.C. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  10. "Players Released". Clyde F.C. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  11. "Pars swoop for defender". Dunfermline Press. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  12. "DUNFERMLINE 2 ARBROATH 1". Dunfermline Athletic F.C. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  13. "DUNFERMLINE 6 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1". Dunfermline Athletic F.C. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  14. 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.
  15. "A tough old start". Queen of the South F.C. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  16. "Queens knocked out of cup". Dumfries & Galloway Standard. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  17. Robertson, Craig (30 May 2012). "Queens squad boosted by familiar faces". Dumfries & Galloway Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  18. McNair, Andrew (29 March 2013). "Queen of the South are the champions". Dumfries & Galloway Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  19. Rinaldi, Giancarlo (28 March 2013). "Queen of the South savour Second Division title victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  20. 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.
  21. "QoS : Report – Linfield FC 9.10.16".
  22. Berry, Gavin (7 January 2017). "St Mirren 0 Queen of the South 3 - 3 things we learned".
  23. "QosFC: Squad Upate". www.qosfc.com.
  24. "Higgins first signing of Summer". Ayr United FC. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  25. Inglis, Scott (6 March 2019). "On-loan Ayr United defender wants to make an impact at East Fife". Fife Today. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  26. "Higgins & Murdoch Agree Terms For Next Season". East Fife F.C. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  27. Meet The Team, PFA Scotland; retrieved 5 February 2021
  28. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  29. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  30. "Clyde 1–2 Gretna". BBC Sport. 13 August 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  31. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  32. "Dundee 0–1 Clyde". BBC Sport. 11 November 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  33. "Clyde 0–2 Dunfermline". BBC Sport. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  34. "Clyde 2–0 Annan Athletic". BBC Sport. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  35. "Clyde 0–1 Ross County". BBC Sport. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  36. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  37. Chris Higgins at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  38. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  39. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  40. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  41. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  42. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  43. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  44. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  45. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  46. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  47. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  48. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  49. "Games played by Chris Higgins in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
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