Chris Higgins (footballer)

Chris Higgins

Personal information
Full name	Christopher James Higgins
Date of birth	4 July 1985
Place of birth	Broxburn, Scotland
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	Queen of the South
Number	6
Youth career
2001–2002	Motherwell
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2002–2005	Motherwell	0	(0)
2005–2009	Clyde	132	(5)
2009–2011	Dunfermline Athletic	38	(1)
2011–	Queen of the South	152	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:00, 2 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

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

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 scored during the regulation 90 minutes. In the final Higgins was involved in an incident with Firhill defender Aaron Muirhead, who was shown a red card for headbutting Higgins after Lee Robinson had saved his penalty just before the end of extra-time.^[19]

Higgins is currently contracted to Queens until the end of the 2015–16 season.^[20]

Career statistics

As of 3 September 2014^[21]

Club	Season	League		Cup		League Cup		Other[22]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Motherwell	2003–04	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2004–05	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Clyde	2005–06	34	0	2	0	2	0	1	0	39	0
	2006–07	34[23]	2	1	0	1	0	4	1	40	2
	2007–08	32[24]	2	2	0	1	0	6	0	41	2
	2008–09	32[25]	2	2	0	2	0	3[26][27]	0	39	2
	Total	132	5	7	0	6	0	14	1	159	6
Dunfermline Athletic	2009–10	17	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	20	0
	2010–11	21	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	23	1
	Total	38	1	0	0	3	0	2	0	43	1
Queen of the South	2011–12	32	1	3	0	3	0	1	0	39	1
	2012–13	32	2	2	0	3	1	4	0	41	3
	2013–14	26	2	3	0	2	0	3	0	34	2
	2014–15	4	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	6	0
	2015–16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	94	5	8	0	10	1	8	0	120	6
Career total		264	11	15	0	19	1	24	1	322	13

Honours

Clyde

• Scottish Challenge Cup: 2006–07 Runner-up

Dunfermline Athletic

• Scottish First Division: 2010–11

Queen of the South

• Scottish Second Division: 2012–13
• Scottish Challenge Cup: 2012–13

See also

• 2005–06 Clyde F.C. season | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09
• 2009–10 Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season

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 August 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 August 2014.
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. http://www.qosfc.com/players
21. "Chris Higgins Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
22. Includes Scottish Challenge Cup, Scottish Football League Play-offs and Scottish Professional Football League play-offs
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.

External links

• Chris Higgins career statistics at Soccerbase