Tommy Higginson

Tommy Higginson
Personal information
Full name Thomas Higginson[1]
Date of birth (1937-01-06)6 January 1937
Place of birth Newtongrange, Scotland
Date of death 22 July 2012(2012-07-22) (aged 75)
Place of death Isleworth, England
Playing position Left half, inside forward
Youth career
Edina Hibs
Penicuik Athletic
1956–1959 Kilmarnock
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1970 Brentford 387 (15)
1970–1973 Hillingdon Borough

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Thomas "Tommy" Higginson (6 January 1937 – 22 July 2012) was a Scottish professional football left half and inside forward. He is best remembered for his 12-year spell in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made 433 appearances and is a cult hero amongst the club's supporters.

Club career

Kilmarnock

Higginson began his career with spells at junior clubs Edina Hibs and Penicuik Athletic.[2] In 1956, Kilmarnock manager Malky McDonald saw Higginson playing in a junior match and invited the youngster to a trial with the Scottish Football League club.[2] He impressed enough to win a contract, but departed Killie in the summer of 1959 without making an appearance, having missed two years due to his National Service and a ligament injury.[2][3]

Brentford

Along with fellow Scot John Docherty, Higginson reunited with manager Malky McDonald at English Division Three side Brentford in June 1959, as cover for forward Jim Towers.[4] He began his time with the club in the reserve team.[3] An inside forward, Higginson made his debut in a league match versus Tranmere Rovers on 27 February 1960.[5] For the following game versus Bournemouth, Higginson replaced club legend Jim Towers in the line-up and the Griffin Park support responded by booing manager Malky McDonald's decision.[6] Despite this beginning, Higginson soon won over the Bees supporters with his performances.[6] Moving back to a left half position, Higginson earned a reputation as a hard man after rugby tackling a Hartlepool United player during a 4–0 victory in October 1962, escaping with only a booking.[6]

Higginson was an ever-present in Brentford's 1962–63 Division Four title-winning season.[7] In October 1964, Higginson suffered the ignominy of being the first Brentford player to be sent off since the resumption of football after the Second World War, receiving his marching orders (along with opposition player Eric Brodie) during a league match versus Shrewsbury Town.[8] The News of the World Football Annual stated that Higginson once passed back to his own goalkeeper from a corner kick.[9] In 1967 and with Brentford in a dire financial situation and the subject of a takeover bid by rivals Queens Park Rangers, Higginson volunteered to take part in a Brentford to Brighton walk, to raise funds for the club.[6] While many volunteers gave up, Higginson walked the whole way.[6] Higginson remained with Brentford until the end of the 1969–70 season and was awarded a testimonial versus Queens Park Rangers in April 1969,[1] earning £1853 from a 6620 crowd.[10] He made 433 appearances for the Bees, which was then second behind former teammate Ken Coote in the club's all-time appearances list.[3] Higginson's record has since been overtaken by Jamie Bates, Peter Gelson and Kevin O'Connor.[3]

Hillingdon Borough

Higginson saw out his career with Southern League Premier Division side Hillingdon Borough,[11] reaching the final of the FA Trophy with the club in 1971.[6]

Sunday League career

Higginson played on in Sunday league football during the 1970s, appearing for Thornbury, Syon Villa and Sutton Athletic.[6] He retired from all football in 1990, at age 53.[2]

Personal life

Prior to becoming a footballer, Higginson was a champion youth boxer and athlete in Scotland, taking part in the Border Games and running professionally.[2][6] While playing junior football, he also worked as a butcher.[2] While undertaking his National Service, Higginson saw active duty with the Royal Scots Regiment in Egypt during the Suez Crisis.[2] While playing for Brentford, Higginson settled in Isleworth. After retiring from professional football in 1970, he worked for Firestone for three years, before returning to his old job of butchering.[2] Higginson died at the age of 75 on 22 July 2012.[6] He suffered with Alzheimer's disease in his later years. As a mark of respect, two days later the Brentford players wore black armbands during a pre-season friendly versus FC Erzgebirge Aue.[12] Higginson's funeral was attended by many former Brentford favourites, including Peter Gelson, Alan Hawley and Gordon Phillips.[6]

Honours

As a player

Brentford

References

  1. 1 2 Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lane, David (2005). Cult Bees & Legends: Volume One. Hampton Wick: Woodpecker Multimedia. pp. 110–117. ASIN B00NGFXBBG. ISBN 0-9543682-0-7.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Tommy Higginson Rip". Brentfordfc.co.uk. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  4. ↑ TW8 Matchday versus Oldham Athletic 25/08/03. London: The Yellow Printing Company Limited. p. 32.
  5. ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. 27 February 1960. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Street, Tim (5 August 2012). "Tribute to former Brentford legend Higginson". Get West London. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". Brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  9. ↑ Sewell, Albert (1996). News of the World Football Annual 1996–1997. Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 297. ISBN 9780002187374.
  10. ↑ Griffin Gazette: Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Crewe Alexandra 06/04/96. Quay Design of Poole. 1996. p. 20.
  11. ↑ Official Matchday Magazine Of Brentford Football Club versus Oldham Athletic 14/08/99. Blackheath: Morganprint. 1999. p. 41.
  12. ↑ "Mark of Respect For Higginson". Brentfordfc.co.uk. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  13. ↑ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 387. ISBN 0951526200.
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